Brazilian Ministry looks favourably at LAN/TAM merger

Brazilian Finance Ministry Price Administration and Competition Bureau stated it is likely to support the merger of TAM and LAN Airlines and submit a favourable report on the competition aspects (Wall Street Journal, 12-Jan-2010). The merger still needs to pass scrutiny from the Brazilian antitrust board. Chilean competition authorities are also reviewing the merger. The merged carrier would be the largest airline in Latin America and the 15th largest in the world.