Qantas has announced an expanded code share agreement with fellow oneworld partner LAN, in the LATAM Airlines Group, in order to offer customers more travel options through South America.
Qantas customers will now be able to fly on codeshare operated by LAN from Santiago, Chile to six destinations across South America, including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Lima.
Travellers will benefit from seamless connections, with baggage and airport transfers, as well as more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points.
On the other hand, LAN will codeshare on Qantas services across the Tasman, as well as across Qantas’ extensive domestic network.
CEO of International Business LAN, Damian Scokin, said: “We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Qantas and to add 8 Australian cities to our network of destinations, which are located in key points of the island continent and allow access to the most attractive tourist destinations in Australia,” LAN chief executive officer of international business, Damian Scokin said.
The codeshare expansion delivers on the Qantas’ international gateway strategy by increasing its presence in growth markets through strategic partnerships.
“Santiago is a key gateway for our customers and this development will strengthen its prominence as hub for onward connections, offering the additional customer benefits of a codeshare service – more opportunities to earn frequent flyer points and luggage checked straight through to their final destination,” Qantas executive manager international sales Stephen Thompson said.
Qantas operates three non-stop return services per week between Sydney and Santiago, with Qantas and LAN offering ten return flights between Sydney and Santiago per week, and Qantas will also commence a fourth weekly service between 21 November 2014 and 13 February 2015 to cater for extra peak time season demand.
