Delta and Aeromexico submit antitrust immunity application for joint venture

Delta Air Lines and Grupo Aeromexico have collaborated to file an application for antitrust immunity pertaining to their new joint venture with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If approved, the application will apply to the airlines’ flights between Mexico and the U.S.

"Mexico is the most popular international destination for Delta customers, and our proposed joint venture will offer our customers more schedule and destination choices, whether traveling for business or pleasure," Delta President Ed Bastian said. "Approval of antitrust immunity will allow travelers to fully benefit from all the aspects of a future Delta-Aeromexico joint venture, including the combination of two complementary networks."

Delta and its carriers provide passengers with flights to approximately 370 destinations on six of the globe’s seven continents.

The application is a landmark moment in the process of developing a $1.5 billion joint venture between Delta and Aeromexico. The venture will enable the two airlines to better compete for routes in Mexico and the U.S. The companies will also be able to combine joint investments, which will improve their customer service relations.

Furthermore, the venture benefits passengers, as they will be able to choose between more travel options in both the U.S. and Mexico.

"We are thrilled at this opportunity to further deepen our relationship with Delta,” Andres Conesa, CEO of Grupo Aeromexico, said. “The potential to align our networks and scheduling means that we will be able to offer greater customer choice than we would have been able to offer individually.”