Grupo Aeroméxico reported that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled in favor of its alliance with Delta Air Lines and nullified the order of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) , which terminated the approval of the joint collaboration agreement between both airlines, as well as its antitrust immunity.
Antitrust immunity allows two airlines authorized by the competent authorities to coordinate certain commercial and operational decisions , and without that authorization, they could face restrictions arising from competition laws.
“ As a result, the joint venture agreement and its antitrust immunity remain in effect , allowing Aeromexico and Delta to continue offering greater connectivity, a broader network, more convenient service options, and greater competition for customers traveling between Mexico and the United States,” the company said in a statement.
However, the Mexican airline, led by Andrés Conesa, stated that it is reviewing the Court’s opinion and possible next steps with Delta and its legal advisors.
In September of last year, the United States Department of Transportation decided to terminate the antitrust alliance between Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines, because it considered that it generated anti-competitive effects , arguing that Mexico had supposedly not respected the Air Transport Agreement signed in 2015 , so the termination would come into effect on January 1, 2026.
“This action is necessary due to the anti-competitive effects in the Mexico City and United States markets, which provide an unfair advantage to Delta and Aeromexico as two dominant competitors and create unacceptable real and potential harm to stakeholders, including consumers,” the agency said.
According to the final document, the DOT explained that the implications go beyond Mexico City, affecting competition for passengers and cargo operations in additional markets between the two countries.
In that regard, Aeromexico and Delta went to court and in November 2025 obtained a suspension of the measure while the litigation was being resolved.
The Court’s ruling of August 20 allows the two companies to maintain their cooperation on the routes and services included within the alliance .
For Aeromexico, the court ruling also means the preservation of a cooperation model that is key to strengthening its competitiveness against other airlines that operate routes between the two countries.
It is worth remembering that, in July 2025, the DOT had identified that the limitation of slots (takeoff and landing times) at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and the relocation of dedicated cargo planes to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) allowed the alliance between Delta and Aeroméxico to consolidate its position in passengers and cargo, with the Mexican airline having the largest share in the cross-border cargo market.
At the time, Delta and Aeromexico argued that ending their alliance would lead to the cancellation of routes between Mexico and the United States; in addition, it would cause an economic impact of $800 million and lead to an increase in ticket prices.
For its part, the DOT had argued that continuing the alliance would lead to significant problems, such as higher fares in some markets , stifled innovation, reduced capacity (including frequencies and new routes), difficulties in “doing business” for U.S. airlines, and other impediments for established competitors and new entrants.
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