Delta Adds 35K Seats to Latin America and Caribbean Flights

In an ambitious expansion drive, Delta has bolstered its Winter Schedule for Latin American and Caribbean destinations by injecting an additional 35,000 seats. This significant stride corresponds to a robust 30% surge in seat availability compared to the previous winter season. The expansion extends to nine regional destinations, notably Guatemala and Liberia in Central America and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

With over 1,000 weekly flights to the Latin and Caribbean region, Delta outpaces other carriers, offering more flights from Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Detroit. 

Delta’s winter service to the Latin Americas region, already the largest in its history, is set to grow further. This expansion again signifies a 30% rise in seat availability compared to last winter, adding frequencies to nine destinations such as Guatemala and Liberia in Central America and San Juan, Puerto Rico. It clearly manifests Delta’s growth strategy from six of its US hubs. 

This expansion does more than just boost numbers; it fosters a vital gateway to the US for customers. It offers seamless onward connections to as many as 100 US cities via Delta’s largest hub in Atlanta, thereby enhancing the travel experience for a broad range of customers.

Delta’s Largest-Ever Winter Schedule to Latin America

Earlier this year, Delta announced its largest-ever holiday schedule to Latin America, providing more than 25,000 daily outbound seats to an impressive 44 destinations operating from various US hubs. This is a testament to Delta’s commitment to growth in this region. 

Delta is coming to the rescue for US travelers dreaming of a warm, tropical escape during the holiday season. The airline is introducing seasonal routes from its Atlanta, New York-JFK, Detroit, and Minneapolis hubs, all leading to several sun-soaked destinations. 

In a significant surge from the previous year, Delta’s holiday 2023 Latin America schedule boasts over 20% more seats compared to the 2022 holiday season. This represents the largest holiday schedule in the company’s history, with expanded services throughout Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. This expansion is part of Delta’s strategic recovery plan, following an operation at 85% overall capacity in 2022, particularly emphasizing its US hubs. 

For New Yorkers, Delta is offering an increased number of flights heading to the top three Latin American markets from JFK: San Juan (SJU), Santo Domingo (SDQ), and Santiago (STI)*. Delta will operate over 30 peak-day flights to 19 Latin American destinations directly from JFK with these additional routes.

Latin America and Caribbean Flights from New York, JFK

*According to the US DOT O&D Survey, routes to STI, SDQ, and SJU are the #1, #2, and #3 Latin American destinations to/from JFK by average daily passengers.

Latin America and Caribbean Flights from Atlanta and Detroit

Additionally, Delta will reinforce its position as the No. 1 carrier to Latin America from Atlanta and Detroit with added daily frequencies to the following popular destinations.

All flights will operate seasonally from Dec. 16 through Jan. 7.   

ADDED NONSTOP SERVICE TO COZUMEL

Customers can also travel nonstop to Cozumel, Mexico, with recently added daily nonstop service from Atlanta and three-times-weekly seasonal service from Minneapolis. Atlanta service restarts on Nov. 5, and Minneapolis returns on Dec. 16, with both flights operating on an A320 aircraft.

What to Expect Onboard: Delta Elevates Travel Experience on Largest-Ever Winter Schedule to Latin America and the Caribbean

Customers flying to Latin America and the Caribbean with Delta this winter can look forward to a number of improved in-flight services.

In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) Boost

Delta’s IFEC services include fast, free Wi-Fi and personal seat-back entertainment screens featuring a wealth of premium content, including curated playlists and podcasts in partnership with Spotify.

• Delta introduces fast, free onboard Wi-Fi

In a landmark move, Delta has distinguished itself as the first major US airline to offer fast, complimentary Wi-Fi to all its passengers, thanks to a strategic partnership with T-Mobile. As of February 1, this service has been rolled out on most domestic mainline aircraft, with plans to extend this offering to international and regional aircraft by the end of 2024. 

Elevated In-Flight Dining 

Earlier this year, Delta announced a number of enhancements to its in-flight dining menus. Kid-friendly meals are the latest enhancements to Delta’s onboard menu, including seasonal favorites and the return of the beloved Delta One dessert cart.

Delta’s onboard menu adds kid-friendly, parent-approved dishes.

The airline reintroduced kid-friendly meals, ensuring its youngest travelers have access to delicious and nutritional options.

The meals are well-balanced and include a variety of fruits, vegetables, colors, and textures. Delta chefs studied restaurant menus and traditional kids’ meals to develop menu items to please children and their parents.

The breakfast menu includes French toast with syrup, scrambled eggs, an assortment of fruit, and a small blueberry muffin. The lunch and dinner meal is cheese tortellini with marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, carrots and broccoli with ranch dressing, and an assortment of fruit and graham cookies.

