The US government said on Tuesday it had taken back permission for 13 flight routes that Mexican airlines used to fly into the US. It also said that all combined passenger and cargo flights by Mexican airlines to and from Mexico City’s Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) had been cancelled.
The US says Mexico is breaking bilateral air service agreements, and this decision is a big step forward in the ongoing aviation conflict between the two countries.
Duffy: “Mexico Illegally Canceled and Froze US Flights”
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that Mexico had “illegally cancelled and frozen US carrier flights for three years without consequences” before he gave the order.
Duffy’s order also stops the growth of Mexican airlines’ passenger and cargo operations, which are often called “belly cargo,” between the United States and Benito Juarez International Airport, Mexico City’s main airport and older hub.
“We will keep Mexico accountable until they stop playing games and keep their promises.” “Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market, and our flyers without consequences.”
Flights That Will Be Affected
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) says that the routes that have been canceled or denied include:
Aeromexico flies between San Juan and Mexico City Juarez.
Volaris flies between Juarez to Newark, New Jersey
Viva Aerobus suggested routes from Felipe Angeles International Airport to Austin, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Orlando.
Aeromexico’s current flights from Felipe Angeles to Houston and McAllen, Texas
The DOT also said that Mexico’s continuous failure to follow aviation laws “may affect travel plans for American citizens,” and encouraged travelers to contact their airlines for information on how to get re-accommodated.
New Rules for Moving Cargo Proposed
Along with the cancelled flights, Secretary Duffy suggested a new rule that would stop Mexican passenger airlines from hauling belly cargo—freight that is carried in the lower deck of passenger planes—between Juarez and the US.
If this ban is made official, it will go into force in three months, making it even harder for Mexico’s commercial aviation industry to do business.
Background: Mexico’s Non-Compliance Since 2022
The US Transportation Department said that Mexico had not followed a bilateral aviation agreement since 2022, when it took away US passenger airlines’ airport slots and made US all-cargo operators move from Benito Juarez Airport in Mexico City to other airports.
The Mexican Transportation Ministry, Aeromexico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus did not react right away to demands for comment on the most recent US directive.
Tensions between US and Mexican carriers are still high.
The DOT has taken a number of steps against Mexican aviation activities, and this is the next step.
The agency told Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to break up their joint venture last month. This cooperation made it possible for US–Mexico flights to coordinate scheduling, price, and capacity.
The DOT said that the two airlines had an unfair advantage because of “ongoing anticompetitive effects in US–Mexico City markets.” The Mexican airlines were also told to file their flight schedules so that people could see them better.
The department declared in August 2025 that the joint venture had to stop in order to bring back fairness and competition in transborder air travel.
Wider Effects
Secretary Duffy recently told European governments not to put unilateral limits on transatlantic travel. This showed that Washington is ready to be more severe about enforcing international air agreements.
This most recent enforcement action against Mexico shows that the US government wants to hold foreign partners accountable for any violations of aviation treaties.
Summary: Main Points
The US took away 13 routes from Mexican carriers.
Flights from Felipe Angeles Airport in Mexico City are cancelled.
Aeromexico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus are all affected.
A new ban on transporting cargo between Juarez and the US has been suggested.
Mexico has been accused of breaking an aviation pact since 2022.
The DOT tells Delta and Aeromexico to break up their joint venture.