US Warns Mexico over Air Transport Agreement Violations

On Saturday, US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning to Mexico, citing violations of the 2015 US-Mexico Air Transport Agreement. This agreement was intended to “significantly increase future trade and travel” between the two nations.

In a statement, Duffy expressed concern, suggesting that the Biden administration and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had allowed Mexico to disregard this bilateral aviation agreement. He emphasized that this behavior “ends today,” indicating a commitment to uphold fairness in the aviation market.

The Department of Transportation accused Mexico of failing to comply with the contract by abruptly withdrawing slots from US airlines, such as Delta, American, and United, forcing them to relocate operations. This issue has seen a degree of contention, especially since Mexico claimed these slot withdrawals were necessary for reducing congestion and facilitating construction at Benito Juarez International Airport, which has yet to commence even three years later.

According to the DOT, these actions disrupted the market and incurred significant costs for American companies. In response, Duffy outlined three specific measures as part of the “America First” initiative. Firstly, Mexican airlines must now submit their operational schedules to the DOT. Secondly, any large passenger or cargo charter flights involving the US will require prior DOT approval. Lastly, a supplementary order has been issued that may revoke the antitrust immunity of the Delta/Aeromexico partnership.

In response to these developments, Delta indicated it would collaborate with the administration to address any concerns. They asserted that ending the partnership with AeroMexico could adversely impact consumers and employment across US-Mexico travel.