LAN Express extends flight cancellations due to crew strike

LAN Express said Sunday it was extending until April 28 a plan to cancel or reschedule flights in Chile and other South American destinations due to a strike by cabin crews demanding contract improvements. The LATAM unit had already adjusted flight itineraries through April 25, but extended the changes after workers on Friday rejected a salary package proposed by the company. The strike had been on for 12 days as of Sunday. “We are very aware that our passengers are the most affected by this paralysis, so we are making all efforts to mitigate the impact,” said Claudia Sender, vice president for customers at LATAM Airlines Group. Under the previous itinerary adjustments, 1,575 flights were cancelled, affecting more than 273,000 passengers. It was not immediately clear how many would be affected by the extension. The company said it would keep negotiating to “reach a satisfactory agreement with the union as soon as possible.”<br/>