LAN AIRLINES UP CLOSE TO 50% IN Q4 WITH NET PROFIT FOR 2010 UP 81.6%

Chilean flag carrier LAN Airlines SA’s fourth quarter net income leapt 49.9% on the year, in line with expectations, to $164.6 million as its passenger and cargo businesses continued to rebound after the recession. LAN, saw its passenger and cargo businesses boom as the region recovered from the global financial crisis and domestic demand picked up. LAN’s sales increased 21.6% on the year in the fourth quarter to $1.30 billion, from $1.07 billion in the same-year ago period, as sales from it passenger business grew 17.3% and sales in its cargo business increased 31.2%. “Income growth from our cargo business