LATAM confident that planned JVs will prevail in Chile

LATAM Airlines Group is confident that the airline's planned joint ventures with oneworld partners American Airlines and IAG will prevail, following last-minute appeals in Chile against the deals. LATAM CE Enrique Cueto said that he believes Chile's supreme court will uphold the decision of Chile's anti-trust tribunal which had cleared the deals earlier this month. At least 3 Chilean organisations, including a tourism group and consumer rights body, have opposed the planned joint ventures on anti-competitive grounds. LATAM has said it will accept the tribunal's conditions, in exchange for implementing the joint ventures. These conditions include a requirement for LATAM to maintain capacity on its nonstop routes from Santiago to both Miami and Madrid, and to add capacity on routes to North America and Europe. <br/>