American Airlines celebrated Wednesday’s decision by the Brazilian Senate to ratify an open skies agreement with the United States.

“American has long been advocating for an Open Skies policy between the US and Brazil,” said American chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “The Open Skies agreements have proven to result in increased flight options and increased competition, bringing benefits to consumers and positively impacting the economic growth of the signatory countries. American applauds the decision of the Brazilian Congress to approve this Open Skies agreement with the United States, paving the way for the approval and implementation of our joint venture with LATAM. ”

The Open Skies Agreement between Brazil and the United States is a prerequisite of the US Department of Transportation to approve the Joint Business Agreement (JBA) with LATAM Airlines Group.

The American-LATAM joint venture was announced in January 2016 and covers all flights between the United States and Canada and Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The agreement will expand the network of routes available to consumers, with increased connectivity, lower fares and improvements in the travel experience between American and LATAM. The JBA received approval from regulatory agencies in Brazil in October 2017, in Colombia in May 2017 and in Uruguay in November 2016.

American has a strong commitment to air service in Brazil, with more than 580 employees in the country and about 90 weekly flights to Rio de Janeiro (GIG), São Paulo (GRU), Manaus (MAO), Belo Horizonte (CNF) and Brasilia (BSB), from its hubs in Miami (MIA), Dallas / Fort Worth (DFW), New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX).

Photo: Press Release