New York - Delta Air Lines said it planned to acquire up to an additional 32 percent stake in Grupo Aeromexico, the parent company of Mexican flag carrier Aeromexico.

Atlanta-based Delta currently owns approximately 4.1 percent of the outstanding shares of Grupo Aeromexico and holds an option to acquire an additional 8.1 percent. Separately, the Delta pension trust holds options to acquire approximately 4.6% of Grupo Aeromexico.

Completion of the tender offer, therefore, would mean that Delta and the Delta pension trust would either own or have options to acquire up to 49 percent of Grupo Aeromexico's outstanding shares, the U.S. airline said in a statement last week.

Delta plans to acquire the additional capital stock through a cash tender offer that values each Grupo Aeromexico share at 43.59 pesos ($2.62).

The "new investment demonstrates Delta's confidence in Mexico's future and deepens our relationship with Aeromexico, cementing Delta's long-term commitment to the customers we serve to, from and through Latin America," Delta President Ed Bastian said.

Delta plans to begin the tender offer once it obtains regulatory approval in the United States and Mexico.

Delta and Aeromexico launched their first codeshare flights in 1994.

In 2011, Delta entered into a commercial agreement with Aeromexico, and in 2012 the U.S. airline invested $65 million in shares of Grupo Aeromexico.