Emirates airlines recently announced a codeshare deal with Brazil’s LATAM airlines. The new arrangement will apply to Brazilian domestic routes already serviced by Latin America’s largest carrier.

Emirates passengers can now fly on the same itinerary to 17 Brazilian destinations from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

The agreement between Emirates and LATAM was announced on May 2nd. The new deal enhances the already-impressive destination portfolio of the Dubai-based airline. According to Emirates's 2018-2019 performance report published in September 2018 the company's global fabric covers 161 destinations in 85 countries.

The Gulf airline already operates daily flights from Dubai to Sao Paulo and Rio. Both routes are serviced by the carrier's A380s, although from June 1st this year a newly-refurbished Boeing 777-200LR will fly the Rio route.

The Emirates codeshare destinations from São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport include Curitiba (CWB), Florianópolis (FLN), Porto Alegre (POA), São Luiz (SLZ) and Manaus (MAO).

Passengers will also be able to fly from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile from June 1st, according to Sam Bridge writing for Arabian Business.

Destinations from Rio’s Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport include Brasília (BSB) Fortaleza (FOR), Belém (BEL), Goiânia (GYN) and Curitiba (CWB).

What is a codeshare deal?

Most major airlines use codesharing partnerships. This agreement is an important element of large-scale airline alliances. A codeshare between two airlines allows both to market flights under their own airline designator.

Emirates Boeing 777-200LR
Emirates Boeing 777-200LR will fly Rio route from 1st June. Photo: Wikimedia

Codeshare flights are usually operated by one administrating carrier, but seats can be sold for the flight by various other allied airlines under their own corporate banner.

Codesharing has numerous advantages to both passengers and airlines. However, the practice has been criticised by some trade organisations as being both misleading to consumers and unfair to competitors.

Welcomed opportunities

A press release from Emirates reads: ‘We’re pleased to establish a partnership with LATAM Airlines Brazil providing our passengers with increased choice, flexibility and ease of connection to different cities within Brazil.’

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, is quoted in the same media as saying:

With our award-winning product and strong partners in Brazil, we look forward to continue supporting the country’s growing inbound tourist numbers and business trade opportunities.’

LATAM airlines

Chilean LATAM airlines group was formed by the merger of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines in 2012. The airline group – Latin America’s biggest and one of the largest in the world – operates a colossal network of passenger and cargo services throughout Latin America and the rest of the world.

LATAM Airlines
LATAM Airlines are the biggest carrier in Latin America. Photo: LATAM Airlines

LATAM airline’s subsidiaries operate a combined fleet of 315 passenger aircraft flying routes to 137 destinations across 24 countries.

From hubs at Miami International Airport and Santiago International Airport, LATAM’s freight subsidiary flies 18 aircraft to 144 destinations in 29 countries. Freight destinations include Belgium, Netherlands and the United States.

In August 2015, LATAM Airlines Group announced that it intended to re-brand as LATAM. The re-branding would see one unified livery applied to all aircraft by 2018. The first aircraft to sport the new unified livery was formally unveiled in 2016.

The new Emirates codeshare agreement will allow clearer routing for customers. It is hoped the deal will also lead to cheaper and more seamless travel for customers of both Emirates and LATAM.

LATAM’s operational costs may even benefit from its surrendering some of its capacity to Emirates.