U.S. Restricts Mexican Airlines in Escalating Aviation Dispute

The U.S. Department of Transportation has imposed significant restrictions on Mexican carriers, canceling routes and freezing growth in a sharp response to what it calls Mexico’s “persistent non-compliance” with a bilateral air travel agreement.

The move signals a deepening trade rift and could disrupt travel plans ahead of the peak holiday season.

Effective late October, the U.S. order revokes approval for 13 current or planned routes operated by Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus.

Key affected services include Aeroméxico’s flights from Felipe Ángeles Airport to Houston and Viva Aerobus’s planned routes from the same airport to major U.S. hubs like New York and Chicago.

Furthermore, the DOT has frozen all new flight applications from Mexican airlines and tentatively canceled all combined passenger and cargo flights from Felipe Ángeles to the United States.

U.S. authorities describe these actions as necessary countermeasures to protect American interests.

Their first grievance is a Mexican decree that forced U.S. cargo airlines to operate from the less convenient Felipe Ángeles airport, while Mexican carriers retained cargo rights at the main Mexico City hub.

U.S. Restricts Mexican Airlines in Escalating Aviation Dispute

The second major complaint involves the alleged arbitrary confiscation of landing slots from U.S. carriers at the saturated Mexico City airport.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated the action will remain until Mexico “honors its commitments,” warning that the situation may affect the travel plans of U.S. citizens.

The dispute threatens to impact tourism and business travel, with the U.S. market accounting for the majority of international visitors to Mexico.

The aviation clash opens a new front in bilateral relations, occurring alongside other simmering trade tensions between the two strategic partners.