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The Trump administration announced back in September 2025 that it was ordering Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to unwind their nearly ten-year-old joint venture for flights between the United States and Mexico. The move was meant to strip the carriers of antitrust immunity, effectively preventing them from coordinating on scheduling, pricing, and capacity decisions as of January 1, 2026.
Now, Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico have won a major legal victory after a federal appeals court overturned a US Department of Transportation (DOT) decision that would have dismantled the airlines’ long-standing joint venture. The ruling by the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals allows the partnership to continue and preserves the close cooperation the two carriers have maintained on routes between the United States and Mexico since 2016.
The dispute began after the DOT moved to revoke the airlines’ antitrust immunity and argued that changes to operations at Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and the relocation of cargo flights to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) raised concerns under the US-Mexico air transport agreement.
However, the appeals court found that the agency had not adequately justified its decision. Judges concluded that the DOT departed from its previous approach without providing a sufficient explanation and applied a different standard than it had used when evaluating similar international airline partnerships.
As a result, the court vacated the DOT’s order, allowing Delta and Aeromexico to continue coordinating schedules, sharing revenue, and jointly managing their cross-border network. For travelers, the decision removes uncertainty surrounding flights between the two countries. The airlines will continue offering coordinated schedules and connections through hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), and Mexico City International Airport (MEX). Customers will also continue to benefit from integrated loyalty program features, including earning and redeeming miles across both airlines.
Anthony’s Take: While the ruling preserves the partnership for now, it does not permanently prevent the DOT from revisiting the issue. The court determined only that the agency’s previous order lacked sufficient legal justification. This leaves the door open for regulators to pursue the matter again if they develop a stronger case.
(Image Credits: Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
