Argentina Grants LATAM Fifth Freedom Rights for Santiago de Chile – Mendoza – São Paulo Flights
Argentina granted LATAM Airlines coveted fifth freedom traffic rights, authorizing the carrier to sell tickets between Mendoza and São Paulo as part of its new service from Santiago de Chile.
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The government of Argentina has authorized the Chilean flag carrier LATAM Airlines Group to operate scheduled international passenger and cargo services on the Santiago de Chile (SCL) – Mendoza (MDZ) – Guarulhos (GRU) route, and vice versa. This measure allows the company to operate the segment between Argentina and Brazil under fifth freedom traffic rights.
The authorization was made official through Disposition 24/2025 from the Undersecretariat of Air Transport, as published in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic this August 22. The regulation responds to a request submitted by the airline and is based on the current bilateral agreements between Argentina and Chile, including the Memorandum of Understanding and the Air Services Agreement signed on April 23, 2024.
This new operation complements LATAM's existing network in Mendoza, from where it already offers direct flights to Santiago de Chile, Lima (LIM), and São Paulo/Guarulhos itself. The unique aspect of this authorization is that the route will operate in a triangular fashion, allowing the airline to board passengers and cargo in Mendoza destined for Brazil on a flight originating in Chile.
The fifth freedom of the air is an aerocommercial right that allows an airline from one country (in this case, Chile) to carry passengers and cargo between two foreign countries (Argentina and Brazil) on a flight that originates or terminates in its own country. According to the document, the company's request received a favorable opinion from ANAC, the National Civil Aviation Administration (Administración Nacional de Aviación Civil), which regulates aviation activity in Argentina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fifth freedom flight? It is a right that allows an airline to board passengers and cargo in a foreign country and transport them to another foreign country as part of a service that connects to its home country.
What does this new route mean for passengers in Mendoza? It adds a new option for flying between Mendoza and São Paulo (Guarulhos), a market already served by GOL and LATAM itself, which could increase the supply of seats and frequencies.
When will these flights begin operating? The official disposition authorizes the operation, but LATAM Airlines Group has yet to announce the start date, weekly frequencies, and scheduled times for this new route.
This move aligns with LATAM's strategy to expand its use of fifth freedom rights in the region, similar to its announced plan to operate the Santiago-Buenos Aires (EZE)-Miami route starting in December 2025.
The National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) verified that the company met all legal and administrative requirements demanded by current regulations to provide the requested services. The disposition is signed by Hernán Adrián Gómez, the Undersecretary of Air Transport. As of now, no details have been released regarding the start date of operations or the aircraft to be used on this route.
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