Chile LATAM Pilot Strike Ends, Delays To November 25

Published on Nov 20, 2025, 1:35 pm CST

7 min read

Key points

LATAM and its Chile-based pilots have agreed a new contract through 2028, ending an eight day strike that began November 12
About 31,000 passengers and at least 173 flights were affected by cancellations between November 12 and 22, with extended changes through November 24
LATAM expects operations to normalize from November 25 while previously canceled flights will generally not be reinstated
Impacted travelers can move flights at no extra cost or request full refunds under LATAM's flexibility policies
Connections via Santiago remain at higher risk of retiming or equipment changes for several days after the formal end of the strike

Impact

Monitor Flight Status: Check LATAM flight status and reservation tools daily through at least November 25 before heading to the airport
Avoid Tight Connections: Avoid tight same day connections via Santiago by adding extra buffer or shifting to later dates where possible
Use Self Service First: Use LATAM’s self service change and refund options first, then call only if you need complex rerouting
Reconfirm Downline Plans: Reconfirm separate tickets, tours, and cruises in Chile and neighboring countries in case of missed connections
Watch Regional Advisories: Monitor Chile travel advisories and local media if you are routing to Patagonia, Atacama, or Easter Island

Travelers flying with LATAM Airlines to, from, or within Chile should see disruption ease in the coming days, because the airline and the Sindicato de Pilotos de Latam, SPL, have reached a new collective agreement that ends an eight day pilot strike but leaves a backlog of schedule changes in place until late November. The walkout, which began at midnight on November 12 and involved about 464 Chile based pilots, forced the cancellation of at least 173 flights through November 17 and ultimately affected around 31,000 passengers once extended cuts through November 22 were factored in.

The LATAM Chile pilot strike will still cast a shadow over the network, because cancellations already filed through November 24 will not generally be restored even though the contract is now in force and the company expects operations to normalize from November 25 onward.

Strike Timeline And New Agreement

SPL, which represents a majority of LATAM pilots based in Chile, set the strike in motion after members rejected a pay offer on November 3 and demanded a return to pre pandemic wage levels. Mediated talks under Chile's Labor Directorate failed to bridge the gap, and pilots began a legal work stoppage at midnight on November 12, the carrier's first pilots' strike since 1997.

LATAM initially framed the impact as less than 10 percent of passengers traveling to or from Chile on November 12 and 13, then quickly escalated its mitigation plan. Company information of interest notices published on November 12 and November 17 confirmed that flights scheduled between November 12 and 17 would be canceled, amounting to 173 services and about 20,000 passengers, before extending proactive cuts through November 22 and raising the total number of affected travelers to roughly 31,000.

The strike formally ended late on November 19, when the union announced that it had accepted a new collective contract with LATAM that runs through 2028 and aims to balance competitive pilot pay with the company's post restructuring finances. Reuters and regional outlets report that both sides characterize the deal as sustainable, and that it should restore labor peace at the airline for the duration of the agreement.

Which Flights Remain Disrupted

Even with the strike over, the tail of disruption matters as much as the formal strike window for near term travelers. LATAM has confirmed that cancellations it filed through November 22, and in some cases through November 24, will remain in place, with capacity rebuilt gradually rather than flipped back overnight.

Throughout the dispute, the airline concentrated its limited crew resources on long haul and trunk routes through Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, trimming frequencies on some domestic legs and select regional flights instead of shutting down entire corridors. Earlier cancellation waves focused on busy domestic routes that connect Santiago to cities such as Antofagasta, Iquique, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas, alongside a smaller number of international services to regional and long haul hubs, including Madrid and Bogotá.

Local reporting and LATAM trade communications suggest that the final days of the strike follow a similar pattern, with some flights removed entirely and others consolidated into fewer daily departures. That means passengers booked between now and November 24 are more likely to see schedule nudges, equipment swaps, and longer connections than wholesale route suspensions, but they still need to treat any LATAM itinerary touching Chile as higher risk until operations settle.

How LATAM Is Handling Rebooking And Refunds

From the first day of the strike, LATAM has emphasized that it is contacting all affected passengers directly and offering what it calls "travel solutions" within roughly 24 hours of original departure, either on its own metal or via rerouting where possible. The company says almost every impacted traveler has already received an alternative flight proposal and that those who do not accept the suggested option can move their trip or ask for their money back.

In practical terms, that gives you three main choices if your flight is canceled or significantly changed. You can accept LATAM's automatic rebooking, which often keeps you on the same calendar day but may shift departure or arrival by several hours. You can change your date or flight at no extra cost within a defined travel window, which is typically the best path if you can push your trip until after November 25. Or you can request a full refund of the unused segments and any associated services, such as prepaid seat assignments and extra baggage, then rebuild your plans on other carriers or via different routes.

Self service tools are the fastest way to exercise those options. LATAM urges passengers to use the "My Trips" section of its website or app to check live flight status, confirm whether their booking was changed automatically, and initiate no fee changes or refunds where eligible. Phone lines and airport counters remain available for complex itineraries, multi passenger bookings, or situations where separate tickets on other airlines are at risk.

Protecting Connections Across South America

Because Santiago is a key gateway for South American itineraries, knock on effects from the LATAM Chile pilot strike extend beyond point to point routes inside Chile. Travelers bound for Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, or Easter Island, many of whom connect through Santiago from long haul flights into South America, face the biggest exposure if they built tight same day connections between international and domestic legs or between separate tickets.

If you are traveling in late November, the safest strategy is to insert as much buffer as your schedule and budget allow. That may mean arriving in Santiago at least one day before a nonrefundable cruise, guided trek, or remote lodge stay, or shifting onward segments to late morning or afternoon departures to absorb overnight delays. Passengers holding separate tickets, for example long haul on one alliance and LATAM domestic on another, should be particularly conservative, because LATAM is unlikely to cover missed onward flights on other airlines.

For itineraries that connect elsewhere in the region, such as Bogotá, Lima, São Paulo, or Buenos Aires, the main risk is misalignment between LATAM's revised Chile domestic schedule and regional departures. Monitor both legs and be ready to move to earlier domestic feeder flights if inventory is available, even once the strike is officially over.

Background: What The Dispute Was About

SPL's core argument throughout the dispute was that LATAM had returned to profitability and restored executive pay after its Chapter 11 restructuring, while many pilots remained on reduced terms they accepted during the pandemic. Union leaders said their wage demands represented less than one percent of the airline's reported profits and framed the strike as a push to honor earlier commitments to restore pre crisis conditions.

LATAM, for its part, stressed continuity of service, saying it was implementing "tremendous efforts" to protect passengers, especially in regions that depend heavily on air connectivity, and that it remained committed to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement while preserving the company's long term sustainability. The final contract, which runs through 2028, reflects that balancing act, although detailed pay scales and scheduling rules have not been published.

For travelers, the labor politics are less important than the practical takeaway. The immediate strike is over, but the next several days still require active monitoring of itineraries touching Chile, and any future contract disputes at the airline will now be measured against this strike's precedent.

Internal Links And Further Guidance

This article updates Adept Traveler's prior coverage of the LATAM Chile pilots strike, including the initial detailed explainer on cancellations through November 17 and the follow up piece on extended cuts to November 20. Readers planning complex itineraries through Santiago can also consult Adept Traveler's Santiago, Chile destination page for broader context on local airports, ground transport, and seasonal travel patterns.