American Express and Delta Air Lines have signed an 11-year renewal
American Express renews its largest co-branded partnership. Source: shutterstock.com
American Express and Delta Air Lines have signed an 11-year renewal extending their exclusive Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards from American Express portfolio through the end of 2029.
The long-term agreement will continue existing features, including:
- Ongoing investment in benefits for Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards from American Express
- Complimentary access to the network of Delta Sky Clubs around the world for Delta Reserve Card Members and Platinum Card Members from American Express
- Delta participation in the Membership Rewards program from American Express, allowing those points to transfer into the SkyMiles Program
- Delta as an American Express Card-accepting merchant
As the two companies work together, Delta expects its benefit from the relationship to double to nearly $7 billion annually by 2023, up from $3.4 billion in 2018, strengthening Delta’s increasingly diversified revenue stream.
American Express expects attractive growth economics over the term of the agreement and affirmed its previous guidance for 2019 of FX-adjusted revenue growth in the 8-10 percent range and adjusted earnings per share between $7.85 and $8.35.
Since 1996, Delta and American Express have offered a portfolio of co-branded products that allow eligible Card Members to earn miles and receive other Delta-related benefits such as first checked bag free, Main Cabin 1 priority boarding and Delta Sky Club access. In 2018, the companies added 1 million new Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Members while spending across the card portfolio grew by double digits. Delta is the largest co-brand partner for American Express and its only U.S. airline consumer co-brand partner.
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