These meals are available in First Class on flights exceeding 900 miles and across all cabins on long-haul international flights. Customers should select kid-friendly meals as special meals at least 24 hours before their flight. Customers can select these meals on flights via special meals.

The return of kids’ meals is the latest update to Delta’s refreshed onboard food and beverage menu, but it’s not the only treat flyers will find in-flight. 

Delta brings back the signature Delta One dessert cart.

The Delta One dessert cart, available on international flights, presents an array of mouth-watering treats. This includes everything from plated desserts, and fruit and cheese plates, to a personalized ice cream sundae experience.  

• Dessert offerings: Among the decadent items offered are the opera cake adorned with chocolate ganache, Cowgirl Creamery wagon wheel, Midnight Moon gouda, and fresh grapes.  
• Build-Your-Own Sundae: Customers can also delight in a vanilla ice cream sundae customized with a selection of toppings. Choices range from classic whipped cream, crunchy cookie crumble, and fruity compote to delectable chocolate chips. Please note that available options may vary depending on the city of departure. 

“Your onboard meal and beverage should be no different than your go-to restaurant at home, and that’s why we’re constantly reinventing our onboard service at Delta. We always want to surprise and delight our customers with seasonal, fresh, and fun menu options,” said Kristen Manion Taylor, S.V.P. of In-Flight Service at Delta.

More FABulous Options

Delta’s latest food and beverage revamp incorporates regional delicacies, such as traditional afternoon tea and tapas, alongside pre-arrival menu options. Seasonal introductions feature delightful meals from popular dining spots, including Atlanta’s Little Italia’s Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano. 

These recent additions further enrich Delta’s comprehensive food and beverage scheme. The program now includes a variety of vegetarian options in collaboration with Impossible Foods, Du Nord Social Spirits, and a selection of seasonally-inspired beverages like espresso martinis from Tip Top. 

Delta’s food and beverage program is co-created by three James Beard Award-winning chefs and features premium onboard wine offerings from Imagery Estate Winery, curated by the acclaimed female winemaker Jamie Benziger.

Delta Vacations Ups the Ante for Holiday Travel Convenience

Customers who are ready to book their winter vacation can do so through Delta Vacations, the airline’s official vacation provider. With all-inclusive vacation packages designed especially for SkyMiles® Members, Delta Vacations partners with the most treasured and recognizable beachfront properties and offers hotel options for every budget.

Here’s to a Quarter Century! Delta Marks 25-Year Milestone in Central America

Delta Air Lines proudly commemorates its quarter-century of service in four Central American nations: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Panama. 

Delta’s dedicated teams in these four countries celebrated this significant anniversary with their partners and clientele, reflecting on the fruitful relationships cultivated over the years. 

Delta’s flights connect bustling tourism and business centers with their extensive route network. Their operational dependability and customer-focused philosophy have helped promote tourism, fostered business ventures, and brought loved ones together.

Over the course of its 25-year journey in Central America, Delta’s personnel have fostered robust ties with local communities and partners. This has coincided with the region’s growth of travel and tourism as more travelers discover these enticing destinations. 

“Our gratitude extends to our customers for their continued support and to our teams for their tireless efforts in ensuring the success of these routes,” expressed Agustin Durand, Delta’s General Manager of Sales for Central America and the Caribbean. “In addition to delivering exceptional service, Delta’s Central American team has been actively involved in and supportive of organizations and initiatives such as Junior Achievement Americas, Desarrollo en Movimiento Guatemala, and the Pacific Run in Guanacaste. We remain committed to contributing significantly to Central America’s development.” 

Delta has 123 weekly flights linking the US with these four culturally rich and diverse countries.

COSTA RICA 

Costa Rica, with its pristine natural parks ideal for sustainable tourism and miles of stunning white-sand beaches, is an alluring destination for travelers. Delta launched service to the country’s capital, San Jose, in 1998. The airline later extended to the coastal Guanacaste region (Liberia). Delta has carried over 2.4 million passengers on these routes. Delta currently provides as many as 39 weekly flights on four distinct routes from the US to San Jose and Guanacaste (Liberia). 

In a strategic move to cater to the peak holiday season, Delta has elevated its flight frequencies from the two Costa Rican cities, moving from one daily flight to two. This expansion reflects Delta’s commitment to providing optimal service during the high-demand end-of-the-year travel period. 

PANAMA 

Nestled between the majestic Pacific Ocean and the historic Panama Canal, Panama City boasts many attractions. One such treasure is the Casco Viejo, a renowned colonial center basking in historical significance and adorned with charming cobblestone streets. Delta enhances this allure by providing nine weekly flights from this picturesque city to its bustling Atlanta hub.

GUATEMALA 

Delta proudly connects the vibrant city of Guatemala City, a destination teeming with rich Mayan heritage and often referred to as the ‘place of many trees’, to its bustling hubs in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Daily flights ensure seamless travel experiences for passengers, underscoring Delta’s commitment to fostering global connections.

