Mexico’s Sheinbaum Rejects US Revocation of 13 Airline Routes

President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday said she disagrees with the U.S. 🇺🇸 decision to revoke approval for 13 Mexican airline routes to the United States and to halt combined passenger and cargo flights operated by Mexican carriers from Felipe Ángeles International Airport. She called those measures “unilateral actions” that hurt travelers and airlines on both sides of the border.

Speaking in Mexico City on October 29, 2025, Sheinbaum said she will ask Mexico’s foreign minister to seek a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State to review the U.S. order and added she believes “an understanding can be reached.”

Background of the U.S. Action

• The U.S. move follows comments by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on October 27, when he accused Mexico of having “illegally cancelled and froze U.S. carrier flights for three years without consequences.”
• Duffy said: “Until Mexico stops the games and honors its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable. No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market, and our flyers without repercussions.”
• The U.S. Department of Transportation says Mexico has not complied with a bilateral aviation agreement since 2022, citing:
  • Rescinded U.S. passenger carrier slots at Mexico City’s main hub (Benito Juárez).
  • Forced relocation of U.S. all-cargo carriers to Felipe Ángeles International Airport.

Sheinbaum’s Response and Next Steps

Sheinbaum pushed back, saying the U.S. actions were not agreed and should be revisited through diplomacy.

• She said: “I disagree with the U.S. decision to revoke approval of 13 Mexican airline routes to the United States and the cancellation of combined passenger and cargo flights from Mexico City’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).”
• She confirmed she will meet Mexican airlines on Friday to hear their concerns and coordinate a response.
  • “I will meet with Mexican airlines on Friday to gain insight into their perspective on the matter,” she said, signaling an effort to present a unified industry position.

Who Is Affected

• The U.S. restrictions target services flown by major Mexican carriers, including Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus.
• According to the U.S. order:
  • The 13 routes that lost approval are part of a broader enforcement step.
  • The order also freezes further growth of Mexican carriers’ combined passenger-and-cargo services between the U.S. and Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport.
  • The ruling blocks Mexican passenger airlines from carrying cargo between Ciudad Juárez and U.S. destinations, a ban expected to take effect within about three months.

Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) — Central to the Dispute

• AIFA is a relatively new hub built to ease chronic congestion at Benito Juárez.
• Mexican authorities previously moved U.S. cargo airlines out of Benito Juárez toward AIFA; the U.S. cites that relocation as evidence of unequal treatment.
• The U.S. order suspends all combined passenger-and-cargo flights by Mexican airlines from AIFA to the U.S.
  • This complicates AIFA’s efforts to build steady transborder traffic.
  • It affects carriers that had invested in schedules and crews there.

Market and Passenger Impacts

• Routes from AIFA to cities such as Austin, Dallas, Denver, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Orlando are among those affected.
• Travelers with near-term bookings are urged to contact their airlines for rebooking or refunds as carriers adjust schedules and swap aircraft.
• VisaVerge.com reports some carriers had thin margins on these services and could quickly cut frequencies if the dispute continues, affecting fares and seat supply.

Practical effects for passengers and shippers:
– Longer trips, fewer nonstop choices, and more connections through other hubs.
– Families planning holiday travel may face last-minute itinerary changes.
– Business travelers could see tighter capacity on key routes.
– Cargo shippers expect delays as freight is rerouted through different airports and aircraft types.

Operational knock-on effects for airlines:
– Repositioning planes.
– Reassigning crews.
– Recalibrating maintenance plans that assumed steady cross-border flying from both Benito Juárez and AIFA.

Broader U.S. Measures and Tensions

• The U.S. Department of Transportation says its action was forced after repeated warnings that Mexico was not honoring the bilateral framework.
• The Department has also targeted the Delta–Aeroméxico joint venture, threatening to revoke antitrust immunity that allows them to coordinate schedules and fares.
  • Revoking that immunity would reshape the Mexico–U.S. market if carried out.
• Mexican officials argue their airport slot management and cargo relocation policies addressed congestion and safety at Benito Juárez and were not intended to advantage any carrier.

Diplomacy, Industry Response, and Timelines

• Diplomats from both countries face a tight window to calm tensions.
• Sheinbaum’s request for a cabinet-level conversation aims to separate immediate consumer harm from the broader dispute over limited airport capacity.
• Mexican airline executives, meeting the president on Friday, seek clarity on whether suspended services from AIFA can be replaced by flights from other airports or by shifting aircraft to permitted routes.
  • Any such swaps would need U.S. approvals and available slots, which are scarce at peak times.

Labor and consumer concerns:
– Airline labor groups warn sustained cuts could lead to reduced hours and seasonal furloughs if planes sit idle.
– U.S. carriers want fair access and clear slot rules in Mexico City; they emphasize predictable markets benefit travelers in both countries.
– Consumer groups urged both governments to:
– Publish clear timelines for review.
– Require airlines to waive change fees where possible, given the government-driven nature of cancellations.

Historical Context and Possible Resolution

• The policy conflict dates back to 2022, when the U.S. downgraded Mexico’s aviation safety rating before later restoring it, and Benito Juárez experienced worsening slot pressure.
• While safety ratings are not the immediate issue, the history of strained oversight has shaped U.S. skepticism about Mexico’s airport management decisions.
• Mexican officials note investments in oversight and infrastructure and that AIFA was built to add capacity and reduce chronic delays.

Industry analysts suggest possible paths forward:
1. A narrowly tailored understanding that restores approvals for the 13 airline routes while Mexico commits to:
– A transparent slot process.
– A timetable for any carrier relocations.
2. A broader settlement involving:
– Independent audits of airport capacity.
– A shared plan for growth across Benito Juárez and AIFA over the next several seasons.

VisaVerge.com analysis: both sides have incentives to compromise quickly — airlines want stability before the holiday peak, and political leaders want to avoid stranded travelers and rising fares.

“We’re asking for dialogue and we’re confident an understanding can be reached,” Sheinbaum said. Until that happens, the cross-border air market will remain on a shorter leash.

Where to Follow Official Updates

• For official updates on U.S. transportation policy actions, consult the U.S. Department of Transportation: https://www.transportation.gov.

Travelers flying between Mexico and the United States should monitor airline notices closely, especially if their itinerary touches Felipe Ángeles International Airport or Benito Juárez, as schedule adjustments may continue while talks proceed.