Delta, LATAM Partnership Sees 68% Capacity Increase

DALLAS — The Delta Air Lines (DL) and LATAM Airlines Group (LA) partnership has enabled the airlines to expand their flight capacity by 68%, establish six new routes, operate over 32,000 flights, and transport over 5 million passengers since 2022.

The reported capacity increase corresponds to 8 million seats between the United States and Canada (North America) and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay), with travelers in these regions accumulating a distance of “over 110 million miles.”

Ecuador was incorporated into the Joint Venture's coverage in South America for travel to North America, and the Joint Venture exclusively included cargo flights. These were some of the most significant milestones during the second year of the agreement.

Partnership Network

The Delta-LATAM Joint Venture operated up to 25 direct routes in the first two years, connecting key cities on both continents, including the seasonal Santiago-Orlando route launched this year. 

As for the key routes, DL operates the seasonal New York JFK-Rio de Janeiro route, while the LA operates the Bogotá-Orlando, São Paulo-Los Angeles, Santiago-Orlando, and Quito-Miami routes. Additionally, LA has added a second daily frequency on the Atlanta-Bogotá and Lima-Atlanta routes.

The gateways in North America were Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), and Orlando (MCO). The gateways in South America were Bogotá (BOG), Cartagena (CTG), Fortaleza (FOR), Lima (LIM), Quito (UIO), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Santiago (SCL), and São Paulo (GRU).

Joint Venture Benefits

Apart from the network expasion, passengers from the joint venture get to check their luggage to the final destination and experience a more expedited check-in procedure at the airport. Additionally, shared terminals are available in New York-JFK, São Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, which optimizes the time for connecting passengers.

Furthermore, the joint accumulation of miles or points in frequent traveler programs and access to over 53 Delta Sky Clubs in the United States, as well as five LATAM lounges, primarily located in South America (Santiago, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Bogotá, and Miami”). 

Finally, LA will inaugurate the inaugural VIP lounge at Lima Airport (LIM) in the first quarter of 2025, enhancing the convenience and luxury of customers departing from the Peruvian capital. Elite customers of the Delta SkyMiles and LATAM Pass loyalty programs are also eligible for reciprocal benefits, including priority check-in, boarding, baggage management, and an additional baggage allowance.