- The U.S. government has called the Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico joint venture “legalized collusion” over Mexico City-U.S. flights.
- The Department of Transportation set a January 1, 2026 deadline for ending the partnership, but the airlines have requested a waiver.
- Delta argues the alliance supports nearly 4,000 U.S. jobs and adds more than $310 million to the U.S. economy.
- The government contends that claims of “irreparable injury” by the airlines are exaggerated and public interest favors greater competition.
- The U.S. has placed added pressure on Mexican aviation, including revoking routes and restricting access for Mexican carriers over concerns about airport slot allocation.
The U.S. government is seeking to end the joint venture between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico, a partnership that allows the two airlines to coordinate flight schedules and pricing on routes between the U.S. and Mexico. Authorities have set a deadline of January 1, 2026, for dissolving the alliance and are urging a federal appeals court to reject the airlines’ request to delay this order.
In official filings, U.S. agencies described the venture as “legalized collusion” controlling almost 60% of operations at Mexico City’s airport, one of the largest international gateways to and from the United States. The airlines have applied for a waiver to extend the deadline, arguing that more time would enable a full legal review.
Delta, which holds a 20% stake in Aeromexico, warns that ending the partnership threatens nearly 4,000 U.S. jobs and over $310 million in economic contributions. The company also claims the move could result in a loss of $800 million in annual consumer benefits and the cancellation of about two dozen routes.
Authorities have dismissed these concerns, saying the airlines’ claims of “irreparable injury are overblown”. Officials assert that dissolving the alliance would restore full and fair competition not only between the two carriers but also with other market participants.
The U.S. has recently increased oversight on Mexican aviation practices. Complaints center around Mexico’s airport slot allocation process, which the U.S. says does not meet international norms. This follows actions by the Mexican government to limit slots for U.S. carriers and move some flights to a newer airport outside Mexico City. In response, the U.S. revoked approval for 13 Mexican airline routes and banned all combined passenger and cargo flights on Mexican airlines to the U.S. from the Felipe Angeles International Airport, according to a Reuters News report.
The joint venture between Delta and Aeromexico has been in effect since 2016.
