Delta invests $1.2b in Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico, LATAM airlines

Abiola Seun

Delta Air Lines is to invest $1.2 billion in Virgin Atlantic, Aero-Mexico and LATAM as the partner airlines transform their businesses to emerge from the global pandemic stronger and more resilient.

These investments bolster Delta’s global platform that provides customers an enhanced network, seamless connectivity and an elevated experience, as well as fuel business growth for Delta, its employees and its partners.

Prior to the pandemic, Delta was achieving record international growth attributed to a combination of organic growth and its global partner network.

Over the past 10 years, Delta has built industry-leading partnerships with flagship airlines across Europe, Asia and Latin America.

As international travel demand returns, the connectivity, relevance and breadth of Delta’s global network with its partners remains critical to continuing this success.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Delta Air Lines, Ed Bastian, “These strategic investments in our partners will transform our ability to improve travel for our customers, enabling us to deliver a seamless travel experience alongside offering our customers an unrivalled network between North American and premier markets worldwide.”

“The work each of our partners has done to strengthen their businesses for the future makes these partnerships even more valuable and creates a new era of international travel to benefit our customers, our employees and our investors as global travel rebounds in 2022 and beyond,” he further explained.

In support of its global future, Delta is investing in Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico and LATAM as each carrier emerges from restructuring or recapitalisation.

Upon completion of their respective processes, Delta is targeting a 20 per cent equity stake in Aeromexico and a 10 per cent equity stake in LATAM.

In addition, Delta will maintain its 49 per cent equity stake in Virgin Atlantic.

The airline’s investment in these carriers will be approximately $1.2 billion.

With new widebody aircraft on the way, record hiring, and significant investments in international readiness, Delta is positioned to lead the industry through the ongoing recovery.

Delta’s partnerships with Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico and LATAM expand that growth potential, helping to fuel route additions, customer connectivity and associated job creation:

The airlines’ existing Joint Cooperation Agreement (JCA) with Aeromexico launched in 2017.

Over the past four years, Delta and Aeromexico have built a leading trans-border network of more than 40 popular business and leisure routes from their main hubs and offering the most service in the largest New York and Los Angeles markets.

Delta and LATAM’s trans-American Joint Venture Agreement will combine the carriers’ highly complementary route networks between North and South America.

Following Chilean Court approval of the JV in October this year, Delta and LATAM expanded their existing codeshares to improve connectivity between North and South America.

Delta’s joint venture with Virgin Atlantic has, since 2013, solidified Delta’s position on key U.S.-U.K. routes including the leading business route New York-JFK to London Heathrow.

Speaking, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Dan Janki said, “Throughout the pandemic, Delta has continued to invest in our future, including new aircraft orders, accelerating real estate projects and putting significant resources into health and safety measures to protect our employees and our customers.”

“Similarly, investing in our partners now – even as we continue to navigate the pandemic – is the right choice to support Delta’s long-term strategy,” he said.

There is no change to Delta’s investments in AFKL, Korean Air and China Eastern.

With a shared ethos of the highest levels of customer service, Delta is focused on delivering benefits for customers through initiatives including seamless technology, loyalty reciprocity and frictionless connectivity with its global partners.

Delta’s own international network combined with its partnerships creates an extensive global network and positions the airline to successfully capitalise on the re-opening of international markets, as well as anticipated growth into the future.