LATAM Pilot Strike Extends Cancellations To November 20

Published on Nov 16, 2025, 8:22 pm CST

9 min read

Key points

LATAM will cancel additional flights between November 18 and 20 due to the ongoing pilots strike in Chile
The new wave of cuts builds on 173 flights already canceled between November 12 and 17 affecting about 20000 passengers
Cancellations concentrate on domestic trunk routes via Santiago with some regional and long haul flights also affected
LATAM is offering free date changes voluntary itinerary changes and full refunds to impacted passengers
The strike overlaps with Chilean national elections and could prevent some voters from reaching polling places
Travelers using Santiago as a hub for Patagonia Atacama Easter Island or long haul trips should add buffers and consider rerouting

Impact

Recheck November 18 To 20 Itineraries: Anyone booked on LATAM flights to from or within Chile on these dates should verify flight status repeatedly and watch for rebooking offers in email and the app
Protect Connections Via Santiago: Travelers connecting through Santiago should add long buffers switch to earlier flights or reroute on other carriers to avoid misconnecting
Adjust Patagonia And Atacama Plans: Visitors heading to Patagonia Atacama or Easter Island should build in at least one extra day on either side of key tours and cruises in case of domestic flight disruption
Use LATAM Flexibility Options: Eligible passengers can move travel dates change routes or request full refunds under LATAM's strike policies which apply beyond the original November 12 to 17 window
Election Day Travel Caution: Chilean residents flying to vote should have a ground backup plan or advance travel day since some routes are already seeing cancellations and consolidations
Monitor For Further Escalation: Because the union has not set an end date to the strike travelers with November and early December trips should monitor negotiations and be ready to rebook quickly

Passengers booked on LATAM flights to, from, or within Chile now face a second wave of schedule cuts, after the airline confirmed that the pilots strike that began on November 12 will trigger new cancellations between Tuesday, November 18, and Thursday, November 20. These additional disruptions come on top of 173 flights already canceled between November 12 and 17, which affected about 20,000 passengers and forced large scale rebooking across Chile's main air corridors.

LATAM Strike Timeline And New Cancellation Window

LATAM's dispute involves roughly 464 pilots based in Chile, represented by the Latam Pilots Union, who voted by about 97 percent to strike after rejecting the company's latest pay offer and demanding a return to pre pandemic salary levels. The strike formally began at midnight on November 12 and immediately led LATAM to cancel dozens of flights on November 12 and 13, initially framed as affecting less than 10 percent of passengers traveling to or from Chile.

By November 13, LATAM acknowledged that it needed to cancel flights scheduled between November 12 and 17, suspending 173 services and impacting about 20,000 passengers, most of whom the airline says were reprotected within 24 hours of their original departure. The company also stated that its mitigation measures, including flexible changes and refunds, would remain in place until the strike ends.

On November 16, LATAM and multiple local outlets confirmed that the disruption will extend. New cancellations will be implemented between Tuesday, November 18, and Thursday, November 20, as the strike continues with no firm end date. The airline has not yet published a full tally of flights in this second wave, but EFE, swissinfo, and Chilean media report that the new cuts will again focus on routes touching Chile and that affected passengers are being contacted directly.

This article updates Adept Traveler's earlier coverage of the initial cancellations through November 17, which detailed the first phase of the strike and LATAM's early rebooking policy. For background on that phase, see our prior explainer on LATAM's Chile pilot strike and flight cancellations. Previous coverage.

Latest Developments

Although LATAM is still emphasizing that it will prioritize long haul and trunk domestic routes via Santiago's Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), the strain on the schedule is clear. Earlier cancellations already hit key domestic links between Santiago and airports such as Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP) in Concepción, La Florida Airport (LSC) in La Serena, El Tepual International Airport (PMC) in Puerto Montt, Pichoy Airport (ZAL) in Valdivia, and Cerro Moreno International Airport (ANF) in Antofagasta, along with select long haul flights including Santiago to Madrid and Bogota.

Local reporting and trade blogs now describe the November 18 to 20 window as a continuation of this pattern, with some domestic frequencies canceled outright and others consolidated into fewer departures per day. LATAM has said that it is trying to maintain connectivity to isolated regions and international gateways, but Chile's geography means that even relatively small cuts can translate into long surface detours for travelers heading to the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, or smaller regional centers.

The timing compounds the impact. The strike overlaps with Chile's presidential and parliamentary elections, and several outlets report that passengers who planned to fly home to vote have already been stranded or forced to rebook at the last minute. BioBioChile notes that some travelers will simply not reach their polling locations in time, a politically sensitive outcome in an election already framed as a watershed moment for the country.

