Delta Air Lines DAL and LATAM Airlines LTM have marked four years of their joint venture, with impressive growth in connectivity between North and South America. The partnership has operated 83,000 flights, 20.8 million seats offered and 17.4 million customers carried, significantly expanding travel options while creating a more integrated experience for passengers.
The 31% increase in combined capacity since 2023 is particularly noteworthy and reflects continued demand for travel between the two regions. Strong growth in markets such as Brazil, Ecuador and Peru, along with Argentina’s addition to the joint venture in 2025, has further strengthened the partnership’s regional reach.
Beyond expanding routes, the alliance has delivered tangible benefits for travelers through reciprocal Delta SkyMiles and LATAM Pass benefits, lounge access, priority services and baggage-related advantages. Initiatives such as digital baggage tracking and shared terminals at major airports are also helping create a smoother and more consistent travel experience.
The airlines’ separate maintenance agreement between Delta TechOps and LATAM Airlines Brasil further demonstrates the growing depth of their relationship. Cooperation in Airbus A320 component maintenance allows both carriers to leverage their technical expertise and strengthen their respective maintenance capabilities.
Overall, the Delta-LATAM joint venture has emerged as a strong example of how airline cooperation can improve connectivity, customer benefits and operational capabilities. With continued network expansion and deeper integration, the partnership is well positioned to play an increasingly important role in travel between North and South America.
Delta Air Lines’ Share Price Performance
DAL’s shares have gained 46.7% over the past year compared with the Transportation - Airline industry’s 5.7% growth.
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DAL’s Zacks Rank
DAL currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Stocks to Consider
Investors interested in the Zacks Transportation sector may consider better-ranked stocks like Kirby KEX and Herc Holdings HRI.
Kirby currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
KEX has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.3% for 2026. The company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, delivering an average beat of 2.86%.
Herc Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
HRI has a negative expected earnings growth rate of 8.4% for the current year. However, the company has an encouraging earnings surprise history. Its earnings topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average beat of 60.64%.
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Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL): Free Stock Analysis Report
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LTM): Free Stock Analysis Report
Kirby Corporation (KEX): Free Stock Analysis Report
Herc Holdings Inc. (HRI): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).