American Airlines has arranged to take over Alaska Airlines’ Los Angeles-Mexico
City route and to start flying the route with its own aircraft beginning June
4, subject to Transportation Department approval.
The
carriers claimed in their DOT filing that the plan is good for competition
because American would boost service from one to two flights a day against the other
incumbent, United.
The two airlines said the move will strengthen American’s network in the West
and benefit Alaska by allowing it to “redeploy its resources to enhance
services elsewhere on its network.”
The carriers described the plan to the DOT as a route “transfer” and did not
indicate whether American was paying cash or any other consideration in
exchange for the route rights.
Asked if American is paying Alaska cash or other
goods or services in exchange for the route, an AA spokesperson said, “The
transfer of the LAX MEX authority is part of the broader Alaska/American
relationship.”