That's kinda funny, as someone mentioned at a crew news meeting the idea of S. America flying, (this was around '06 or so I think)
And the powers to be there simply stated, No, S. America wouldn't work for us, not looking at it, we have other places in mind. True, things change with time, but really..... I wonder if they went back to PHX and got a new map and darts....
Atleast as it relates to Brazil, service would not have been possible back in 2006 as an expanded bilateral was only signed in late 2007/early 2008. Prior to that, all frequencies were held by airlines. The first frequencies that could be used for GIG service became available in 2009, which US and CO successfully procured.
Prior to the Brazil application, US sought BOG flights in 2008 when the US & Colombia signed an expanded bilateral, but the new frequencies went to B6, CO, DL, and NK. Like Brazil, there are currently no more available frequencies, though the two countries are rumored to be close to signing an open skies agreement.
Venezuela, another likely candidate, has not allowed additional US Airline service in years. There are several applications that have been outstanding for years, and Chavez has in fact, threatened to force US airlines to reduce service there in the past.
In short, the only countries of interest that US could've served five years ago even if they wanted to were Peru and Argentina. Argentina does not seem like a logical starting point to S.America if you ask me, but Peru (LIM) would've been, and still is, a place US should look to expand.