ATLANTA, Dec. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines
(NYSE: DAL) and Aeroméxico (BMV: AEROMEX) today accepted the final
order issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation granting them
antitrust immunity and allowing the airlines to establish a joint
cooperation agreement. This historic agreement will establish the
largest transborder alliance between Mexico and the
United States, expand competition and benefit customers of
both airlines.
"Together, Delta and Aeroméxico are stronger in the
U.S.-Mexico market than either
airline can be on its own," said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. "The partnership will make it
possible for us to offer customers more flights to more
destinations, with more choices every time someone travels across
the border. We will offer industry-leading reliability, great
service and an unmatched array of options."
"This agreement will mark the beginning of a new era in the
aviation of North America, as the
first and the largest cross-border alliance between Mexico and the
United States," said Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa. "It is
the next step in our relationship, and our networks will provide
more benefits to our customers while increasing the options for
connectivity, products and services."
Bastian added that the partnership will benefit employees as
well. "Our partnership means growth of services and jobs for both
Delta and Aeroméxico," he said.
Once conditions requested by DOT and the Mexican Federal
Economic Competition Commission have been fulfilled, the agreement
will allow Aeroméxico and Delta to coordinate efforts to enhance
the travel experience with expanded destinations and frequencies,
improved connecting schedules and seamless operations.
The agreement will also improve the experience on the ground,
allowing the airlines to co-locate and invest in airport facilities
by improving gates and lounges. The airlines also will increase
joint sales and marketing initiatives.
Delta will offer a strong presence in the United States through its hubs in
Atlanta, Detroit, Los
Angeles, Minneapolis-St.
Paul, New York,
Salt Lake City and Seattle; while Aeromexico will offer larger
access to Mexico through its hubs
in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.
The airlines have been partners for 22 years. The regulatory
approval represents an important milestone in the process,
announced last year, to launch a cash tender offer for Delta's
acquisition for up to 49 percent of Grupo Aeromexico S.A.B. de
C.V., capital stock, further strengthening the partnership between
the two airlines.
About Grupo Aeromexico
Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de
C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries provide commercial
aviation services and promote passenger loyalty programs in
Mexico. Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, operates more than
600 daily flights from its main hub in Terminal 2 at the
Mexico City International Airport.
Its route network spans more than 80 cities on three continents
including 45 in Mexico, 18 in
the United States, 15 in
Latin America, four in
Europe, four in Canada, and two in Asia.
Grupo Aeromexico's fleet of close to 130 aircraft includes
Boeing 787, 777, and 737 jet airliners and next generation Embraer
190, 170, and 145 models. In 2012, the airline announced the most
significant investment strategy in aviation history in Mexico, to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft
including 90 MAX 737 airliners and ten 787-9 Dreamliners.
As a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Aeromexico
offers customers more than 1,000 destinations in 177 countries
served by its top 20 airline partners rewarding passengers with
benefits including access to 672 premium airport lounges around the
world. Aeromexico also offers travel options through its codeshare
partners Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines,
and WestJet with extensive connectivity in countries like
the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. www.aeromexico.com and
www.skyteam.com.
About Delta
Delta Air Lines serves nearly 180 million
customers each year. In 2016, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50
Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired
airline for the fifth time in six years. Additionally, Delta has
ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for
an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading
global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer
service to 323 destinations in 57 countries on six continents.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta
employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a
mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding
member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the
industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air
France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin
Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers
customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets
including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles,
Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow,
Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita.
Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities,
global products and services, and technology to enhance the
customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional
information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as
delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and
Facebook.com/delta.
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SOURCE Delta Air Lines