The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines Group joint venture (JV), which gives passengers access to more than 300 destinations between the US, Canada, and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay).
US DOT approval allows Delta and LATAM Airlines Group, LATAM Airlines Brasil, LATAM Airlines Colombia, LATAM Airlines Peru, and LATAM Airlines Paraguay to offer new customer and cargo benefits.
The benefits include improved and expanded route offerings that will add to the codeshare routes and reciprocal loyalty benefits currently provided.
LATAM Airlines Group CEO Roberto Alvo said: “The approval by the DOT will give rise to the start of work with Delta to deliver more and better benefits to LATAM and Delta customers, such as faster connections and the joint accrual of miles in frequent flyer programs, among many others.
“I am sure that, over time, we will be able to offer the best connections while incorporating a sustainable view of the future.”
In 2019, Delta and LATAM unveiled their plan to create an airline partnership with an objective to increase travel choices across North and South America.
Since then, the two airline companies have achieved various milestones and shared terminals at airports including New York John F Kennedy (JFK), São Paulo, Brazil (GRU), and Santiago, Chile (SCL).
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said: “Delta’s partnership with LATAM will help grow the market between North and South America and provide significant and much-needed benefits for customers, and we applaud the DOT for this final approval.
“Now, we’ll get to work with LATAM to transform the travel experience for our collective customers and create new opportunities for our employees.”
In January, British airline company Virgin Atlantic reached a codeshare alliance with LATAM Airlines.
