Pilots at South America’s Largest Airline Go on Strike

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What happened

Pilots for LATAM Airlines Group’s Chilean unit began a strike at midnight local time on November 12 after negotiations with the airline broke down. The walk-out followed the union’s rejection of the company’s latest pay proposal and concerns about the airline’s failure to restore pre-pandemic salary levels.

According to the airline, at least 173 flights have been cancelled and approximately 20,000 passengers affected so far.

The strike involves about 464 pilots in Chile, representing more than half of the pilots working for LATAM in that country.

What the dispute is about

The pilots’ union, the Sindicato de Pilotos de Latam (SPL), emphasises that while LATAM has posted strong profits—around US$1.5 billion between 2024 and mid-2025—the company has not restored pilot salaries and conditions to their pre-Covid-19 levels.

Key issues:

• The union says the airline “never showed us the figures on which it built its economic proposal” and rejected extending mediation.

• The union states their members accepted pay cuts during the pandemic and expected restoration as the airline recovered; they contend executives and other staff have been reinstated while pilots have not.

• The pilot strike follows unsuccessful talks mediated by Chile’s Labour Directorate.

Operational impact & airline response

• LATAM cancelled flights scheduled between November 12 and November 17.

• The airline says “almost all” affected passengers have been provided alternate solutions.

• The cancellations span both domestic and international services, signalling the strain on LATAM’s network given Chile is a major base for the carrier.

• LATAM emphasises it is evaluating the situation and working to minimise disruption, but the scale of the strike (with nearly half the Chilean pilot workforce) alters operations.

Why it matters

• LATAM is widely recognised as the largest airline group in South America in terms of fleet size and geographic reach—covering Chile, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and more. A strike there sends ripples through the regional aviation market.

• Major strikes can lead to passenger dissatisfaction, financial losses and potential long-term brand damage when flights are cancelled or connections disrupted.

• For airlines still recovering from the pandemic, labour costs, staff retention and pay restoration remain contentious. Pilot pay and conditions are critical — pilot shortages or strikes can quickly cripple operations.

• The strike comes at a time when airlines globally are under cost pressure (fuel, inflation, labour). The ability to negotiate stable labour contracts is key for long-term planning and fleet deployment.

What to watch next

• Whether LATAM and the union will reach a deal soon—watch for mediations, government interventions or contract announcements.

• The duration of the strike: If it extends beyond a few days, cancellations could mount, and LATAM may invoke contingency staffing or aircraft reallocations.

• The financial impact: What cost does LATAM incur from cancellations, passenger compensation, and re-scheduling?

• How the network stabilises: Long-haul and connecting flights through Chile may be affected, especially for passengers transiting between Latin America, North America and Europe via Santiago.

• Whether this sets a precedent in the region—other South American airlines may face similar pressure from pilot groups seeking restoration of pre-pandemic conditions.