MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday the United States has not yet formally notified her government of possible measures against Mexico’s airline sector pointing that she sees no reason for the neighboring country to initiate such sanctions.
The comments come after the U.S. Department of Transportation said on Saturday it would take action in response to Mexico’s decision to cut flight slots and force cargo carriers to relocate operations in Mexico City, affecting U.S. airlines.
“There is no reason for Mexico to receive any sanctions for changes made to the capital’s airport system,” Sheinbaum said in her daily press conference.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement on Saturday that the department may reject new flight requests from Mexican carriers if concerns over airport decisions made in 2022 and 2023 are not addressed.
The department would propose withdrawing antitrust immunity granted to Delta Air Lines for its joint venture with Aeromexico to address competitive concerns, according to the statement.
(Reporting by Raul Cortes and Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Brendan O’Boyle and Aida Pelaez-Fernandez)
