Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico have won a U.S. appeals court ruling that vacates a Department of Transportation order seeking to end their joint venture and strip antitrust immunity. The decision keeps the long-running U.S.-Mexico partnership in place for now, allowing the carriers to continue coordinating schedules, pricing, capacity and network planning on transborder routes.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the DOT had acted arbitrarily and capriciously in ordering the alliance to be unwound, including by failing to justify why this case should be treated differently from other approved joint ventures. The ruling removes the immediate threat to dissolve one of the most significant airline partnerships on the North American market, though the department may still consider further legal steps.
The venture has operated for about a decade and has been central to the carriers’ cross-border strategy, covering traffic between Mexico City and multiple U.S. destinations. Aeroméxico described the outcome as supporting broader connectivity and more convenient service options, and it indicated that it would review next steps with Delta and legal advisers.