After Mexico’s government put limitations on passenger and freight flights into Mexico City some years ago, the Trump administration reacted by imposing additional restrictions on flights leaving Mexico and threatening to disrupt a historic cooperation between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico.
A trade agreement between the two nations was violated and domestic airlines were given an unfair advantage, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who criticized Mexico’s measures to force airlines to relocate from the main Benito Juarez International Airport to the newer Felipe Angeles International Airport, which is more than 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) away. With over 40 million travelers in 2017, Mexico was the most popular international destination for Americans.
“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg deliberately allowed Mexico to break our bilateral aviation agreement,” Duffy added, referring to the former president and his transportation secretary of state. “That is going away today. Any nation that thinks it can exploit the United States, its carriers, or its market should take note of these measures. Standing up for justice is at the heart of what it means to put America First.
Until Duffy is pleased with Mexico’s treatment of U.S. airlines, all Mexican airlines—passenger, cargo, and charter—must submit their flight itineraries to the Transportation Department for government approval.
How Duffy’s moves could influence tariff talks and the larger trade conflict with Mexico is unclear at this time. When asked for response, a representative of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s office took some time to respond. During none of Saturday’s speaking engagements did Sheinbaum bring up the new limits.
Since early last year, Delta and Aeromexico have fought the Transportation Department’s attempts to terminate their 2016 cooperation. The airlines have stated that they should not be held financially responsible for the conduct of the Mexican government. They further claimed that terminating their agreement would put almost twenty routes at risk as well as eight hundred million dollars worth of economic advantages to both nations from tourism and employment.
In a statement, Delta expressed its concerns about potential consequences for consumers, U.S. jobs, communities, and transborder competition if the U.S. Department of Transportation were to terminate its approval of the strategic and pro-competitive partnership between Aeromexico and the company.
Aeromexico’s press office stated that the company is now analyzing the directive and plans to collaborate with Delta to provide a combined response within the next few days.
The ruling rescinding the airlines’ agreement wouldn’t be effective until October, and it’s probable that the airlines will keep challenging that judgment.
In a prior petition challenging the decision, the airlines stated their belief that the elimination of direct flights would cause around 140,000 American and almost 90,000 Mexican visitors to forego visiting the other country, so harming the economies of both nations through their reduced spending.
