Summary
- American Airlines has argued that the DOT was right in tentatively ending the Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines three way partnership.
- The carrier added that ever for the reason that two airlines applied for antitrust immunity, the slot conditions at MEX has worsened.
- Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines has requested an extension to answer the DOT’s concerns.
American Airlines has sided with the US Department of Transportation (DOT), which issued its show cause order (SCO) dismissing the appliance for extension of antitrust immunity (ATI) for the Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines agreement.
Non-functioning open skies agreement between US and Mexico
American Airlines noted that in its SCO, the DOT detailed how the present actions by the Mexican government, which have included the ban of all-cargo flights at Mexico City Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (MEX) and reduced capability at the identical airport, will not be compliant with the Open Skies agreement between the US and Mexico.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Easy Flying
In consequence, American Airlines highlighted that the DOT followed its long-standing precedent of dismissing without prejudice the appliance for extension of the Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines three way partnership’s ATI. The DOT issued its SCO on January 26, while American Airlines provided its comments on February 23.
![American Airlines planes at Miami Airport](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/shutterstock_2416551037-2.jpg)
Photo: Leonard Zhukovsky | Shutterstock
Moreover, while the DOT approved the three way partnership for five years, it said on the time that if the problems regarding slot allocation continued, it in accordance with the American Airlines filing.
The airline also identified that Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines accepted the DOT’s conditions, including the danger that their three way partnership wouldn’t be renewed after the initial five-year period. As such, each carriers have had a variety of time to determine that circumstances have modified to warrant an extension of the grant of ATI, with the 2 corporations filing to eliminate the five-year expiration period in July 2019.
![An Aeromexico Boeing 787 8 is airborne departing from LAX](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/an-aeromexico-boeing-787-8-is-airborne-departing-from-lax-philip-pilosian.jpg)
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Continuous extensions
American Airlines noted that in response to that motion, multiple US-based airlines once more raised concerns about how slots are administered at MEX, with the DOT concluding that it was unable to guage the efficacy of changes within the slot management of the airport to resolve those concerns.
As such, the Department prolonged the deadline to file a brand new application for the ATI by three months. Eventually, the ATI grant expired on December 21, 2021, yet Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines
![An Aeromexico Connect Embraer E190 and Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-200 at Los Angeles International Airport.](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/shutterstock_1497571445-1.jpg)
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One other call for an extension
In conclusion, American Airlines said that it hopes for a fast and effective resolution of the DOT’s concerns with the Mexican government, urging the Department to make use of every tool at its disposal, including finalizing the tentative decision to not grant ATI to the Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines three way partnership.
Nevertheless, Delta Air Lines has already asked the DOT to grant a four-week extension until March 8. The extension would give Delta Air Lines time to conduct a pool poll of the carrier representatives served with this motion and advise the department of the outcomes. The carrier list includes 17 different US-based airlines.
Photo: Helissa Grundemann | Shutterstock
The airline noted that if the DOT were to finalize its SCO, it will have a with the extra time enabling the DOT to have a more complete overview of the situation and enable Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines to deal with the problems identified within the SCO fully.
Finally, the carrier said that the appliance to renew the ATI grant has been pending since March 2022, and giving it 4 additional weeks could be The DOT has also suspended the review of one other three way partnership, namely the Allegiant Air and Viva Aerobus partnership.
![Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 pushing back at Los Angeles International Airport.](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/shutterstock_1708081408.jpg)
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