From a traveler's perspective, the practical effect is a rolling series of cancellation waves, rather than a single shutdown day. Flights can disappear or be retimed several days before departure as LATAM adjusts its roster of available pilots, particularly on domestic and regional routes where alternate options may be limited.

Analysis

For anyone using Santiago as a hub, the extension of cancellations through November 20 shifts this from a short disruption into a medium horizon risk that needs active management. That includes several distinct traveler groups.

First, Chilean domestic travelers and visitors connecting to Patagonia, especially via El Tepual International Airport in Puerto Montt and onward links to ports like Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, now face a higher chance of missed tours, cruise embarkations, or overland segments if they keep tight same day connections. Treat Santiago to Patagonia as a potential choke point and, where possible, place a full buffer day between international arrivals and any nonrefundable local experiences.

Second, travelers heading to the Atacama Desert, often via Desierto de Atacama Airport (CPO) or Calama's El Loa Airport (CJC), should expect that LATAM may consolidate flights in either direction to match available crews. If your itinerary relies on a single daily flight, consider switching to an earlier date in the same week or looking at alternative routings within Chile to preserve flexibility.

Third, long haul passengers using Santiago for connections to Europe or North America, such as those booked on flights between Santiago and Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), El Dorado International Airport (BOG), or Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ), need to think carefully about misconnect risk. When a domestic feeder segment is canceled, international seats can evaporate quickly, and same day reaccommodation may not be available.

Background

LATAM's pilots argue that the company has recovered from its Chapter 11 restructuring, restored executive pay, and returned to profitability, while their own pre pandemic salary levels and conditions have not been reinstated. Management counters that it has offered reasonable increases and is maintaining dialogue to reach a sustainable deal, pointing to the relatively small percentage of its total passenger base directly affected so far.

From a policy standpoint, LATAM has framed its handling of the strike around three pillars: proactive cancellations announced in advance where possible, flexible rebooking or refund options, and a focus on maintaining connectivity to remote regions. The details matter for travelers trying to salvage trips.

LATAM Change, Refund, And Voucher Options

Across its November communications, LATAM has consistently offered affected passengers three main options. Travelers can change their date or flight at no additional cost, make voluntary modifications to their travel plans without penalty, or request a full refund of the ticket and associated services when the proposed alternative does not meet their needs.

In practice, that means you should start any rebooking attempt inside your existing reservation using LATAM's website or app before calling a human agent. Self service tools typically display which later flights still have inventory in the same cabin, and they often allow you to move to earlier or later departures within the strike window without change fees. If the system only offers options that break critical connections or force unreasonable detours, escalate to phone or chat support and reference LATAM's own strike related flexibility language.

Some travelers with complex itineraries may receive partial solutions, for example a rebooked domestic sector but no change on a separate ticketed international flight. In those cases, LATAM's full refund option can be a useful backstop, although it may not cover nonrefundable hotels, tours, or cruises that were tied to the original flights. Third party protections, such as credit card trip interruption coverage or separate cancellation insurance, may help fill that gap.

Concrete Buffer And Rebooking Strategies

For trips that rely on Santiago as a hub, there are several steps that materially reduce risk while the strike continues.

Build longer layovers than usual between domestic and international flights. Aim for same day gaps of four hours or more, or even overnight connections where possible, so that a retimed domestic leg does not automatically ruin the onward journey.

Where the stakes are high, such as cruise departures from southern Chile, expensive guided treks, or once per week Easter Island flights via Mataveri International Airport (IPC), bring your arrival forward by at least one full calendar day, even if that means an extra hotel night in Santiago. The cost of that buffer is usually lower than the financial and emotional cost of missing the main event.

Consider alternatives to LATAM on overlapping routes, especially on international segments, if other carriers still have seats and your ticket rules permit changes. Competing airlines will not honor LATAM's waivers, but switching carriers on your own dime can be rational if it protects a high value trip.

Finally, for Chilean residents or eligible voters who still need to travel to reach their polling locations, the safest strategy now is to treat November 18 to 20 as high risk days for flying. Whenever possible, complete election related travel earlier, or secure a ground transportation backup on key corridors, particularly where overnight buses can substitute for short haul flights.

Final Thoughts

LATAM's pilot strike has shifted from a short, sharp shock into a rolling disruption that now stretches flight cancellations to at least November 20, and there is no clear guarantee that further waves will not follow. For travelers, the key is to stop treating each cancellation announcement as an isolated event and instead plan around an elevated baseline of risk in Chile's air network.

If you are booked on LATAM to, from, or within Chile in the second half of November, now is the time to rebuild your itinerary with longer buffers, earlier arrivals, and clear backup options, then monitor negotiations daily. By pairing LATAM's flexibility policies with conservative planning, most travelers can still reach Patagonia, Atacama, Easter Island, or onward long haul destinations, even in the middle of an unsettled labor dispute.