More than 60 letters were submitted to the US government urging it to reconsider antitrust exemption among these airlines.
In addition to the Statement of Reasons that Delta Air Lines submitted to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to avoid being denied renewal of antitrust immunity (ATI) in the alliance it maintains with Aeromexico, it has now brought together a broad coalition of companies, business groups, lawmakers and governors who oppose the decision to terminate their joint business. .
In recent days, airlines have submitted about 60 letters to the DOT from various stakeholders urging the agency to reconsider the initial decision announced in January not to recommend an antitrust exemption allowing coworking. Delta and its supporters say the decision will force airlines to cancel many flights between the United States and Mexico at the expense of jobs and economic activity.
The coalition of supporters includes Airbus and automakers Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Stellantis, which say they rely on flights between the United States and Mexico for their operations, according to information from FlightGlobal.
The Department of Transportation rejected the antitrust renewal request on the grounds that the Government of Mexico repeatedly violated the air transportation agreement between the two countries, by unilaterally reducing capacity at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and forcing exclusive cargo airlines to move to the new airport. Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA), which is further from Mexico City.
In their warning against cutting flights, they say the US government should not penalize airlines, communities and consumers, but should instead bring complaints directly to Mexico's government, “through arbitration if necessary.”
“I respectfully ask that you reconsider this proposal,” Jeffrey Kneitel, CEO of Airbus Americas, said in a letter to the Department of Transportation dated February. Delta submitted the letter and dozens of others to the agency in recent days.
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both from Minnesota, said in a March 13 report that ending the partnership between Delta and Aeromexico would disrupt leisure and business travel between the United States and Mexico, threatening 91,000 jobs and $2.8 billion. Dollars of business activity.
On the Mexican side, the Association of Mexican Pilots Association (ASPA de México) also submitted a letter with reasons why ATI should be approved between the two airlines.
The National Chamber of Air Transport (CANAERO) and the Employers Confederation of the Republic of Mexico (Coparmex) have also joined organizations supporting the continuation of the trade agreement between Delta and Aeromexico. On the international side, the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) submitted another letter in which it expressed its opposition to the decision of the United States government not to renew the immunity of the aforementioned alliance.
