LAN Argentina is the second airline in oneworld® to decorate one of its aircraft with a special livery to mark its membership of the world’s leading quality alliance. The design now adorns one of its Airbus A320s. It debuts today as Mexicana is unveiled as oneworld’s latest member elect, to join during 2009.

It makes its debut as LAN Argentina celebrates the first anniversary of its addition to the grouping – at the same time as its sister carrier LAN Ecuador – strengthening oneworld’s position as the only alliance with any airlines from South America. Other members of the LAN alliance – Chile’s LAN Airlines and LAN Express, plus LAN Peru – have been part of oneworld since the year 2000.

The twinjet’s fuselage will feature the words “miembro de oneworld” (“member of oneworld”) in letters of up to around two metres high along with the tailfin designs of all ten members of the alliance. The aircraft – with the registration LV-BFO – will fly in this design on the airline’s Argentine domestic network and to the destinations it serves internationally in Latin America.

LAN Airlines Chief Executive Enrique Cueto said: “This shows just how proud LAN is to be South America’s representative in oneworld, the world’s leading quality airline grouping – and to be the only airline from across this region to fly as a member of any of the global airline alliances. Without any doubt, the recruitment of LAN Argentina and LAN Ecuador to oneworld constitutes a clear recognition of our on-going commitment to our customers and our determination to deliver an excellent quality product that meets the highest standards of international safety.”

Japan Airlines was the first member of the grouping to decorate its aircraft in a special oneworld design – with two Boeing 777s flying in the design since April 2007, when it too joined the alliance.