The United States just pulled approval for 13 routes by Mexican carriers. It shut the door on flights from Felipe Ángeles to the U.S., arguing Mexico tilted the field by cutting slots at Mexico City’s main airport and pushing traffic to AIFA. Mexico’s president pushed back and wants talks. Airlines say the impact will vary, but the timing is rough as carriers plan 2026 World Cup schedules. What exactly changed, why now, and how big is the hit for travelers and trade?
US revokes Mexican flights
The United States has revoked approval for 13 routes operated by Mexican airlines and blocked any combined passenger-cargo flights from Felipe Ángeles International Airport to the U.S. Regulators say Mexico has not honored the U.S.–Mexico air transport pact since 2022, citing slot reductions at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez airport and government moves that favored AIFA. The order names Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus, and also freezes expansion in so-called “belly cargo” to and from MEX.
Mexico rejects that view. President Claudia Sheinbaum said AIFA is working well and asked Washington for talks. She plans meetings with airline executives, while her government seeks a sit-down with U.S. officials to review the decision. Volaris said it is assessing the impact and expects limited disruption given its cargo profile, but uncertainty around schedules remains.
At the heart of the clash is a policy shift that began before AIFA fully ramped up. Mexico lowered hourly movements at Benito Juárez—first from 61 to 52 and later to 43—arguing safety and saturation. U.S. carriers say the cuts, paired with cargo relocation to AIFA in 2023, undercut their rights and choke capacity in the main hub. That is the behavior the U.S. labels “state intervention.”
For travelers, the immediate pain point is connectivity. U.S.–AIFA service is paused for passenger-cargo flights, and a set of current or planned routes has been scrubbed. Sector sources point to big U.S. markets—Texas, Florida, New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles—as likely touchpoints for Viva Aerobus, with mentions of Volaris to Newark and Aeroméxico to San Juan. Officials have not released a final, authoritative list in public filings, so expect airlines to clarify schedules in the days ahead.
Inline source: For the decision and scope described above, see Reuters’ same-day bulletin.
What triggered the move and what happens next
Washington’s posture has hardened over the months. In July, DOT issued related orders documenting Mexico’s slot cuts and the cargo shift, arguing that these steps denied a “fair and equal opportunity to compete” promised by the 2015 bilateral agreement. Those July records set the legal groundwork for this week’s tougher action and preview greater symmetry: if one side curtails access, the other may mirror those restrictions. This dispute is now formal and escalating.
The next phase is negotiation. Mexico says the cargo relocation and slot policy were about safety and congestion, not protectionism. The U.S. frames them as market-distorting. Both can be true: AICM is saturated, and moving flights can ease strain, but slot cuts and a forced cargo shift also change who gets to grow. With the 2026 World Cup putting unusual pressure on air links, neither side benefits from a prolonged standoff.
Travelers should watch for airline notices rather than rumors. Most Mexico–U.S. flying still uses Benito Juárez or other Mexican gateways, and the freeze affects a specific set of routes and growth areas. But schedule planning, especially new city pairs and added frequencies, will be tighter until the two governments settle on a compliance path.
