US Halts 13 Routes from Mexican Airlines Amidst Aviation Tensions

The United States has recently revoked approvals for 13 flight routes serviced by Mexican airlines, alongside halting all passenger and cargo flights from Mexico City’s new Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU). This action intensifies a growing conflict regarding air transport rights between the two nations.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that Mexico had previously “illegally canceled and frozen US carrier flights for three years without facing any consequences.” As a result, he indicated that Washington would now begin to “hold them accountable.” The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an order that prohibits both current and planned flights by Aeromexico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus. Furthermore, it freezes the expansion of Mexican airlines’ combined passenger and cargo services between the US and Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX).

In addition to halting flights, the ruling will prevent Mexican passenger carriers from transporting cargo between Juarez and US destinations. This ban is expected to be implemented within three months. Duffy emphasized that these decisions were a direct response to ongoing violations by Mexican officials of the bilateral air services agreement established in 2022.

“Until Mexico ceases its tactics and adheres to its obligations, we will keep them accountable,” Duffy remarked in a statement. “No nation should leverage our carriers and market without facing repercussions.”

The Transportation Department highlighted that Mexico has not adhered to key elements of the bilateral agreement since the country retracted US passenger carriers’ airport slots and compelled US cargo operators to change their flight locations. US airlines have accused Mexico of favoring domestic airlines at congested airports in Mexico City, while limiting foreign access.

The revoked routes consist of Aeromexico flights connecting Mexico City Juarez to San Juan, Volaris routes between Juarez and Newark, and Viva Aerobus’s intended flights from Felipe Angeles to various US cities including Austin, Chicago, Houston, and Miami. Aeromexico’s existing routes from Felipe Angeles to Houston and McAllen, Texas, are also affected.

The DOT has cautioned that Mexico’s ongoing non-compliance may affect travel plans for American citizens and advised travelers to reach out to their airlines for rebooking or refund options.

This recent decision marks a significant escalation in the US’s initiative to enforce competition regulations in cross-border aviation. In September 2025, the DOT mandated Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to dissolve their joint venture by January 1, 2026, due to its perceived anticompetitive effects in key markets such as Mexico City. The airlines are contesting this order in a federal court.

Duffy’s measures reflect a larger effort to tighten regulations surrounding international aviation agreements. He has recently cautioned European governments against imposing unilateral restrictions on transatlantic travel, emphasizing the importance of upholding global air service agreements.

Aviation data analytics firm Cirium notes that routes between Mexico and the US comprise nearly 10% of all international air traffic in North America. A prolonged suspension of these flights could drive up fares, decrease connectivity, and place additional pressure on Mexican airlines, which are already grappling with slim profit margins and escalating fuel prices.

How do you think this dispute will affect travelers between the US and Mexico?