Halting Delta-Aeromexico Partnership — A Misguided Move That Hurts More Than It Helps

This article was originally written by Texas Border Business and can be found on their website here.

As the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) contemplates terminating the Joint Cooperation Agreement (JCA) between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico, many voices from the business and public sectors have rallied to highlight the potential repercussions of such a decision. Among them, Joaquin Spamer, Javier Palomarez, Dante Galeazzi, and Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu present compelling arguments emphasizing the negative impact on commerce, connectivity, and community livelihoods.

Joaquin Spamer, founder and president of Commodities Integrated Logistics in McAllen, has explicitly warned of the dire consequences that the termination of this partnership would precipitate. According to Spamer, not only would this decision threaten two dozen vital air routes, but it could also inflict an estimated annual economic blow of $800 million and lead to significant job losses in Texas alone. The new nonstop Aeromexico route from McAllen to Mexico City, a symbol of growing economic ties, hangs in the balance.

Javier Palomarez, President of the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, views the partnership as more than just a business arrangement; he sees it as a crucial element of the larger U.S.-Mexico diplomatic and trade framework by potentially halting the JCA; the DOT risks straining the commercial bonds that support significant economic activities between the two nations, thus jeopardizing jobs and economic resilience.

Dante Galeazzi, an advocate for Texas’s agricultural trade, highlights the strategic importance of these routes for the Texas-Mexico trade relationship. With over $285 billion in commerce flowing annually between Texas and Mexico, Galeazzi argues that the proposed termination of the JCA could severely disrupt the essential interconnectedness and collaboration between communities on both sides of the border. Such a disruption would stifle economic growth and erode the spirit of cooperation that has long been cultivated.

Eduardo Cantu, Hidalgo County Commissioner, pleads for the DOT to prioritize economic stability and prosperity by maintaining these critical links that facilitate robust cross-border commerce. His call to preserve these “vital links” highlights the implications of the DOT’s decision beyond just the airlines involved—it affects the economic well-being of entire communities reliant on this international partnership.

The case against terminating the Delta-Aeromexico partnership is robust and multifaceted. It encompasses significant economic, diplomatic, and social dimensions. While possibly intended to address diplomatic disputes, the DOT’s decision fails to consider the substantial collateral damage on U.S. businesses, jobs, and the larger economic fabric of the regions involved.

Rather than severing ties, the DOT should consider alternative avenues that do not undermine the economic health of communities or disrupt established trade and transportation networks. The implications of ending this partnership are too significant to ignore, and the potential damage too substantial to justify such a drastic measure. The DOT must reconsider its position and explore other solutions that address diplomatic concerns without sacrificing the economic and social well-being of countless Americans and Mexicans.