Oneworld partner LAN of Chile may depart from the alliance following its merger with Brazilian carrier TAM to create Latin America's largest airline. Alternatively, TAM could switch from the Star Alliance to join oneworld, which includes British Airways.
Brazil's anti-trust authorities yesterday approved the LAN/TAM merger, which was first mooted in 2010.
The combined airline, LATAM, valued at more than £9billion, will fly to 115 destinations in 23 countries and employ 40,000.
The Chilean authorities had already approved the merger, but the Brazilian authorities have insisted that the two airlines must join a single international body. While LAN is a member of oneworld, which includes Iberia, Qantas and JAL as well as British Airways, TAM is a member of the Star Alliance, which includes BMI, Lufthansa, SAS and Air China.
The airlines have yet to announce which alliance they will join.
By Linsey McNeill
