Aeromexico Trims Flights to US Amid Antitrust Immunity Refusal

In response to the US Transportation Department’s (DOT) tentative refusal to renew antitrust immunity for its transborder joint venture (JV) with Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico has announced significant adjustments to its summer 2024 schedule to the United States.

The decision, reflected in the latest schedules filed with OAG Schedules Analyser, entails the cancellation of planned flights from Monterrey (MTY) to three major U.S. destinations—Los Angeles (LAX), New York John F. Kennedy (JFK), and Salt Lake City (SLC). Initially set to commence operations on March 31 and May 16 respectively, these routes would have significantly expanded Aeromexico’s U.S. network from Monterrey to five cities alongside Atlanta and Detroit.

Furthermore, the data reveals that while daily operations between Guadalajara and Detroit are still scheduled to launch on March 14, they will be suspended from April 1 onwards. Reservations for flights beyond this date on the route are currently unavailable.

Read more: Mexico: Regulators put conditions on Delta-Aeromexico transaction

Aeromexico’s decision to reduce its planned summer schedule comes on the heels of the DOT’s recent ruling mandating the unwinding of its joint venture with Delta. The DOT attributed this decision to Mexico’s purported non-compliance with the bilateral air services agreement between the two countries, citing fundamental issues.

The move marks a significant setback for Aeromexico, which had announced plans to bolster its U.S. presence following the restoration of Mexico’s Category 1 safety rating by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in October. This development had ended a more than two-year period during which Mexican airlines were restricted from adding new routes or increasing frequencies to the U.S. due to Mexico’s Category 2 status.

Aeromexico’s recalibration of its U.S. operations underscores the ripple effects of antitrust regulations and bilateral agreements in the aviation industry. With uncertainty looming over the future of its joint venture with Delta and the broader implications for transborder air travel, stakeholders are closely monitoring developments in this ongoing saga.

Source: Aviation Week