Photo: LATAM Airlines.
LATAM Airlines Group and Delta Air Lines have announced today the first non-stop route between Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This is the first route derived from the company’s joint venture agreement and will add capacity between North and South America. Today, LATAM and Delta announce first non-stop joint venture’s route.
LATAM and Delta announce a joint venture route
LATAM Brasil will begin a nonstop flight between São Paulo (Brazil) and Los Angeles (United States) on July 1, 2023, becoming the first and only airline to connect Brazil with a direct flight to Los Angeles. This is the first operational announcement after the approval of its Joint Venture agreement with Delta last September.
When the two airlines filed for their joint venture agreement in 2020, they said the JV would cover 700 city-pair markets; provide new or expanded service on at least 18 nonstop routes; and provide approximately $460 million in estimated annual consumer benefits, among other benefits.
The flight will have an initial frequency of three times a week. LATAM Brasil will deploy the Boeing 777 aircraft, with a capacity for 410 passengers (38 in Premium Business cabin, 50 in Economy+, and 322 in Economy. It will take off from the São Paulo (Guarulhos) airport at 11:05 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, arriving in Los Angeles at 7:00 a.m. the next day. From Los Angeles, flights will take off at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, scheduled to arrive in São Paulo (Guarulhos) at 5:20 a.m. the following day.
Aline Mafra, Director of Sales and Marketing, LATAM Brasil, said that this route is a result of planning between two global carriers that now work together to offer its clients the most simple and quickest travel options, with the best routes, durations, and connection periods.
From LAX, customers will be able to connect with Delta to several destinations on the West Coast, including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle.
More capacity to and from Latin America
Another highlight of the announcement was the capacity increase on routes to and from the United States. In the case of the LATAM Group, the changes will be the following:
- Santiago-Los Angeles: As of September 2023, LATAM Airlines Group will total five frequencies to Los Angeles International Airport. It will add more than 900 seats with the two additional flights to the current offer.
- São Paulo-Orlando: Starting in August 2023, LATAM Airlines Brazil will increase its operation to the Orlando International Airport, adding a fourth weekly frequency. The operation will be carried out with Boeing 787-9 aircraft and will add 600 extra seats to this itinerary.
- Lima-Miami: The operation, by LATAM Airlines Peru, will go from 14 to 17 weekly frequencies on Boeing 767 aircraft with the updated interior cabin scheme. This adjustment will add more than 1,300 weekly seats so customers can better connect to destinations in North America.
- Lima-New York: The itinerary will be adjusted from 7 to 12 weekly frequencies on Boeing 767 aircraft operated by LATAM Airlines Peru, equipped with the updated interior cabin scheme. From Lima, passengers will be able to connect with regional destinations of the LATAM network, such as Córdoba, Mendoza, Porto Alegre, and Rio de Janeiro, among others. Also, the passengers connecting in New York will be able to do so quickly to destinations in the Delta network, such as Toronto, Boston, and Washington. Said adjustment will add more than 2,200 weekly seats so customers can better connect to destinations in North America.
- Lima-Los Angeles: The operation of LATAM Airlines Peru will go from 7 to 14 weekly frequencies, in a mix between Boeing 767 and 787 aircraft. This adjustment will add more than 3,400 weekly seats, so customers can better connect to North American destinations like San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle. In Lima, in turn, they will be able to connect with regional destinations of the LATAM network, such as Córdoba, Mendoza, Porto Alegre, and Rio de Janeiro, among others.
What about Delta Air Lines?
On the part of Delta Air Lines, these are the changes:
- Atlanta-Santiago de Chile: The operation increased from three weekly flights between Atlanta and Santiago de Chile to daily service on an Airbus A350, equivalent to more than 2,700 weekly seats between its main hub in the United States and the Arturo Merino Benitez Airport.
- Atlanta-Lima: The service will upgrade to an Airbus 350 aircraft, which translates into more than 1,700 extra weekly seats so that more customers can connect between Atlanta and the Peruvian capital’s International Airport. Delta’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft has a capacity for 339 passengers and is equipped with Delta One, Delta Comfort+, and Main Cabin.
- New York-São Paulo: Delta’s three weekly flights between its New York JFK hub and São Paulo increased to daily service beginning Oct. 29 with the Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
- Atlanta-São Paulo: A second daily seasonal flight between Atlanta and São Paulo (GRU) will begin on December 17 using Airbus A330.
- Atlanta-Rio de Janeiro: Delta will resume the popular, seasonal route between Atlanta and Galeão International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro on Dec. 17.
- Miami-Orlando: Delta will launch a new daily service between Miami and Orlando on December 1.
- Miami-Los Angeles: A new daily service between Miami and Los Angeles will launch on December 17.
