FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 4, 1999
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel: (202) 366-5571
DOT 81-99
Slater Announces Expanded Aviation Links with Mexico
Progress Continues on Commercial Trucking Safety Issues
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced the award of new
code-sharing rights to six U.S. airlines for service between the United States and Mexico
which will significantly increase opportunities for travel, shipping and trade between the
two countries.
An agreement between the two countries earlier this year provided for this major expansion
of code-sharing between the United States and its fourth-largest international aviation
market. Secretary Slater made the award announcement during an official visit to Mexico
City.
"In his State of the Union address, President Clinton challenged our nation to 'tear
down barriers, open markets and expand trade,'" Secretary Slater said. "These
new code-share services will provide better and more convenient service to travelers and
shippers while benefitting businesses, airports and cities on both sides of the
border."
Additionally, Slater stated he was pleased with the progress of discussions with the
Mexican government on the removal of the remaining restrictions concerning the operation
of Mexican motor carriers in the United States, but cautioned that this cannot occur until
the U.S. is satisfied that both countries have in place the necessary safeguards to ensure
safe cross-border operations.
"It is only appropriate that it is during this week -- designated International
Highway Transportation Safety Week -- that we focus on this issue," Secretary Slater
said. "Our effort to assure the safety of Mexican-carrier operations in the United
States mirrors our recently announced plan for stronger oversight of our own motor
carriers."
Slater met today with Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, Secretary of Communications and Transport,
during the U.S.-Mexico Bi-national Commission meeting. The two had also met May 21 in
Washington, D.C., to discuss the border issue.
The new code-sharing services involve three partnerships between U.S. carriers and Mexican
carriers for service in 25 transborder markets. In addition, the department approved
code-sharing partnerships among three U.S. carriers that will enhance service in some 50
markets. Taken together, the partnerships significantly increase service options in the
U.S.-Mexican market.
Code sharing, a marketing arrangement in which one airline puts its own flight number on
the flight of another carrier, allows the code-share carriers to provide seamless, more
convenient service to passengers, and gives passengers a wider range of competitive
choices.
New code-share services will be operated by the following U.S. airlines:
American Airlines -- will place its code on Los Angeles-Mazatlan flights operated by its
Mexican partner Aero California, while Aero California will code-share on American's
Chicago-Monterrey and Dallas/Fort Worth-Acapulco services.
Delta Air Lines -- will place its code on flights operated by its Mexican partner
Aeromexico between Atlanta and Monterrey; Houston and Cancun; Los Angeles and Hermosillo;
Miami and both Cancun and Mexico City; New Orleans and Cancun; Newark, N.J., and Cancun;
Phoenix and Guadalajara, Guaymas and Hermosillo; and between San Diego and both Mexico
City and San Jose del Cabo. Aeromexico will place its code on Delta's Atlanta-Guadalajara
service.
United Airlines -- will place its code on flights operated by its Mexican partner Mexicana
between Chicago and Puerto Vallarta; Los Angeles and San Jose del Cabo, Guadalajara and
Puerto Vallarta; Miami and both Cancun and Merida; Newark, N.J., and both Cancun and
Mexico City; Oakland and Guadalajara; and between San Antonio and Mexico City.
Alaska Airlines -- will place its code on flights operated by Continental Airlines between
San Diego and Mexico City.
Continental Airlines -- will place its code on flights operated by Northwest Airlines
between Detroit and Cancun, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo; Memphis
and Cancun; Minneapolis/St. Paul and Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose
del Cabo and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo; and between Tampa and Cancun. It also will place its code
on flights operated by Alaska Airlines between Los Angeles and La Paz, Mazatlan, Puerto
Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo; San Diego and San Jose del Cabo; and
between San Francisco and Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo.
Northwest Airlines -- will place its code on flights operated by Alaska Airlines between
Los Angeles and Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo; San Francisco and
Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo; San Diego and San Jose del Cabo; and
between Phoenix and both Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo. It also will place its
code on flights operated by Continental Airlines between Newark, N.J., and Cancun, Cozumel
and Mexico City; Houston and Acapulco, Cancun, Chihuahua, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Leon,
Merida, Mexico City, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Saltillo, San Jose del Cabo, Tampico,
Veracruz; Ixtapa/Zihuatenejo and Torreon; Cleveland and Cancun; San Antonio and Mexico
City; and between San Diego and Mexico City.
The texts of the department's code-sharing decisions are available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov//reports/report_aviation.asp.
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