US lifts restrictions on new Mexican airline routes from Mexico City
The United States removed restrictions on Mexican airlines adding routes from Mexico City’s two international airports. The decision follows steps to restore American carriers’ access to the capital’s main airport after a dispute over take-off and landing slots and cargo operations. Mexican airlines can seek additional cross-border services, while the change does not itself announce any new route opening.
Economics & Markets··Midday
Two capital airports regain room for new routes
The United States removed restrictions on Mexican airlines adding routes from Mexico City’s two international airports on October 16. The decision covers the capital’s main airport, Benito Juárez, and Felipe Ángeles to the north. It allows Mexican carriers to propose additional services to the United States after an extended dispute over airport access and cargo operations. The decision reopens expansion in a busy international air travel market.[1], [2]
The US Department of Transportation said Mexico had addressed most of the concerns underlying the restrictions. They included restoring take-off and landing slots to American carriers at the main airport. Slots are the allocated times at which airlines can use the airport. The department had been monitoring implementation of a bilateral memorandum of consultations since May.[1]
American carriers are to regain remaining slots
Mexico also committed to returning the remaining slots when American airlines are ready to resume services they had suspended. American carriers would be eligible for cargo slots at the main airport as well. Mexico’s infrastructure and transport ministry attributed the decision to dialogue and technical cooperation, strengthened by the memorandum signed in May.[1]
The dispute followed Mexico’s cuts to available airport slots and moved cargo operations away from the main airport under Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Mexican authorities cited congestion at the older airport. The relocation also supported activity at Felipe Ángeles, the newer airport. Washington argued that Mexico’s measures breached the countries’ 2015 air transport agreement.[1], [2]
Schedule and aircraft approvals remain
In October 2025, the US department froze expansion of Mexican passenger and cargo services from the capital’s airports. In May, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Mexico had agreed to improve access for US airlines. The latest change followed steps taken under those commitments. Viva and Aeromexico welcomed it, saying it would strengthen connections between the countries.[2]
Mexican airlines must still submit their US schedules to the department and obtain approval to operate larger aircraft. Another 2 orders associated with the dispute remain in effect. A US official said Washington would keep monitoring compliance. Airlines had announced no new routes when the decision was reported; the removal of the freeze concerns permission to expand rather than completed service launches.[2]
