• The Trump administration has imposed restrictions on Mexican flights due to competition and operational issues.
• Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico's partnership may be affected as the U.S. threatens to withdraw antitrust immunity.
• Mexico's changes in flight slot allocations are viewed as a violation of a bilateral aviation agreement.
• U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated these actions aim to ensure fairness in the aviation market.
• The partnership's termination, if executed, could significantly impact consumer choices and economic ties.

The Trump administration has announced new restrictions on flights from Mexico in response to recent changes by the Mexican government that have affected U.S. airlines. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the U.S. could disapprove flight requests from Mexico if these issues are not addressed, indicating a serious shift in U.S.-Mexico aviation relations. The restrictions also include a proposal to withdraw antitrust immunity from the Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico joint venture, which has existed since 2016, according to Reuters.

Duffy's remarks emphasized that Mexico's actions to reduce flight slots and relocate cargo operations to the Felipe Angeles International Airport, situated over 30 miles away from the main Benito Juarez International Airport, have violated bilateral agreements and prompted unfair competitive advantages for Mexican airlines. He claimed this has resulted in increased operational costs for American carriers, highlighting a critical issue for the U.S. transportation market, reports Los Angeles Times.

The implications of these measures extend beyond airline operations; they threaten to disrupt significant economic interdependencies between the U.S. and Mexico. Delta Air Lines criticized the potential decision to withdraw partnership approval, asserting it could jeopardize service consistency as well as economic benefits related to tourism and employment across the two countries. The airline noted in a statement that as many as 140,000 Americans and nearly 90,000 Mexicans could cancel travel plans, thereby impacting substantial tourism-related revenue, according to India Times.

The U.S. Department of Transportation now requires all flights operated by Mexican airlines to be submitted for U.S. approval until concerns regarding their treatment of U.S. carriers are adequately addressed. While the partnership's termination won't take effect until October, the situation has created a considerable amount of uncertainty, placing the future of U.S.-Mexico air traffic at risk, as confirmed by Reuters and Reuters.