LAN, one of the region's top carriers, has seen passenger and cargo traffic surge this year as the region bounces back from the global financial crisis, accumulating a net profit of $255.1 million from January to September.
Increases in third quarter passenger traffic was due largely to new regional and long-distance routes, including flights from Santiago to Paris and Lima to Brasilia, LAN said.
Cargo revenue grew 49 percent in the quarter, boosted by the operations of partner ABSA in Brazil's domestic market.
In August, the carrier announced a merger agreement with Brazil's TAM to form Latin America's top airline in a region that has seen air traffic rise even as the global economy lags.
LAN added five new planes in the third quarter, including the company's 100th aircraft. (Reuters)
