citiflyerUK

It’s being reported that Delta will purchase 20% of LATAM. As a result the airline will leave OneWorld (hence the BA connection).

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/09/26/...mpression=true

“LATAM will be leaving the OneWorld alliance, but it was not immediately clear whether it would join SkyTeam, the group that includes Delta and its partners.”

I wonder what effect this will have on BA’s Southern America ops. They were never that strong and now losing their partner can’t help.

andymcdonnell

Disappointing as LATAM were a nice airline with fantastic South American coverage. Leaves a big hole for Oneworld after losing Mexicana a while back. Most other Latin American carriers are basket cases or not worth bothering with

scubadu

Agreed, definitely creates a big gap for OW in SA.

Regards

Concerto

Interesting. This is going to change quite a few things. I wonder, though, if it is such an issue because alliances per se appear to have less importance than they used to.

squawk

There go the 40TP I was going to earn in April between MAD and FRA - assuming they leave Oneworld by then. Ah well, nevermind!

dgsupersonic

That makes things quite interesting in SA, specially in Brazil, since Gol is/was a big partner of Skyteam airlines in the region and a direct competitor of LATAM.

FlyerTalker6823123456

These things take a long time - I’d expect a full year or more’s notice.

ermis177

SA market is very uncompetitive with only 2 big players. Latam and Avianca. If latam joins skyteam OW would pretty much have no routes apart from a few with BA and Iberia.

Arsey00

AA flies to a few cities too. But there won't be any connection opportunities.

Swanhunter

Not a bad move for Latam, partnering with the best quality NA airline. I think the days of Alliances as the driver of airline integration are firmly over.

ringingup

I really hope they won’t leave within the next 3 months...

I have spent lots of £££ on flights with them them in South America which are part of my plan to keep Gold!

Lefly

Not very happy as I was planning to visit Easter Island and other locations with them in the near future. Oh well...

ens100

That is such a shame as I travel quite frequently to Brazil and surrounding countries on LATAM. I hope the regulators don't approve the purchase by Delta and instead the JV talks resume with AA - Wishful thinking but you never know.

our_kid

LATAM are great and pretty disappointed with this - those who want to go MPN I suggest you get cracking. There’s also a new GRU-MPN route coming but I’ll be flying that it seems without any benefits!

Had great trips to MPN/CUZ/PUQ/SCL with LATAM connections and having OneWorld benefits do make a difference.

Nothing lasts forever though

andymcdonnell

They supposedly decided to leave OW and hook up with Delta due to the Chilean govt refusing the joint venture with AA. Why would they subsequently approve one with DL?