Four Years into Their Joint Venture: LATAM and Delta Increase Capacity by 31% and Surpass 17 Million Passengers Between South and North America
Four years after launching their strategic partnership, the alliance between LATAM Airlines and Delta Air Lines continues to demonstrate sustained growth in air connectivity between South and North America. Between October 2022 and July 2026, the two carriers jointly operated 83,000 flights, offered over 20 million seats, and transported 17.4 million passengers.
This operational performance translates into a projected 31% increase in joint capacity for 2026 compared to 2023 levels. Over this period, the joint venture (JV) has managed 28 joint routes and added nine new routes to its destination network.
Network Redesign and Hub-to-Hub Connectivity
The agreement currently connects travelers to more than 300 destinations across the Americas:
- Delta provides access to over 200 destinations throughout the United States and Canada.
- LATAM contributes more than 130 destinations across South America.
Connecting traffic has been central to the operation: of the 17.4 million travelers carried, 9.4 million passengers (over 50%) flew on itineraries requiring connections through the carriers’ hubs.
“The Joint Venture has allowed us to offer our passengers more destinations and better connections by integrating two highly complementary networks. Our customers recognize this value proposition: since the agreement took effect, the proportion of passengers who would recommend flying with LATAM and Delta has risen by 50%,” stated Ramiro Alfonsin, Chief Commercial Officer at LATAM Airlines Group.
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New Routes and Strategic Capacity Increases
The expansion has bolstered key air corridors connecting both subcontinents:
- Operated by LATAM: Launch of the São Paulo–Los Angeles, Buenos Aires–Miami, and Atlanta–Lima routes.
- Operated by Delta: Launch of the Atlanta–Cartagena route, alongside frequency increases to São Paulo and Bogotá, complemented by seasonal capacity increases to Santiago and Buenos Aires.
Concentrating operations in Atlanta leverages Delta’s primary hub—recognized as the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic—to facilitate seamless transfers across North America and international markets.
“Over these four years, our Joint Venture with LATAM has continued to grow and evolve, strengthening connectivity between North and South America. Increased capacity, network expansion, and enhanced benefits for our customers underscore the value of working together to provide more options and an increasingly seamless travel experience,” said Alex Antilla, Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean at Delta Air Lines.
Loyalty Programs, Synergies, and Cargo Operations
Regarding customer experience and frequent flyer programs, LATAM Pass and Delta SkyMiles members benefit from reciprocal earning and redemption on eligible flights. Approximately 1.4 million frequent flyer members have utilized this benefit since the agreement took effect.
Elite-tier passengers receive priority perks, including:
- Priority seat selection and boarding.
- Additional baggage allowance.
- Access to more than 53 Delta Sky Clubs across the United States and 6 LATAM Lounges in South America and Miami.
Geographic Expansion and Freight Operations
Launched in 2022 covering Chile, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, the partnership subsequently expanded to include Ecuador in 2024 and Argentina in 2025. In parallel, the cargo division expects to reach an available capacity of nearly 1.6 billion available ton-kilometers (ATK) by 2026.
Future Outlook
The next phase of the joint venture will focus on deepening connectivity and optimizing the end-to-end passenger experience. Growth opportunities, new route launches, and frequency expansions will be supported by the induction of the Airbus A321XLR into LATAM’s fleet, alongside Delta’s ongoing fleet renewal program.
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