Delta, LATAM Continue Push for U.S. Joint Venture Approval

Caribbean News…
03 August 2021 8:58pm
Delta

Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines are continuing with their push for joint venture approval from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). In the latest update, the two carriers are heavily focused on assuring the DOT that their pre-pandemic plans to grow long-haul international routes, co-locate at airports, and expand their respective short- and medium-haul domestic and regional markets are still on the books but just delayed due to the pandemic.

With the joint venture, both Delta and LATAM see growth opportunities. This includes at least nine new nonstop routes between the US and South America, incremental to the pre-pandemic baseline. While the two airlines did not reveal the specific routes they are looking at, there are certainly some strong hints.

While LATAM flies to Delta hubs in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, Delta’s main gateway to South America is its largest hub at Atlanta, where LATAM does not fly. Delta also flies routes to South America out of New York (JFK) but has a much more limited presence.

To the DOT’s request for information, both Delta and LATAM stated their anticipated joint venture “will result in more comprehensive services to these cities and offer a  platform for future JV services at [redacted in public filing].” This likely references other of Delta’s hubs and major US gateways.

Delta has previously flown nonstop to South America from its hub at Detroit and Orlando. Both of those routes were cut pre-crisis.

Meanwhile, LATAM could also expand its flying to the US. American Airlines has recently cut much of its South American long-haul network out of LAX, leaving an opening for LATAM. Traditionally, Delta’s long-haul joint venture partners have added flying to the carrier’s largest hub in Atlanta, and there could certainly be room for both LATAM and Delta at the airport. LATAM is getting rid of its Airbus A350s (which are ending up at Delta), but it still has Boeing 787s it can deploy to the US.

Source: Simple Flying

Back to top