FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines applauds today's decision by the Brazilian Senate to ratify an Open Skies agreement with the United States.

“American has long advocated for the approval of an Open Skies policy between the U.S. and Brazil,” said American’s Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. “Open Skies agreements have proven to increase travel choices and enhance competition, resulting in greater benefits for consumers and positively impacting economic growth. American applauds the actions of the Brazilian Congress to approve this Open Skies agreement with the U.S., paving the way for the approval and implementation of our joint business with LATAM.”

The U.S.-Brazil Open Skies agreement is a prerequisite for the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve American’s proposed Joint Business Agreement (JBA) with LATAM Airlines Group.

The American-LATAM JBA was announced in January 2016 and covers all travel between the U.S. and Canada and Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The JBA will give customers a superior route network with increased connectivity, lower fares and a seamless travel experience between American and LATAM. The JBA has previously received regulatory approval from Brazil in October 2017, from Colombia in May 2017 and from Uruguay in November 2016.

American has a long-standing commitment to service in Brazil with more than 580 team members in the country and nearly 90 weekly flights to Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Sao 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).