Delta Air Lines is taking a stake in South America’s biggest airline, winning out over rival American Airlines, which had also sought to work through that carrier to deepen its presence in Latin America. Delta said Thursday that it intends to buy a 20% stake in Latam Airlines Group for US$1.9b in cash and newly issued debt. That would be Delta’s biggest investment since merging with Northwest Airlines over a decade ago. “This is the biggest region of the world that we had an open space,” Delta’s CE Ed Bastian said. “This largely completes the map.” The new partnership spells the end of a 3-year effort by American Airlines to deepen cooperation with Latam. The new tie-up leaves American without a partner in Latin America as its competitors pair off in the fast-growing region for air travel. <br/>
sky
Delta Air Lines is revoking a year-old ban on bringing emotional support animals on flights longer than 8 hours. However, it will continue to ban pit bull dogs as on-board service or support animals — even though new federal guidelines forbid service animal limitations based on types of breeds. Regarding pit bulls, the airline said it was concerned for the safety of passengers, crew and other service animals. The airline’ said 40 cases of “aggressive animal behavior” occurred on its flights in 2018 (though it did not say how many were related to pit bulls). Passengers who require service animals — defined as those trained to work or perform tasks for a disabled person, such as a guide dog — are allowed to bring dogs, cats and miniature horses for free on US commercial flights. Rules may apply to the animal’s size and weight. <br/>
A baggage handler with Delta Airlines was arrested after US$300,000 went missing from JFK Airport. Quincy Thorpe was arrested at his home in Brooklyn Thursday morning and appeared in federal court in Downtown Brooklyn later in the day. The money -- which was transported in 8 bags -- was part of a cash shipment to be loaded onto Delta Flight 1225 from Kennedy Airport to Florida Tuesday. Court documents allege that Thorpe scanned and loaded the bags onto the flight before taking a bag of cash from a larger armoured car transfer. The armoured car's security company realised 1 of 8 bags that made up the transfer was missing once the flight landed in Miami -- prompting an investigation by Port Authority police and the FBI. Thorpe was quickly identified after fellow workers said he went home sick. <br/>