U.S. Appeals Court Halts Trump’s Airline Alliance Dissolution

Mexico City, Mexico – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s decision to dissolve a significant airline alliance. This decision, which could still be appealed by the Republican administration, halts a planned separation set for January 1, 2026.

Airlines filed suit in September after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced measures aimed at promoting competition within the sector. The decision raised concerns in the Mexican airline industry, as it threatened to dismantle a partnership that has been operational for nine years.

These airlines serve tens of thousands of passengers traveling between Mexico and the United States. They expressed regret over the Trump administration’s efforts to end what it deemed anti-competitive practices between airlines in both countries.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, led by Sean Duffy, argued last week that dissolving the alliance was necessary because it granted excessive control over routes connecting the two nations. The government claimed the partnership contributed to a legalized collusion that manages 60% of operations at Mexico City’s airport, which is the fourth-busiest U.S.-Mexico route.

According to the government, ending the alliance would better serve the American public by preventing the companies from coordinating on pricing, capacity, and operations. If they lose the case, Delta Airlines would not be required to sell the 20% stake it holds in Aeroméxico, the flagship airline of Mexico.

Last month, the airlines contested the Transportation Department’s decision in the Eleventh Circuit. “Aeroméxico and Delta are inextricably one entity in the cross-border market that operates for the benefit of consumers. Ending this partnership by the January 1 deadline set by the DOT would be complicated, both operationally and commercially,” the airlines stated in their brief.

Delta estimates that breaking the alliance could result in over 140,000 fewer tourists visiting the United States and nearly 90,000 reduced travelers from Mexico.