For the third consecutive year, LAN Airlines, a member of LATAM Airlines Group, has received the award for South America’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards.

TAM Airlines, also member of the group, was a nominee in the same category.

World Travel Awards is considered the ‘Oscars of the Travel Industry’ and LAN Airlines received its award during a gala ceremony at the Itchimbía Cultural Centre in Quito, Ecuador.

WTA nominees are selected by a panel of experts that analyse criteria such as customer satisfaction and service quality, product innovation, corporate social responsibility and community involvement, among others.

LAN Ecuador chief executive, Manuel Van Oordt, said: “The aviation industry is key to tourism development.

“Our endeavour and decisions as LATAM Airlines Group focus on delivering excellent service to our passengers and on making a relevant contribution to the industry.

“Therefore, we are very proud and happy to receive, for the third consecutive year, recognition as South America’s Leading Airline.”

This makes it the seventh consecutive year that an airline belonging to LATAM Airlines Group has received a first place award.

In 2007, 2012 and 2013, LAN was recognised as South America’s Leading Airline and in 2005 it received the award for South America’s Leading Airline – Business Class.

In 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, TAM Airlines scooped the title of Leading Airline in South America.