LATAM Airlines Colombia

LATAM Airlines Colombia (formerly known as LAN Colombia) is a Colombian airline based in El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. It is the second-largest air carrier in Colombia, after Avianca. It operates scheduled regional domestic passenger services, as well as a domestic cargo service. Its main hub is El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá.[2]

History

The airline was founded on 2 October 1980 as AIRES, starting operations on 23 February 1981, with a few small planes, until they acquired some Embraer 110 Bandeirante and Fairchild F27. In 1990, the airline registered a 9% decrease in passenger transport.

With the rise of competition with AeroRepública in November 1992, AIRES made small expansions, mostly adding service to the neighboring countries of Venezuela and Ecuador.

In November 1998, the airline began its coverage in the Caribbean Region, opening a base of operations in Barranquilla, from where flights began to: Cartagena, Santa Marta, Valledupar, Corozal

Accidents and incidents

On 14 August 1995, AIRES Flight 413, an Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante (registered HK-2594), crashed into a mountain of the Nevado del Huila, Colombia. All 6 passengers and 2 pilots were killed.[14]

On 20 February 2002, a Bombardier Dash 8-300 (registered HK-3951X), en route from Neiva to Bogotá, was hijacked by 4 brigands, forcing them to land in a town and kidnapped a senator who was on board.[15]

On 28 January 2008, AIRES Flight 053, Bombardier Dash 8-200 (registered HK-3997), overran the runway at El Dorado International Airport, en route from Maracaibo, Venezuela after the left gear collapsed. The probable cause of the crash was that the aircraft was carrying out a landing with an unresolved fault in the left engine, which prevented the aircraft from being able to stop within the length of runway available, causing a runway excursion. A contributing factor was the failure to correct the maintenance reports in a satisfactory manner and the failure to properly follow up on repetitive entries. None of the 41 occupants were injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged and written off.[16]

On 23 August 2008, AIRES Flight 051, a Bombardier Dash 8-300 (registered HK-3952), sustained substantial damage after the right-hand main landing gear collapsed on landing at Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport. The crew noticed a vibration of the right gear. None of the 31 occupants were injured, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and was written off.[17]

On 16 August 2010, AIRES Flight 8250 crashed on landing at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport, in San Andrés, Colombia, after reportedly being struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. The death of one person was reported as a result of a heart attack on the way to the hospital and another 129 were injured.[18] One of the injured occupants later died.[19] The cause was later determined to be a pilot error.

On 29 March 2022, LATAM Colombia Flight 4292, an Airbus A320-200 (registered CC-BAS) bound for Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena, had to return and make an emergency landing at José María Córdova International Airport in Medellín after its nosewheel was discovered to be rotated ninety degrees. All the passengers and crew were unharmed.[20]

airline	LATAM Airlines Colombia
fleet size	29
destinations	21
iata	4C
icao	ARE
callsign	LAN COLOMBIA
parent	LATAM Airlines Group
founded	October 2, 1980(as AIRES)‡R1R‡
commenced	December 3, 2011 (as LAN Colombia) May 5, 2016 (as LATAM Colombia)
frequent flyer	LATAM Pass
headquarters	Bogotá, Colombia
key people	Santiago Alvarez (CEO)
hubs	Bogotá
focus cities	Medellín–JMC
website	www.latam.com/es_co

LATAM Airlines Colombia

History

Destinations

Codeshare Agreements

Fleet

Current fleet

Former fleet

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

References