LATAM Express LATAM Express LATAM Express (Transporte Aéreo S.A.), previously known as LAN Express is a subsidiary of LATAM Chile. It operates some domestic and a few international routes for its parent. Its main base is Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, Santiago, Chile. The airline was formerly known as Ladeco and established in September 1958. Ladeco was acquired by LAN Chile in August 1995 following the approval of the Chilean Anti-monopolies Board. In October 1998 LAN Chile merged Ladeco with Fast Air. The brand was merged into LAN Airlines in 2004. The airline was renamed LATAM Express as a result of
Iberia (airline) company, this operation was approved by the Chilean antitrust prosecution, and then began a merger process in which Iberia losses some rights acquired during its time as shareholder of Ladeco. In 1997 Iberia sold its shares in Ladeco after had made a $22 million investment. In 1996, the airline launched its website. The company ordered 76 aircraft from Airbus in February 1998, which at the time was the largest single Airbus order. The following year it bought Aviaco and inherited that airline's fleet. By the end of the 90's Iberia owned as majority shareholder the Spanish airlines Aviaco, Viva Air,