On Friday, South America’s leading airline, LATAM Airlines marked a key milestone with a commemorative flight from Sydney to Santiago, paying homage to 80 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Chile alongside the Chilean Embassy at Sydney Airport.
As part of the celebrations, ahead of flight LA810’s departure for Santiago, check-in staff in traditional Chilean dress treated passengers to authentic South American sweets for a true South American immersion and to start their journey in style.
In attendance were LATAM’s Oceania Country Manager, Alberto Chico Garcia, the Chilean Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission, María Fernanda Gómez and Consul General, Francisco Tello, along with Sydney Airport’s General Manager – Strategic Aviation Development, Shane Hodges. The representatives gathered for a photo on the tarmac with LA810’s pilot before seeing off the tribute flight.
The commemorative flight pays homage to a long history of connecting the two nations by air. In March 1951, Australian pilot Patrick Gordon Taylor made history by crossing the Pacific – the last ocean to be traversed by air, flying from Sydney to Valparaíso. This move was a turning point for global communication.
Today, LATAM provides the vital link between Oceania and South America, with Santiago serving as the sole direct entry point for Australian flights to the continent. Since launching into Australia, LATAM has reinforced its position as a preferred carrier between the continents and recently moved to daily direct flights from Sydney, aligning with peak summer season.
LATAM’s Oceania Country Manager, Alberto Chico Garcia said the airline is proud to celebrate 80 years of diplomatic ties between Chile and Australia, highlighting LATAM’s role in connecting people, cultures and opportunities across the Pacific.
“We are honoured to be a part of commemorating such a momentous milestone between Chile and Australia with this special flight today. LATAM has always been more than just an airline connecting the two nations; we represent a bridge between cultures, families and opportunities.
“The recent expansion to daily flights from Sydney reflects the growing strength of this relationship and the increasing demand for travel between the two countries.
“As we look to the future, we remain committed to providing Australians with seamless access to Chile and the entire South American continent, just as pioneers like Patrick Gordon Taylor envisioned when they first crossed the Pacific decades ago.”
Sydney Airport’s CEO, Scott Charlton said the increased frequencies of LATAM’s direct flights from Sydney to Santiago, boosts the ease of access between the two nations as bilateral relations continue to develop.
“LATAM’s move to daily direct services between Sydney and Santiago strengthens an important bridge between Australia and Chile, especially as we mark 80 years of diplomatic ties.
“This enhanced connectivity supports tourism and trade and deepens the cultural and economic relationship between our two nations.”
Chile and Australia formally established diplomatic relations in December 1945, at the San Francisco Conference. Eight decades later, both nations celebrate this milestone, reflecting on a relationship built on shared democratic values, mutual respect and collaborative progress across continents and oceans.
