Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines Group have confirmed, this Friday (30), that the United States’ Department of Transportation approved the two groups’ Joint Venture.

This is another major step in the development of a comprehensive partnership between the two airlines, started back in 2019, when Delta announced the purchase of a 20% equity stake in LATAM.

Over the following years, both airlines integrated with setting codeshare agreements — which are already taking place — and integration of their frequent flier programs.

Effectively, the announcement means that the two airlines have open roads from the regulators to develop their partnership even further, openly coordinating schedules and sharing profits within the partnership. Delta says, in a press release, that «more details on the benefits of the partnership will be shared in the coming months.»

The CEO of Delta, Ed Bastian, stated, in this press release, that «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».

His counterpart from LATAM Airlines Group, Roberto Alvo, said in the same release that «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».

LATAM intends to extend its local presence

Aviacionline understands, from sources with knowledge of the matter, that LATAM’s next step to further increase its connectivity, particularly in Brazil, will be sourcing a regional partner.

While GOL already has its ATR-operating proxy, VoePass/Passaredo, the measure will be a direct attack on Azul’s cash cow — monopoly destinations that can only be reached with smaller aircraft. LATAM’s smallest aircraft in its current fleet is the Airbus A319, which can carry 144 passengers. An ATR 72 can usually carry 70.