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Delta-Aeromexico Partnership Survives Court Challenge — What It Means for US-Mexico Travelers

A US appeals court has thrown out a federal order that would have ended the Delta Air Lines-Aeromexico joint venture, preserving a partnership that shapes how millions of travelers — including remote workers who split time between the US and Mexico — book flights across one of the busiest international corridors in the world.

The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled in favor of the airlines, vacating a US Department of Transportation order that had sought to terminate the joint venture starting in 2024. According to The Points Guy, the appeals court found the DOT had improperly "focus[ed] on just the Mexico City market" rather than conducting the broader US-Mexico market analysis the agency used when it first approved the partnership in 2016. Delta said the cooperation agreement "has provided greater choice, more seamless travel, and increased connectivity for consumers while supporting U.S. jobs and economic growth," according to its own news release on the ruling.

The joint venture, cleared by regulators in 2016, covers the US-Mexico market — the largest international market by seats from the US, according to The Points Guy. It allows Delta and Aeromexico to coordinate scheduling, pricing, and joint sales, and it includes reciprocal loyalty benefits between Delta SkyMiles and Aeromexico Rewards. Combined, Delta and Aeromexico hold just under 20% of seats between the US and Mexico, compared with just over 20% for American Airlines and 19% for Volaris, The Points Guy reported.

The partnership hasn't been without disruption. Joint operations were suspended from 2021 to 2023 after Mexico's aviation safety rating was downgraded to Category 2 by the FAA, and resumed once the rating was restored to Category 1 in 2023. Since the joint venture took effect, the airlines have added dozens of routes, including new nonstops between Mexico City and Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, and Tampa.

What this means for remote workers and nomads

For nomads who treat Mexico as a home base or regular stopover, this ruling is a practical win. The joint venture's coordinated scheduling has driven route expansion beyond the obvious Mexico City-hub connections, meaning more direct or easily connecting options between US metros and Mexican cities than either airline could support alone. A DOT-forced unwind could have meant fewer route options, worse connection timing, and disrupted mileage-earning across SkyMiles and Aeromexico Rewards — all things that matter to anyone booking flexible, frequent trips rather than a single round-trip vacation.

The reciprocal loyalty benefits are also worth watching if you're building a points strategy around US-Mexico travel: as long as the joint venture stands, SkyMiles and Aeromexico Rewards members can generally expect continued cross-earning and redemption options on each other's flights, rather than a sudden loss of that flexibility.

It's also a reminder that the routes and fares nomads rely on aren't guaranteed — they sit downstream of ongoing regulatory and legal fights. The DOT could still pursue further action, so travelers who lean heavily on this specific city pair should treat the current route map as stable for now, not permanent.

For those weighing Mexico as a base, the practical takeaway is that flight access between the US and cities like Mexico City is more resilient than it looked a year ago, which supports Mexico's case as one of the more logistically convenient near-shore options for US-based remote workers.

If you're planning a longer stay, our digital nomad starter kit and tips on how to save thousands on travel in 2026 can help you build a trip around routes like these.