LATIN CARGA (LATINAMERICANA AEREAS DE CARGA, S. A.): Venezuela (1972-1980). The Caracas-based all-cargo carrier Ti-gres Voladores, S. A. is reformed in 1972 and continues operating domestic freight charters with a fleet of 9 Curtiss C-46 Commandos. Flights continue until 1980.
LATN (LINEA AEREA DE TRANSPORTE NACIONAL, S. A.): Paraguay (1944-1956). Following some preliminary experimentation in 1941, the national government decrees the establishment of LATN at Asuncion on July 12, 1944. The initial fleet comprises 3 Fleet biplanes and 2 Italian-made Caproni AP-1s. Nonscheduled flights are started to outlying Army posts during the summer. Following the initial organization meeting of the board of directors on October 2, scheduled passenger flights are inaugurated on October 9.
On February 6, 1945, the government de-emphasizes the airline’s military identity in order to attract additional traffic. Capitalization is increased and the fleet is upgraded by the addition of a Breda 44 and two Travel Air 6000s. By year’s end, the two-route system includes stops at over 30 destinations.
Despite a slight increase in the number of passengers carried (en-planements total 700 in 1946), the nation does not have the resources to sufficiently support both a civil airline operation and military logistics. In 1954, the air force transport unit TAM (Transportes Aereo Militar) acquires a fleet of Douglas C-47s that are employed to support both logistical requirements and commercial routes.
By 1956, the military line is outperforming the civil carrier and has taken over flights to the nation’s 12 largest destinations. LATN is again downgraded to outpost resupply flights and soon thereafter disappears.
LATUR (LINEAS AEREAS LATUR, S. A. de C. V.): Mexico (19881991). The Mexican ALPA and Promotora Mexicana de Hoteles establishes this charter carrier in late spring 1988 to operate between U. S. East Coast cities and Mexican resorts, especially Cancun, enlivening the local tourist markets. Shareholding of 5% is also distributed among minor investors. Employing a dry-leased McDonnell Douglas MD-83, the carrier initiates service in December. It is the first exclusive passenger-charter operator in Latin America, the first to order new generation high-tech transports, and the first South American airline to order the Airbus Industrie A320.
The first high-tech A3004-621, christened Yum’ik, is delivered for service on August 3, 1989, with a second arriving in October. Orders are outstanding for two A320-200s and contracts with four major tour operators insure a steady flow southward of leisure travelers from the United States and Canada.
Start-up and associated costs lead to a $1.3-million operating loss.
Company employment is increased by 13.2% in 1990 to 172. Due to a lack of bookings, the two A300B4-621s are wet-leased to Garuda Indonesian Airlines as three McDonnell Douglas MD-83s arrive to replace them. An MD-87 is ordered.
Passenger boardings skyrocket 154.1% to 628,963. Revenues increase 166.4% to $52.5 million and the operating loss is cut to $839,000.
Mexican air transport deregulation, currency devaluation, and the growing recession combine to fatally impact the carrier, which ceases operations on December 18, 1991.
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