Access selected deals available with budget and full-service airlines
Lock any airfare that sounds great. You don’t lose anything if you cancel it
Call us anytime for any assistance. We do not go into hibernation
Your personal and financial information stays secure with us
TAM Airlines, originally founded as Táxi Aéreo Marília in 1961, was Brazil’s largest airline before merging with LAN Airlines in 2012 to form LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America’s leading carrier. Headquartered in São Paulo, TAM operated primarily from São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport (GIG), serving over 60 destinations, including 42 domestic and 18 international routes across South America, North America, and Europe. Renamed TAM Linhas Aéreas in 2000, it joined Star Alliance in 2010 and transitioned to Oneworld in 2014 post-merger. Known for its Airbus fleet, TAM Fidelidade loyalty program, and Brazilian hospitality, TAM offered competitive fares but faced criticism for delays, poor customer service, and baggage handling. Fully rebranded as LATAM Brasil by May 2016, TAM’s legacy persists in Brazil’s aviation market, with its operations now under LATAM’s unified brand.
TAM Airlines began as Táxi Aéreo Marília in 1961, founded by Rolim Amaro as an air taxi service in Marília, São Paulo, Brazil. In 1976, it was restructured as TAM – Transportes Aéreos Regionais, a joint venture with VASP, receiving the IATA code KK on October 13, 1999. Initially operating Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirantes, TAM transitioned to Fokker F27 turboprops by 1981, carrying 1 million passengers that year and 2 million by 1984. Financial pressures led to a public offering in August 1986.
Facing competition from Varig and VASP, Amaro’s attempt to acquire VASP in the 1980s, dubbed “Revolution,” failed, leading to a slower “Evolution” strategy. On September 15, 1989, TAM leased two Fokker 100 jets from Guinness Peat Aviation, expanding to 14 by 1993 and serving 56 Brazilian cities. In 1996, TAM acquired Helisul Linhas Aéreas, adopting its trade name. A major milestone came in 1997 with orders for 45 Airbus aircraft (10 A330s, 4 A319s, 34 A320s), enabling its first international flight from São Paulo to Miami. In 1998, TAM purchased Itapemirim Transportes Aéreos’ passenger division, and in 1999, it launched European services via a codeshare with Air France to Paris–Charles de Gaulle.
Renamed TAM Linhas Aéreas in 2000, the airline absorbed Brasil Central (VOTEC) and merged its KK-coded operations, adopting the JJ code. By 2008, TAM carried 30.14 million passengers with a 71% load factor. In December 2009, TAM acquired Pantanal Linhas Aéreas for its Congonhas Airport slots. TAM joined Star Alliance on May 13, 2010, but left in 2014 to join Oneworld post-merger. On August 13, 2010, TAM signed a non-binding merger agreement with LAN Airlines, finalized on June 22, 2012, creating LATAM Airlines Group. Chilean and Brazilian authorities approved the merger with restrictions, including relinquishing four São Paulo–Santiago slots and choosing Oneworld over Star Alliance by August 2012. TAM adopted the LATAM brand on May 5, 2016, though its JJ callsign remains for LATAM Brasil flights. In July 2020, LATAM Brasil filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. due to COVID-19 impacts, continuing normal operations during reorganization.
At its peak, TAM operated a fleet of 172 aircraft, primarily Airbus A319s, A320s, A321s, and A330s, with some Boeing 767s and 777-300ERs. By 2012, the fleet included one-cabin (Economy), two-cabin (Business/Economy), and three-cabin (First/Business/Economy) configurations. Post-merger, LATAM Brasil’s fleet aligned with LATAM’s, incorporating Boeing 787s and phasing out older models. As of February 2025, LATAM operates 315 aircraft across its subsidiaries, with TAM’s legacy fleet modernized to include fuel-efficient A320neo and A321neo aircraft.
Sustainability efforts under TAM were limited, but LATAM’s post-merger initiatives include a 50% CO2 emissions reduction by 2050, using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and fuel-efficient aircraft like the Boeing 787. TAM’s cargo operations, now LATAM Cargo, support economic sustainability by serving 144 destinations in 29 countries.