The US Department of Transportation revoked approval for 13 routes operated by Mexican airlines to its territory, accusing Mexico of violating the bilateral aviation agreement through decrees that reduced operations at AICM and banned cargo flights there. The measure, effective from November 7 for some routes, impacts Viva Aerobus, Aeroméxico, and Volaris, and could lead to a loss of 202,500 US tourists and 266 million dollars in the winter season. President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the decision, defending Mexican sovereignty.
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the revocation of 13 Mexican airline routes, citing violations of the 2016 bilateral aviation agreement. The reasons include two decrees by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador: one in 2022 reducing hourly operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) from 61 to 52, and another in 2023 lowering them to 43 and banning cargo flights at AICM, forcing relocation to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA). In 2025, operations increased only to 44 per hour. The DOT views these as anticompetitive, harming US airlines by raising costs and complicating operations.
Affected routes are: for Aeroméxico, AIFA-Houston and AIFA-McAllen (suspension from November 7), and AICM-San Juan (starts October 29, immediate suspension); for Volaris, AICM-Newark (planned start November 2, 2025); and for Viva Aerobus, nine routes from AIFA to Austin, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Orlando (November to December). Viva Aerobus, the most impacted, regretted the 'short notice' and its effect on thousands of passengers during the December to March vacation season.
Former Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco Marqués estimated a loss of 202,500 US tourists in winter, a 3% contraction, and 266 million dollars, affecting destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Mazatlán. Octavio de la Torre of Concanaco Servytur warned of business tourism impacts and plans meetings with Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora and Communications and Transportation Secretary Jesús Antonio Esteva.
President Claudia Sheinbaum stated there is 'no reason' for the measure, that AIFA is working well, and that Mexico 'is not anyone's piñata,' defending the cargo relocation for safety. SICT clarified the AICM ban does not violate the agreement and upholds national sovereignty. Analysts like Juan Carlos Machorro see the action as a blow to AIFA's international operations and potential pressure for the 2026 TMEC renegotiation. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Trump will enforce the agreement, criticizing Biden's weakness. The DOT allows 14 days for comments on a possible additional ban on combined passenger and cargo flights from AICM.
