I don't know how much money if any it is costing them. [The US airlines have gotten so many favors and waivers from the government that the market is increasingly best described as an oligopoly with cartel-like behavior and outcomes and this is in an environment of packed planes and fares that have risen substantially.] But US airline fares for travel from the EU to South America via the US are pretty cheap relative to more direct or relatively equal indirect routings for the travel O&D of interest to me.