Week-long-strike affecting flights mainly in Chile
SANTIAGO (Reuters) — LATAM Airlines, the region's largest carrier, said on Wednesday it had canceled an additional 441 flights after a union of flight attendants rejected a contract offer from the Chile-based airline, prolonging a strike that has affected more than 200,000 passengers.
The company said a total of 1,575 flights operated by Chilean subsidiary LAN Express had been canceled through April 25 as the airline continues to negotiate with the union.
LATAM and the 1,000-member Cabin Crew Union of LAN Express said they had reached an initial agreement on Tuesday but the union later voted against the deal.
The week-long strike has primarily affected flights within Chile, the company said, though it has also affected regional connections throughout South America.
Long-distance flights outside the region have not been affected, LATAM said.
LATAM was created in 2012 through a merger of Chile's LAN and Brazil's TAM. The company, headquartered in Santiago, has operating units in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru.
