Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico have accepted the U.S. Department
of Transportation's stipulations for antitrust immunity, clearing the way for a
joint cooperation agreement between the two carriers.
The two carriers now can coordinate destinations and
frequencies and increase cooperation on sales and marketing initiatives. They
also can work together to co-locate facilities in airports and invest to
improve gates and lounges.
In addition, Delta can proceed with plans to increase
its minority stake in Aeromexico to as much as 49 percent, putting that
investment in line with Delta's stake in Virgin Atlantic.
"Together, Delta and Aeromexico are stronger in the
U.S.-Mexico market than either airline can be on its own," Delta CEO Ed
Bastian said. "The partnership will make it possible for us to offer
customers more flights to more destinations with more choices every time someone
travels across the border."
The carriers' agreement appeared to be in jeopardy in recent
months when the DOT said it would require the carriers to divest 24 transborder
slots from Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport and six slots at
New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Delta protested the decision,
and while the DOT's final
order decreased the JFK divestiture to four slots, it left the Mexico City
requirements unchanged. Today, however, the carriers accepted the order.
Last
year, the U.S. and Mexico removed
limits on the number of carriers operating between U.S.-Mexico city pairs,
opening the first door for this partnership.