Delta Air Lines and LATAM Enter Into Codeshare Agreement
by Daine Taylor
Aproposed partnership between Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines seeks to significantly expand service connectivity to destinations throughout South America, beginning in 2020. Photo: Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airline Group recently announced they will be entering into a codeshare agreement that will expand the service connectivity for both airlines when it officially launches in the first quarter of 2020.
“This is an important milestone for customers as we begin to deliver on the transformative partnership between Delta and LATAM,” said Steve Sear, president – international and executive vice president – global sales, for Delta Air Lines. “Once fully realized, this partnership will give us the ability to offer our shared customers an industry-leading network and superior service across the Americas.”
The codeshare agreement will offer LATAM customers the opportunity to connect to up to 74 destinations in the U.S. and Canada; and will provide Delta customers with up to 51 additional destinations within South America, through select LATAM affiliates in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
This proposed partnership is subject to governmental and regulatory approvals.
As a result of the partnership with Delta, LATAM also announced it will formally end all of its codeshare agreements with American Airlines on Jan. 31, 2020. Customers who have already purchased American Airlines flights via LATAM for flights from Feb. 1, 2020, and onwards, will be entitled to the same services, with no change to flight or ticket conditions.
“These codeshares mark an important milestone in LATAM’s journey towards offering the best connectivity and customer experience in the Americas,” said Enrique Cueto, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group. “Our passengers will soon to be able to access up to 74 destinations in the United States and Canada, which is just one example of the complementary nature of our networks and one of the many future benefits that the strategic agreement with Delta will bring.”
Delta also expects the partnership will expand codeshare opportunities to include even more destinations in the near future. In addition, the airlines are working towards introducing a frequent flyer program and lounge access that will be mutually beneficial for customers of both airlines.
