by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:35 AM ET, Tue January 30, 2024
The United States Government announced that changes made by Mexico
to the country’s main capital airport would result in Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico
being forced to end their longstanding partnership.
According to Reuters.com,
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) found that existing carriers and
potential new entrants were negatively impacted when the Mexican government
moved cargo flights and commercial slots from Mexico City International Airport
to Felipe Angeles International Airport.
While Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the
moves were made to boost low traffic at the new airport, the DOT said the decision
was made “fundamentally out of compliance with the existing bilateral air
service agreement and international norms.”
As a result, the DOT revealed that the antitrust immunity that
Delta and Aeromexico currently operate a codeshare agreement under would not be
renewed, pending a final ruling. The government said the airlines have until October
26 to “wind down their joint venture.”
In response, Delta released an official statement on the
U.S. government’s decision.
“Delta is deeply disappointed by the U.S. Department of
Transportation’s tentative decision to terminate its approval of Delta and
Aeromexico’s procompetitive Joint Cooperation Agreement. This unprecedented,
regulatory overreach by the DOT will cause significant harm to consumers
traveling between the U.S and Mexico.”
“Mexico is our country’s second largest trading partner
and the Delta/Aeromexico Joint Cooperation Agreement, which is responsible for
the launch of 15 routes between the U.S. and Mexico, has been critical to
connecting communities and businesses in both countries, while generating
substantial economic benefits for U.S. businesses. Delta will take all
necessary steps to protect the millions of consumers that have benefitted from
its strategic partnership to ensure the continued delivery of important benefits
to consumers in the U.S.-Mexico market.”
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