Delta and Aeroméxico Sue US DoT Over Joint Venture Ruling

Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), challenging its order to dissolve their joint venture by January 1, 2026. The case was filed in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn the DOT’s September 15 ruling that revoked antitrust immunity for the alliance.

Delta said the petition is “our only option at this point in time and procedurally the next step in the process to protect Delta’s and Aeroméxico’s business interests, global networks, and customers.” Aeroméxico added that the decision to seek judicial review “has not been taken lightly,” emphasizing that the two carriers operate as “a single entity in the cross-border market” benefiting consumers.

The airlines argue that dismantling the partnership would be financially and operationally burdensome and plan to request a court stay to delay enforcement. The DOT terminated the joint venture’s approval after determining it was anticompetitive, citing actions by the Mexican government that affected slot access at Mexico City International Airport, including a ban on cargo operations and an allegedly unfair slot allocation system.

The carriers’ alliance, approved in 2016, currently controls over 50% of capacity at Mexico City International. In the U.S.-Mexico transborder market, they jointly carry around 20% of passengers. If the joint venture is dissolved, the airlines may still cooperate through code-sharing, marketing, and loyalty programs, while Delta retains its 20% ownership stake in Aeroméxico.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com