Aerolineas Argentinas will join Skyteam by 2012, the airline alliance has announced.
The official agreement will be signed by the end of October, after which the joining process will start, expected to take around two years.
The Argentinean carrier is the first south American airline to join the alliance.
In a statement, Skyteam said the airline is a natural fit, as it is “actively working to strengthen its presence in Latin America, a region with strong growth figures and a positive outlook for the future”.
Aerlineas Argentinas introduced a five-year restructuring plan last year, which includes fleet renewal, adding more international destinations and expanding the domestic network.
Skyteam has expanded significantly in the past year, with several new members including Vietnam Airlines and Tarom. More growth is planned.
The alliance, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, said it is “actively working on further extending its global network" by looking for members from southeast Asia, India and Latin America.
China Eastern and China Airlines will join the alliance in 2011, which the alliance said will complete its network in the region.
A source from the alliance also said it will no longer have associate members. Previously associate members, Kenya Airways and Air Europa are now full members.