U.S. cancels 13 mexican routes

02-11-25

The United States government has announced the revocation of approval for thirteen air routes operated by Mexican airlines to U.S. destinations, a significant blow to the air transport sector between the two countries. The decision, signed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, is based on what Washington describes as serious breaches by Mexico of a 2015 bilateral air transport agreement.

According to the order, these routes—whether already operating or still in the launch phase—will be canceled or blocked starting November 7. In addition, new expansions of flights by Mexican airlines to the United States are frozen, and combined passenger-and-cargo flights from Mexico’s Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) are prohibited. The affected companies include Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus, with routes to cities such as Houston, McAllen, Austin, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, and Denver annulled.

In his statement, Secretary Duffy asserted that Mexico has “illegally canceled and grounded U.S. airlines’ flights for three years without consequences,” and that as long as that noncompliance persists, the United States “will continue to demand accountability.” For its part, the Mexican government—through President Claudia Sheinbaum—rejected the move as unilateral and unjustified, and said it would request a meeting between Mexico’s foreign minister and the U.S. Secretary of State to examine the substance of the dispute.

The trigger for this crisis lies in aviation policy changes Mexico has implemented in recent years, such as reducing time slots for U.S. airlines at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and forcing cargo operations to move to AIFA—measures that, according to the U.S., upset competitive balance and the application of the bilateral agreement.

For Mexican carriers, the measure brings significant disruption. Volaris, for example, said it is assessing the consequences of the U.S. order, though it considers the impact on cargo marginal given its limited activity in that segment. Viva Aerobus warned that the route cancellations will affect thousands of passengers right in the holiday season and argued that “the unilateral decision announced by the United States, and the short notice with which this order was issued, will impact thousands of North American and Mexican passengers.”

The impact goes beyond airlines, reaching the tourism sector, cross-border connectivity, and Mexico’s airport strategy. In fact, AIFA—envisioned as a complementary airport to the congested AICM—sees its expansion blocked by this move, stalling a key element of Mexico’s infrastructure modernization plan.Diplomatically, the action aggravates already tense relations between Mexico and the United States, where trade, air competition, migration, and sovereignty issues overlap in the background. The cancellation of routes is seen as part of a broader strategy with a protectionist slant or an attempt to impose conditions on Mexico.

In the short term, it will be vital to watch how the affected airlines—both Mexican and U.S.—respond, and whether negotiation channels are established to reverse the measure or at least mitigate its effects. Mexico’s compliance, or at minimum its willingness to address the complaints of its U.S. partner, could open a path to resolution. Meanwhile, passengers with upcoming travel on those routes should be alert to potential cancellations or operational changes.

The U.S. decision to revoke 13 Mexican air routes marks a turning point for aviation between the two countries. It amounts to a formal reprimand to Mexico, an operational challenge for carriers, and a reminder of how international agreements can shape global connectivity and mobility. How this conflict evolves—and how it is resolved—will determine not only the future of specific routes but also the dynamics of air cooperation and diplomacy between Mexico and the United States in the years ahead.

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