EL SALVADOR 

El Salvador, a captivating gem in Latin America, is celebrated for its breathtaking beaches and prime surf spots dotting the Pacific coastline, complemented by rugged, scenic mountainous terrains. Delta has strategically increased its connectivity in response to the destination’s allure, offering 14 weekly flights from its pivotal Atlanta and Los Angeles hubs.

New Saturday Flights to Latin American and Caribbean Destinations

Delta is set to introduce additional Saturday routes from January 13. A diverse fleet will service these routes, including Boeing 757-200, 737-900, and 737-800. Each aircraft is equipped with First Class, Delta Comfort+, and Main Cabin features, ensuring various comfort options for passengers. 

With this added service, Delta will boost Saturday frequencies to the following cities: 

From Atlanta: 

• Three times to St. Thomas
• Twice to St. Maarten 
• Twice to Guatemala  
• Three times to San José 
• Three times to Liberia  
• Six times to San Juan  

From New York-JFK: 

• Three times to Cancun 

From Detroit: 

• Twice to Punta Cana 
• Twice to Montego Bay 
• Twice to San Juan  

From Minneapolis: 

• Twice to Punta Cana 
• Twice to Montego Bay 
• Twice to San Juan  
• Added Liberia service (currently four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) 

From Boston: 

• Twice to San Juan  

Delta Flights from Seattle to Cancun

Furthermore, Delta is expanding its service from Seattle to Cancun with an extra flight scheduled to depart on Fridays and return on Saturdays. This added service, which begins on December 22, will be operated by the Boeing 737-800. 

Delta recently announced its largest holiday schedule in what can be marked as a significant move to compete in the region. This has been extended to include numerous routes, available until April 2024, serving 46 destinations. Among these is a new route to Curacao and resumed service to Cartagena, Colombia. 

Passengers on these additional flights can look forward to a plethora of amenities. Fast, free Wi-Fi will be readily accessible. Thanks to complimentary access to Delta Studio, which features over 1,000 hours of on-demand content, a wide selection of in-flight entertainment options is available. Unique beverages and snacks, available for purchase in the Main Cabin, include the likes of Thrive Farmers Tea, Tip Top’s old fashioneds, espresso martinis, and the delectable White Chocolate Macadamia bars from Kate’s Real Food. 

Delta’s SkyMiles Members can also benefit from personalized services and exclusive offers through Delta Sync exclusives. This pioneering platform is designed to elevate the customer experience onboard.

Delta’s partnership with the LATAM group is also yielding fruit, with the addition of joint venture routes expanding their comprehensive network between North and South America. 

Delta and LATAM Kick Off Their Brazilian Adventure with Inaugural São Paulo-Los Angeles Route

The exclusive direct route from Brazil to Los Angeles, operated by LATAM, opens up connections via Delta to over 20 US destinations, including San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle. This marks a significant milestone as the inaugural Joint Venture route between Delta and LATAM in the Brazilian market, which saw its first flight land in Los Angeles (LAX) from São Paulo (GRU) on August 1. The Boeing 777 aircraft’s arrival turned the largest city in California into LATAM’s 22nd international destination from Brazil. 

This new addition also becomes LATAM Brazil’s fifth US destination, following Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), New York (JFK), and Boston (BOS). This complements Delta’s daily flights from São Paulo to Atlanta and New York and from Rio de Janeiro to Atlanta and New York (seasonal operation) as of December. LATAM has positioned itself as the leading Brazilian airline connecting the country with the rest of the world. It carries the most passengers flying Brazilian airlines to or from the country, as per Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency data. 

Danillo Barbizan, Delta Sales Manager in Brazil, expressed his enthusiasm about the new route, “The US is a top international destination for Brazilian travelers, making us thrilled to launch this São Paulo – Los Angeles route in partnership with LATAM. As the sole direct flight from Brazil to the West Coast, this route offers customers the quickest and most comfortable option to explore this US region. It also enhances the reciprocal benefits of frequent flyers, whether traveling for business or leisure.” 

Brazilian Tourists Love LA

With an estimated capacity to transport an average of 110,000 travelers per year directly between the destinations, the new route represents nearly 65%¹ of the Brazilian tourists projected to visit Los Angeles in 2024, as per the Los Angeles Tourism Economics Forecast². 

Aline Mafra, Director of Sales and Marketing at LATAM Brazil, reflected on the inauguration of this flight, “This new route between Brazil and the US West Coast is the outcome of a Joint Venture between two global companies. We now offer customers simpler and faster trips with optimal routes, schedules, and connections. With the launch of this new international route, we reaffirm our commitment to increasingly connect Brazilians with the world and welcome foreigners to discover the wonders of Brazil from our hub in Guarulhos.” 

