U.S. Orders End to Delta-Aeroméxico Joint Venture

Washington, United States — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump said late Monday that it is ordering Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico to dissolve a joint venture by January 1. The arrangement had allowed the carriers to coordinate scheduling, pricing, and capacity decisions for flights between the United States and Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Transportation first proposed the measure in July as part of a series of actions directed at Mexican aviation. In a statement on Monday, the Department said the action "is necessary due to the continuing anticompetitive effects in the markets between the United States and Mexico City that provide an unfair advantage to Delta and Aeroméxico."

The U.S. government is not requiring Delta to sell its 20 percent stake in Aeroméxico.

For its part, Aeroméxico stated in a release that it "regrets" the decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation, arguing that it overlooks "the benefits the alliance has provided to connectivity, tourism, and consumers in Mexico." The airline assured that the measure will not affect its customers and guaranteed that passengers will continue to be able to use the connectivity service offered by both airlines.