LAN Peru Announces Service From San Francisco to Peru

MIAMI, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning July 1, 2010, LAN Peru – an affiliate of LAN Airlines - will initiate operations to Peru out of San Francisco. The company will offer four flights per week to Lima on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

LAN Peru's new service from San Francisco to Lima offers passengers connecting service to multiple destinations in the region including Sao Paulo, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Santiago, Chile.

"The announcement of LAN Peru's new service between SFO and Lima opens the gateway for an unprecedented expansion of economic and cultural ties between North and South America," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.  "The additional passengers and commerce that this new service brings to the Bay Area is extremely positive news during these challenging economic times."

San Francisco will become LAN Airlines and its affiliates' fourth U.S. gateway, in addition to New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

"This announcement represents LAN and its affiliates' continued commitment to growth in North America and expanding the travel options available to its passengers in this market," said Pablo Yunis, Vice President of North America and the Caribbean for LAN Airlines.

The new route will continue to support the growth of tourism to the region, considering that it will be the only nonstop flight connecting San Francisco with South America, offering passengers more options for travel to unique destinations like Machu Picchu, Patagonia, as well as Easter Island and Iguazu Falls.

The company will service this route on modern Boeing 767-300s with long-haul reach and a capacity for 221 passengers. These aircraft offer LAN's Premium Business cabin that includes full flat, 180 degree reclining seats with a completely horizontal sleeping option that only a select group of airlines in the world offer, in addition to a renovated Economy class. In both classes of services, passengers have access to a modern entertainment system that offers one of the most diverse audio and video on-demand programming in the world.

About LAN Airlines

LAN Airlines is one of the leading passenger and cargo airlines in Latin America. The company and its affiliates serve over 65 destinations around the world through an extensive network that offers full connectivity within Latin America, while also linking the region with North America, Europe and the South Pacific, as well as 63 additional international destinations through its various alliances. LAN Airlines and its affiliates have a leading position in their respective domestic markets of Chile and Peru, an important presence in the Argentinean domestic market, and recently began domestic operations in Ecuador.

Currently, LAN Airlines and its affiliates operate one of the most modern fleets in the world, with 85 passenger aircraft, and its cargo subsidiary, LAN CARGO and its respective cargo affiliates, have a fleet of 11 freighters. The company recently completed its short haul fleet renovation process by acquiring new aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, enabling LAN to improve its efficiency and to reduce significantly its CO2 emissions. The fleet renovation is part of the company's commitment to the protection of the environment.

LAN is one of the few Investment Grade airlines in the world (BBB). The company's world class quality standards enabled its membership in oneworld™, the global alliance that encompasses the best airlines in the world. For more information please visit LAN.com or www.oneworldalliance.com

SOURCE LAN Airlines