- The US suspended thirteen routes operated by Mexican carriers, citing Mexico’s alleged breaches of the 2015 Air Transport Agreement since 2022.
- The order primarily affects routes connecting to Mexico’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), directly impacting major US states like Texas, Florida, and California.
- The US DOT froze all new route expansions by Mexican airlines from Mexico City’s main airport (MEX) to restore reciprocal fairness in air operations.
- The suspensions are expected to cause higher fares and longer travel times for passengers and highlight deeper diplomatic and trade tensions between the nations.
The United States has initiated a significant aviation dispute with Mexico, suspending thirteen passenger and cargo routes operated by Mexican carriers Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus. The decision, driven by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), stems from accusations that Mexico has repeatedly breached the 2015 US–Mexico Air Transport Agreement by unfairly favoring Mexican airlines, including freezing US carrier flight operations and imposing unequal route approvals since 2022.
This sweeping enforcement action affects key US states, including Texas, Florida, Illinois, California, and New York, which rely heavily on cross-border connectivity for tourism and commerce. Specifically, the suspensions halt existing and planned routes connecting Mexico’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) to major US cities, with ultra-low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus being the most impacted. Additionally, the DOT has frozen all new route expansions by Mexican airlines out of Mexico City’s main gateway, Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX).
For travelers, the suspensions are expected to result in higher fares, longer travel times, and fewer direct flight options for both leisure and business trips between the two nations. The US government frames the move as an effort to restore “reciprocal fairness” in the bilateral aviation market, but the action risks diplomatic strain with a crucial trade partner. Mexico’s government has criticized the suspension as “unilateral and excessive,” calling for immediate diplomatic dialogue to resolve the tensions and prevent a prolonged aviation standoff.