Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to transfer its Los Angeles International-México City International route authority to American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth).

While it gave no reason for the request, Alaska said the transfer would allow it to "redeploy aircraft on other routes and enhance its competitive presence elsewhere."

Should the application go through, Alaska Airlines would then codeshare on American's planned double-daily B737-800 service, scheduled to begin on June 4.

Alaska currently operates a daily B737-800 service on the route. Aeroméxico (AM, México City International) operates five times daily using a mix of B737-700 and B737-800 aircraft while Volaris (Y4, México City International) operates five weekly A320-200 services and United a daily A319-100 service.