Brazil-based TAM and Chile-based LAN Completing Their Merger

The merger of TAM (Brazil) and LAN (Chile) is going forward; the due-diligence on their merger has been completed, and the completion of the merger is expected to take place in the 2nd quarter of 2011.  Both carriers are still working on the details of the agreement.

Both TAM and LAN has orders for Boeing and Airbus new aircraft: TAM has ordered 27 Airbus A350s, and LAN has 26 Boeing B787 on order.

Brazil's domestic commercial airline market grew by 27% from January to August of this year, and its international business grow by 17% over the same period.  TAM is estimating a 9-12% growth annually over the next 20 years. The airline is also projecting air traffic for Latin America to grow twice the rate as Brazil's economy.

What does this mean to those who want to be professional pilots and perhaps fly for TAM or LAN?  It's great news.  A bigger, stronger airline with the potential -- and the plan -- to grow even more rapidly opens new opportunities for pilots.  With the merger moving toward completion, NOW is a good time to start your pilot training, in order to be ready when the airline seeks many more pilots.  For more information on pilot training, see www.pea.com.