Delta Air Lines is investing in strengthening its global alliance ties to fight off the threat of fast-growing low-cost transatlantic carriers.
Delta will take a 10% stake in Europe’s biggest airline Air France-KLM Group, a fellow member of the SkyTeam global alliance.
The move has sparked an investment merry-go-round across three continents.
Delta partner China Eastern Airlines will also take a 10% shareholding in Air France-KLM, while, as reported earlier by TravelMole, the French airline itself will take a 31% stake in Virgin Atlantic Airways, of which Delta is a major shareholder.
Air France-KLM CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac said: "With Delta and Virgin Atlantic we are reinforcing our transatlantic alliance, making us the No. 1 alliance between Europe and the US in terms of traffic.
"With China Eastern, we are consolidating our position on a high-growth market."
The investment will give a Delta representative a seat on the board of Air France-KLM.
Delta still plans to move forward on a joint venture with China Eastern in the US-Asia market and Delta’s planned 49% stake purchase of Aeromexico is on track to be completed next year.
