- The U.S. lifted route restrictions on Mexican airlines at Mexico City’s two airports, effective October sixteenth, twenty twenty-six.
- Carriers can propose U.S. routes and more frequent service, but schedule filings remain required and large-aircraft services need approval.
- Two other U.S. orders remain active, and compliance monitoring continues as Mexico works to meet its aviation commitments.
The U.S. Lifts Restrictions on Mexican airlines, allowing them to propose new U.S. flights and seek more service from Mexico City’s two airports. The Department of Transportation’s decision took effect October 16, 2026.
The change covers Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM) and Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA). Carriers can seek new routes or additional flights to the United States from either airport. The door is open again.
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But airlines still need to file U.S.-bound and U.S.-originating schedules with the department. Services using large aircraft also require its approval.
Two other U.S. orders tied to the dispute remain active. Washington will continue monitoring Mexico’s compliance with its commitments.
The restrictions grew out of a disagreement over the 2015 bilateral air-transport agreement. In 2022, Mexico withdrew slots held by U.S. passenger airlines at Benito Juárez and directed U.S. cargo carriers to move their operations to Felipe Ángeles.
The U.S. restrictions, first issued in October 2025, blocked new or expanded Mexican passenger and cargo services from both airports. A separate account identified the initial measure as Order 213-2, issued by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on October 28, 2025. It revoked approval for 11 proposed routes and two existing Aeroméxico services.
Route proposals can resume, but the previous orders still constrain operations
| Before the October 16 decision | After the October 16 decision |
|---|---|
| Mexican carriers could not add routes or increase service from the two airports. | Carriers can propose new routes and more frequent service. |
| New or expanded passenger and cargo operations faced restrictions. | Schedule filings remain required, and large-aircraft service needs approval. |
| Two other U.S. orders related to the dispute remained in force. | Those orders remain in force, with U.S. monitoring continuing. |
The removal of the route restrictions followed talks between the governments. In May 2026, Duffy said the Trump administration and Mexico had reached an agreement addressing U.S. concerns about airport access.
The department said Mexico had made progress toward commitments under a memorandum agreed with Mexico’s transportation ministry in May. That assessment did not remove the remaining orders or the airlines’ filing and approval requirements.
The restored route access also does not grant automatic permission to launch every proposed flight. Carriers must continue meeting Mexico’s commitments under the 2015 agreement and the May 2026 memorandum, as well as complying with the remaining orders.
The decision does not alter Mexico’s separate safety oversight status
The route restrictions and the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety oversight review are separate matters. The FAA conducted its review of Mexico in August. It had restored Mexico’s top safety rating in September 2023, allowing carriers to expand existing U.S. routes and introduce new services.
Mexican carriers Viva and Aeroméxico welcomed the October decision, saying it would strengthen air connectivity between the countries. Any proposed services still face the department’s schedule process and large-aircraft approval requirement.
