Delta Air Lines issued the following statement in response to the U.S.-Brazil agreement on Open Skies:

"Delta congratulates the U.S. and Brazil governments on the new open skies transition agreement, signed on March 19 during President Obama's trip to Brazil. The transitional agreement provides important new rights for airlines of both countries, and is expected to eventually result in full liberalization of the U.S.-Brazil air transport market. These new rights are important to Delta's long-term strategy to grow its presence in Brazil and Latin America."

Delta currently operates 31 weekly flights between the U.S. and Brazil. In 2010, Delta launched new nonstop service between Detroit and Sao Paulo, linking Brazil's largest city to the industrial-manufacturing center of the Midwest, and also to beyond points in Asia. In February of this year, Delta expanded cooperation with Brazil's GOL by entering into an agreement for codeshare flights.