Delta-LATAM joint venture lifts Americas capacity 31% as partnership marks four years

Carriers add nine routes as corporate bookings and cargo expand

Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines said Monday their joint venture increased combined passenger capacity between North and South America by about 31% in 2026 compared with 2023, as the carriers mark four years of partnership. The airlines have carried 17.4 million passengers on 83,000 flights and offered 20.8 million seats between October 2022 and July, according to figures released by Delta. The partnership currently covers 28 routes connecting the United States and Canada with eight South American countries.

Executives from both airlines told Chilean newspaper Diario Financiero in an interview published Monday that passenger demand has remained strong despite higher jet fuel prices and uncertainty affecting international travel. Delta and LATAM now share terminals at airports including New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, São Paulo and Santiago and have integrated portions of their loyalty programs, while corporate bookings have outpaced the broader passenger segment.

The joint venture began operating in October 2022 after receiving final approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation, allowing Delta and LATAM to coordinate schedules and capacity across covered markets. It initially covered the United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Ecuador was added in 2024 and Argentina joined in 2025; Argentina’s addition helped drive a nearly 47% increase in the airlines’ combined capacity in that market in 2026 compared with 2025.

The growth reflects a broader expansion of air connectivity between the United States and South America, with the two carriers adding nine routes since the partnership began and increasing capacity in several of the region’s largest aviation markets. Routes added under the partnership include São Paulo–Los Angeles, Bogotá–Orlando, Guayaquil–New York, Buenos Aires–Miami, Atlanta–Cartagena, Rio de Janeiro–New York and Lima–Salt Lake City. The carriers share terminals at airports including New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, São Paulo and Santiago, and have integrated services including digital baggage tracking.

Brazil recorded nearly 33% growth in combined Delta–LATAM capacity in 2026 compared with 2023, while capacity increased 64% in Ecuador and 25% in Peru. Chile and Colombia each recorded growth of about 10%, Delta said.

Corporate travel has emerged as another source of growth, with corporate passenger bookings increasing 30% between 2023 and 2025 — outpacing broader passenger demand, according to figures provided by the airlines. The partnership also expanded into cargo operations in 2024, a segment executives said has been growing about 16% annually. Members of Delta’s SkyMiles and LATAM Pass programs can earn rewards while flying on either airline and receive reciprocal benefits depending on their status.

Alain Bellemare, president of Delta International, said the partnership “has gained traction more quickly than other joint ventures the airline has seen.” Alfonsín said the carriers continue to monitor individual routes and adjust capacity based on demand and cash flow, and that the airlines expect growth of between 8% and 10% by the end of 2026.

LATAM is preparing to add Airbus A321XLR aircraft to its fleet beginning in 2027, which executives said could allow the partnership to add frequencies and capacity on routes across the Americas.