LAN Colombia joins oneworld from 01-Oct-2013; TAM to leave Star and join oneworld on 31-Mar-2014

LAN Colombia joined (01-Oct-2013) oneworld as an affiliate member from 01-Oct-2013, while TAM Airlines plans to leave Star Alliance on 30-Mar-2014 and join oneworld on 31-Mar-2014. TAM Airlines Paraguay will join oneworld at a date still to be confirmed. The two carriers add 56 destinations to oneworld's network, and consolidate oneworld as the alliance with the most inter-Latin American services and the most services from Europe and the US to Latin America. LAN Colombia LANPASS FFP members can now earn and redeem privileges with oneworld partners. LAN Colombia chairman Nicolás Cortázar said, "For our country, [joining oneworld] significantly improves our access to the rest of the world, helping attract more business visitors and tourists, enabling Colombians to reach more of the world's most important business centres worldwide and making it easier to travel the world from any of the destinations we serve throughout Colombia." oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby stated, "We are very pleased to welcome LAN Colombia on board, as the newest oneworld affiliate member of the LAN group and alongside the other LAN airlines that have been such valuable partners for oneworld for many years. Its addition, ahead of TAM's transition to our alliance on 31 March 2014, will further strengthen oneworld's long-standing position as the leading alliance serving Latin America and makes oneworld an even more attractive proposition for frequent international travellers the world over." TAM CEO Claudia Sender said, "In the coming months, we will continue working to ensure a smooth transition for everyone. We also want our passengers to learn about the benefits, connections and products offered by oneworld so they can travel the world with us." [more - original PR - LATAM] [more - original PR - oneworld] [more - original PR - TAM]