LAN confirms receipt of Aeroparque eviction order; legal action coming, "not an isolated event"

LAN Argentina and LATAM Airlines Group SA confirmed (21-Aug-2013) receipt of an order from Argentina's National Airports Systems Regulatory Agency (ORNSA) to vacate its hangar at Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport within ten calendar days. LATAM EVP Enrique Cueto said, "We understand that this is not an isolated event, but is rather a measure that would be in line with an increasing level of action against our company, in order to harm our operations in Argentina." Mr Cueto said the Group is "taking the necessary steps to resolve this situation as soon as possible and initiate legal action to defend its rights and maintain its operation at the Aeroparque hangar." LAN advised customers that its Argentine itineraries remain unchanged. LATAM said the contract signed with airport operator Aeropuertos Argentinas 2000 to operate the hangar and maintenance installation has been in place since 2008 and runs to Jul-2023, and called ORNSA's "unilateral" decision to terminate the contract "illegitimate" in its preliminary analysis, and reiterated it will adopt "all legal actions which are necessary" to reestablish the contract. The Group assured customers in Argentina it will adopt "each and every action which is necessary to continue providing a quality service", and noted the "illegitimate measures" adopted by ORNSA only impact domestic operations in Argentina operated by LAN Argentina, while international services to and from the country are unaffected. [more - original PR - LAN Argentina - Spanish] [more - original PR - LATAM - Spanish] [more - original PR - LAN - English]