US Lifts Restrictions on Mexican Carriers Following Bilateral Air Transport Agreement Dispute
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has lifted operating restrictions previously imposed on Mexican carriers, granting them authorization to inaugurate new flights to US territory from both of Mexico City’s international gateways. The measure normalizes fleet and route growth for Mexican airlines following months of trade and bilateral friction, marking a pivotal step forward for transpacific and cross-border connectivity.
Operational Clearance Across Both Mexico City Gateways
The Government of Mexico confirmed that domestic commercial carriers are now cleared to launch new scheduled routes to the United States originating from both Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU/AIFA) and Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX).
According to a joint press release issued by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) and the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT), the DOT’s determination comes in response to regulatory actions implemented by Mexican authorities to resolve non-compliance findings under the bilateral Air Transport Agreement executed in 2015.
Regulatory Conditions and Ongoing Operational Oversight
Despite the easing of retaliatory restrictions, US aviation authorities will retain regulatory oversight mechanisms over scheduled operations:
- Schedule Filing Requirements: Mexican carriers remain obligated to submit their advance flight schedules and timetables for all operations to and from the United States.
- Large-Aircraft Approvals: Operators must continue to seek and secure prior governmental authorization before deploying large-category aircraft on these city pairs.
- Active Orders: A US official clarified that two additional administrative orders linked to the bilateral dispute remain fully in effect, noting that Washington will strictly monitor Mexico’s ongoing adherence to its treaty commitments.
Origins of the Dispute and the Bilateral Framework
The regulatory clash dates back to October of last year, when the US government froze the capacity expansion of both scheduled passenger and all-cargo services operated by Mexican carriers out of the two capital airports.
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At the time, US regulators asserted that Mexico breached the 2015 bilateral agreement beginning in 2022 through two major regulatory actions:
- The unilateral revocation of landing and takeoff slots historically allocated to US-based passenger airlines.
- A federal decree mandating that US all-cargo operators relocate their freighter operations entirely away from Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX).
This past May, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that the Mexican government had committed to improving airline access within the Mexico City metroplex. Duffy noted that President Donald Trump’s administration reached an understanding with Mexican officials to formulate an action plan targeted at remedying compliance objections under the 2015 framework.
Distinct from the FAA Safety Oversight Review
The official emphasized that this commercial aviation policy resolution remains separate from the technical safety review conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in August regarding Mexico’s civil aviation safety oversight capabilities under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program.
Recent bilateral aviation safety milestones include:
- May 2021: The FAA downgraded Mexico’s safety rating from Category 1 to Category 2 after finding that the country fell short of ICAO safety oversight standards. The downgrade severely curtailed Mexican carriers’ fleet utilization to the US and allowed US airlines to gain significant market share.
- September 2023: The US civil aviation authority restored Mexico to Category 1 status, once again permitting Mexican carriers to launch new routes, add frequencies, and deploy additional aircraft to the United States.
The regulatory reprieve was widely welcomed across Mexico’s airline sector. Flag carrier Aeromexico and ultra-low-cost carrier Viva expressed their support for the DOT decision, underscoring that lifting these restrictions will bolster transborder network connectivity and stimulate commercial passenger and air freight volumes between both nations.
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