Summary The chief executive of Viva Aerobus has cited the current election season as the reason why the DOT has not approved its joint venture with US-based Allegiant Air. While the two applied for approval and antitrust immunity (ATI) of their joint venture in December 2021, in July 2023, the DOT suspended the review, citing the Mexican Government's actions at MEX. In retaliation for those actions, the DOT also dismissed Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico's application for the approval and ATI of their joint venture.
The chief executive of Viva Aerobus, the Mexico-based low-cost carrier, has blamed politics and the United States's election season for the Department of Transportation (DOT) not approving its partnership with Allegiant Air. Election season According to Reuters , Juan Carlos Zuazua, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Viva Aerobus, stated that the decision to delay the final decision regarding the Viva Aerobus and Allegiant Air partnership was political. Zuazua added that the US was in the middle of the election season, and the airline did not know whether the DOT would approve the partnership before or after the upcoming elections in November.
However, the CEO hoped that the US government would approve the partnership soon. Allegiant Air and Viva Aerobus announced their partnership in December 2021, saying that the pair would have a fully integrated alliance agreement, dramatically expanding options for non-stop travel between the US and Mexico. “The alliance is.