The United States has revoked approval for 13 routes operated by Mexican air carriers and suspended all combined passenger and cargo flights by Mexican airlines from Mexico City’s new Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU), escalating a dispute over air transport rights between the two countries.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that Mexico had “illegally canceled and froze US carrier flights for three years without consequences” and that Washington would now “hold them accountable,” according to Reuters. The order, issued by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), blocks current and planned flights by Aeromexico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus, while freezing further growth of Mexican carriers’ combined passenger and cargo services between the United States and Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX).
The ruling also prohibits Mexican passenger airlines from carrying cargo between Juarez and US destinations, a ban expected to take effect within three months. Duffy said the decision followed repeated violations by Mexican authorities of the countries’ bilateral air services agreement dating to 2022.
“Until Mexico stops the games and honors its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable,” Duffy said in a statement. “No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market, and our flyers without repercussions.”
The Transportation Department said Mexico has failed to comply with provisions of the bilateral accord since it rescinded US passenger carriers’ airport slots and forced US cargo operators to relocate flights. US carriers have accused Mexico of giving domestic airlines preferential treatment at Mexico City’s congested airports and restricting foreign access.
The canceled routes include Aeromexico service between Mexico City Juarez and San Juan, Volaris service between Juarez and Newark, and Viva Aerobus’s proposed flights from Felipe Angeles to Austin, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Orlando. Also affected are Aeromexico’s current routes from Felipe Angeles to Houston and McAllen, Texas.
The DOT warned that Mexico’s continued non-compliance “may impact travel plans for American citizens” and advised passengers to contact their carriers for rebooking or refund options.
The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s campaign to enforce competition rules in cross-border aviation. In September 2025, the DOT ordered Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to unwind their joint venture, effective as of January 1, 2026, which allowed the carriers to coordinate schedules and fares on US-Mexico routes. Regulators said the partnership produced “ongoing anticompetitive effects” and gave the two airlines an unfair advantage in key markets such as Mexico City. The carriers are now challenging that order in US federal court.
Duffy’s actions reflect a broader push by to tighten oversight of international aviation agreements. He recently warned European governments against imposing unilateral restrictions on transatlantic travel, citing the need to uphold global air service accords.
Aviation data firm Cirium said Mexico-US routes account for nearly 10% of all North American international air traffic. Any sustained suspension of flights could raise fares, reduce connectivity, and pressure Mexican carriers already facing tight margins and rising fuel costs.
