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Aeroméxico and Delta win US court ruling to preserve joint venture
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has ruled in favor of Aeroméxico and Delta Air Lines, vacating a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) order that sought to terminate their joint venture and antitrust immunity.
The court found the DOT’s decision to withdraw approval was “arbitrary and capricious,” noting that the department failed to provide a reasonable explanation for using a significantly narrower market analysis than it had applied in previous airline alliance cases. While the DOT’s 2025 review focused primarily on competition at Mexico City International Airport, the court emphasized that the department departed from its uniform practice of analyzing broader country-pair and city-pair markets.
As a result of the ruling, the partnership—which allows the two carriers to coordinate schedules, pricing, and capacity on flights between the United States and Mexico—remains in effect. The airlines stated the decision will allow them to continue providing enhanced connectivity and service options for passengers traveling between the two nations.
Entities
Aeroméxico · Delta Air Lines · Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals · Mexico City International Airport · U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit · U.S. Department of Transportation
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the Department of Transportation's order to strip antitrust immunity from Delta and Aeromexico. www.uniradiosonora.com · www.paddleyourownkanoo.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Department of Transportation had previously sought to end the alliance due to competition concerns in the US-Mexico air services market. www.uniradiosonora.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Department of Transportation cited alleged non-compliance with the US-Mexico Air Transport Agreement as a reason for its actions. www.uniradiosonora.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The joint collaboration agreement and its associated antitrust immunity remain in effect. www.uniradiosonora.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The court labeled the Department of Transportation's reasoning for ending the immunity as ‘arbitrary and capricious’. www.paddleyourownkanoo.com