The newly built Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and Mexican airlines overall took a hard hit when the U.S. government canceled all combined passenger and cargo flights, with 227 days left before the soccer World Cup co-hosted by both countries.
The announcement, made by the Department of Transportation, said it responds to what U.S. authorities consider a series of restrictive actions by Mexico that affect competition and U.S. airlines’ access to the Mexican market.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy justified the order by stating that Mexico “illegally canceled and froze U.S. airlines’ flights for three years without consequences.”
According to the Trump administration, the 2015 air transport agreement between Mexico and the United States is currently in effect, establishing the framework to regulate commercial flights between both countries, aiming to promote fair competition and mutual benefit in the aviation sector, which it accuses Mexico of failing to uphold.
In this regard, the Department of Transportation stated that Mexico has violated a bilateral aviation agreement by rescinding slots for U.S. passenger airlines and forcing U.S. cargo airlines to relocate their operations.
The news was reported by Reuters, where Duffy emphasized that the U.S. response seeks to restore balance in the sector and warned: “Until Mexico stops playing games and meets its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable. No country should be able to take advantage of our airlines, our market, and our passengers without consequences.”
The order issued by the Department of Transportation not only affects current and scheduled flights by Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus, but also freezes the growth of combined passenger and cargo services, known as “belly cargo,” between the United States and Mexico City International Airport, the neighboring country’s main air terminal.
The AIFA, a symbol of Mexico’s previous administration, now faces one of its biggest challenges since its inauguration. The loss of 13 routes to the United States represents a significant setback for an airport that has sought to establish itself as a viable alternative to the saturated Mexico City International Airport.
This news follows another announcement in September by the Department of Transportation, which ordered Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico to dissolve a joint venture that allows them to coordinate scheduling, pricing, and flight capacity between the United States and Mexico, citing competition concerns.
According to analysts, the end of the Delta-Aeroméxico alliance is part of a series of threats made by the U.S. government against Mexico last July, when the Department of Transportation had already announced several restrictions on Mexican airlines in retaliation for reduced operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), a measure imposed in 2022 during Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration.
Image: Opinion
