What happened
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed the Department of Transportation's 2024 order to unwind the immunized Delta-Aeromexico joint venture, keeping the 2016 antitrust grant in force. The court said DOT used the wrong market. The 2016 approval had used the broader U.S.-Mexico market, not Mexico City alone.
A joint venture lets the carriers coordinate schedules and pricing rather than compete as separate airlines. American Airlines holds just over a 20% share of U.S.-Mexico seats for the year ending in August. The Delta-Aeromexico venture sits just under 20%. Volaris holds 19% of those seats. Aeromexico said the venture still supports more connectivity and competition on U.S.-Mexico travel. Routes added under the pact, among them Mexico City to Phoenix and Tampa, had been viewed as at risk if the tie-up ended.
Delta SkyMiles and Aeromexico Rewards members keep reciprocal loyalty benefits that would have been in doubt if the Department of Transportation had succeeded in ending the venture. Nothing to book or register; the immunized partnership and its loyalty perks stay in place.
- Numbers
- 2016 year: year DOT originally approved the joint venture
- 2024 year: year DOT tried to begin ending the joint venture
- 20%: American Airlines share of U.S.-Mexico seats
- 20%: Delta-Aeromexico joint venture share of U.S.-Mexico seats
- 19%: Volaris share of U.S.-Mexico seats
- Where
- Mexico City, Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Tampa International Airport (TPA)
- Takeaway
- Nothing to book or register; the immunized partnership and its loyalty perks continue.