WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the Mexican authorities Saturday that the US might deny flight requests from the nation after its southern neighbor compelled American cargo carriers out of Mexico Metropolis and took away slots for flights from American airways.
The Trump administration official accused Mexico of breaking a bilateral aviation settlement in 2022 when it pulled American flight slots and compelled the US carriers out of Benito Juarez Worldwide Airport — earlier than ordering its authorities to reveal all flight schedules with the Division of Transportation.
Flights from American, Delta and United Airways had beforehand been given slots on the Mexico Metropolis airport.
Duffy additionally mandated department-level approval for any Mexican massive passenger and cargo plane coming from and going to the US.
“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg deliberately allowed Mexico to break our bilateral aviation agreement,” he stated in an announcement, together with his company claiming the transfer “left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs.”
“That ends today. Let these actions serve as a warning to any country who thinks it can take advantage of the US, our carriers, and our market. America First means fighting for the fundamental principle of fairness.”
The US cargo carriers have been advised to relocate from the airport inside 108 days — regardless of being positioned there underneath the US-Mexico Air Transport Settlement signed onto in the course of the Obama administration in 2015.
The development that prompted the elimination of American cargo carriers from Mexico Metropolis has but to start greater than three years later, in response to the Division of Transportation.
Mexico was the highest vacation spot for vacationers leaving the US, in response to statistics from the Division of Commerce’s Nationwide Journey and Tourism Workplace compiled in 2019.
Moreover, the transportation chief recommended the US would withdraw antitrust immunity from Delta and Aeromexico, citing “serious concerns about the long-term competitiveness of the U.S.-Mexico market” and saying its authorities’s actions have harmed airways, customers and commerce.
That might finish the carriers’ three way partnership permitting for income sharing, frequent pricing and capability administration — however Delta would have the ability to maintain its fairness stake in Aeromexico and proceed flying to and from Mexico.
“Mexico lacks a transparent and non-discriminatory slot allocation regime that adheres to international standards and applies consistently across the country’s airports,” the division stated in an order served to Delta.
“The lack of a coherent slot allocation regime and the prospect of arbitrary action looming at any time raises serious concerns about the long-term competitiveness of the U.S.-Mexico market and the ability of the Department to depend upon the air services agreement as a mechanism to ensure adequate competition,” the order learn.
“Mexico’s actions harm airlines seeking to enter the market, existing competitor airlines, consumers of air travel and products relying on time-sensitive air cargo shipments traded between the two countries, and other stakeholders in the American economy.”
The “tentative proposal” to finish the settlement “would cause significant harm to consumers traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, as well as U.S. jobs, communities, and transborder competition,” Delta stated in an announcement.
“We are reviewing the series of DOT orders regarding Mexico’s adherence to the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement and look forward to working with the Trump Administration to resolve the issues raised in the orders,” the airline rep added.
Reps for Mexico’s international ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