The launch of this partnership was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony before boarding in São Paulo/Guarulhos. Danillo Barbizan, Brazil Sales Manager for Delta Air Lines, and Camila Belinelli, Commercial Manager for LATAM Brazil, delivered remarks. Delta Air Lines and LATAM crew members also joined in the event.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony before the boarding in São Paulo/Guarulhos included remarks by Danillo Barbizan, Brazil Sales Manager for Delta Air Lines, and Camila Belinelli, Commercial Manager for LATAM Brazil. Delta Air Lines and LATAM crew members also participated in the event marking the beginning of this partnership.

Non-Stop Fun from São Paulo to Los Angeles!

Imagine slashing four hours off your travel time between São Paulo and Los Angeles. That’s what Delta’s direct flight offers, bypassing the need for connections through Santiago or Lima, where LATAM extends its services to LAX. From Los Angeles, LATAM patrons can swiftly connect with Delta flights heading to over 120 sought-after US locales, including the iconic San Francisco, vibrant Las Vegas, and bustling Seattle. 

Three weekly flights are currently operated using the spacious Boeing 777 aircraft. It comfortably houses 38 passengers in the Premium Business cabin, 50 in Economy+, and a generous 322 in Economy. However, after November 2023, this route will witness a transition to the state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9. This aircraft will seat 30 customers in the Premium Business cabin, 57 in the Premium Economy, and 213 in the Economy section, ensuring a comfortable and efficient travel experience. 

Schedule of new Service between São Paulo/Guarulhos and Los Angeles

*Schedules are subject to change.

Delta and LATAM: Joint Venture Boost Connectivity in the Americas

The strategic alliance between Delta and LATAM has dramatically reshaped the connectivity landscape between North and South America. This partnership combines over 120 South American destinations served by LATAM with Delta’s extensive network of more than 200 North American locales. From the start of their Joint Venture in October 2022, the Delta-LATAM axis has amplified its capacity by a remarkable 75%, securing its position as the top Joint Venture partnership in terms of market share. This is evident when gauging passenger volume for service between New York City and South America and between Los Angeles and South America. 

Both partners have worked to ensure an unparalleled experience for their customers, both on the ground and in flight. They have successfully integrated their operations at key terminals in airports like New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Orlando (MCO), São Paulo/Guarulhos, Lima (Peru), Bogota (Colombia), and Santiago (Chile). Eligible customers can access 53 Delta Sky Club lounges in the United States and five LATAM Lounges in South America. 

More Value for Loyalty Programs Members

Delta SkyMiles and LATAM Pass loyalty program members can earn and use points/miles across both networks. Elite benefits are reciprocated depending on the level of frequent flyer program membership.

These benefits include:

• Seat selection fee waiver on LATAM flights
• Priority boarding  
• Preferred seats
• Priority check-in
• Extra baggage allowance  
• Priority baggage handling  
• Priority security check through T.S.A.

LATAM: Enhancing Global Connectivity with Increased Efficiency in Brazil and Beyond

Excelling in efficiency, LATAM has soared to new heights by serving an all-time high of 55 destinations in Brazil. This impressive feat is credited to the addition of 11 new destinations since 2021. They include: Jericoacoara (CE), Juazeiro do Norte (CE), Vitória da Conquista (BA), Petrolina (PE), Presidente Prudente (SP), Montes Claros (MG), Juiz de Fora (MG), Cascavel (PR), Sinop (MT), Caxias do Sul (RS), and Passo Fundo (RS). Furthermore, in 2023, LATAM broadened its horizons by extending its codeshare agreement with Voepass. 

On the international front, LATAM is the leading airline that bridges Brazil with the rest of the world. According to ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency), LATAM outshines other Brazilian airlines by transporting the most passengers on international flights in Brazil. The airline operates direct flights from Brazil to 22 international destinations via 29 routes from São Paulo/Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, Brasília, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, and Fortaleza airports. Additionally, it offers connecting flights to 67 destinations spanning all inhabited continents except Asia. In 2023, it has plans to inaugurate routes such as Foz do Iguaçu-Lima, Belo Horizonte-Santiago, Santiago-Melbourne, Lima-Aruba, Lima-Atlanta, Lima-Havana, and Guarulhos-Johannesburg. 

Annually, LATAM transports an impressive average of 30 million passengers within Brazil and an additional 3 million in the international market. This entails an average of 700 flights per day, with 650 of them being domestic and 50 international.

NOTES

¹ Estimate considered according to the forecast number of customers to be transported by LATAM on the São Paulo-Los Angeles route in 1 year of operation.  

² According to the Los Angeles Tourism Economics Forecast data, the location expects to receive 85,000 Brazilian visitors in 2024.

To book Delta flights to and from Central America, visit delta.com. 

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