Delta Air Lines and LATAM Airlines Group continue to stress their proposed immunized joint venture is a necessary counterbalance to American Airlines’ dominance on routes from the U.S. to Latin America.

Without a partnership between Delta and LATAM, American will have an unfair advantage in Latin America, Delta and LATAM argue.

Fifteen of the MAX jets will financed through direct operating leases, nine with sale-leasebacks, and the remaining four through finance leases.