AAdvantage miles redemption coming soon on South America's budget carrier JetSmart

American Airlines is a major player in Latin America with a substantial number of AAdvantage members. The airline has formed partnerships with Gol Airlines in Brazil and JetSmart throughout South America after LATAM shifted its alliance to Delta Air Lines in 2019.

JetSmart operates locally in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru and plans to expand significantly by increasing its fleet from 44 Airbus A320-family planes to over 100 by the end of the decade. Indigo Partners owns a majority stake in JetSmart while American holds about 35%.

Anmol Bhargava, vice president of global alliances and partnerships at American, highlighted how investment into JetSmart facilitates domestic expansion which supports long-haul growth for both airlines.

JetSmart aims to enhance its network within South America and expand northward from Colombia into the U.S., Caribbean, and Mexico as new aircraft arrive. The airline is also expanding its codeshare partnership with American Airlines to include Colombia by year's end.

Currently, nearly 10% of travelers on JetSmart include an AAdvantage number on their reservations—a figure expected to rise once mile redemptions become available.