Texas Border Business
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has withdrawn authorization for 13 flight routes operated by Mexican airlines, a move officials say stems from Mexico’s failure to uphold the 2015 U.S.–Mexico Air Transport Agreement. The action, made public on October 28, 2025, has fueled diplomatic tension between Washington and Mexico City over aviation market fairness and sovereignty.
According to the DOT order, Mexico has been “non-compliant with the bilateral air transport agreement since 2022.” U.S. officials allege that the Mexican government restricted American airlines’ access to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and redirected cargo operations to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), which opened in 2022 under the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
In its formal notice, the DOT said the scope of Mexico’s actions “calls into question the extent to which the government of Mexico may use practices at MEX to skew competitive dynamics between air carriers or airports.” U.S. authorities characterized the measures as “anti-competitive and non-transparent,” claiming they unfairly disadvantaged American airlines. “Until Mexico stops the games and honors its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable,” the department said in its statement. “No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market, and our flyers without repercussions.”
The suspension affects several cross-border routes linking Mexico City’s two main airports—MEX and NLU—to cities in Texas, including Houston and McAllen. Local officials in South Texas have expressed concern that the cancellations could disrupt travel, tourism, and regional trade links that depend on binational air service.
Mexico’s government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, rejected the accusations. Sheinbaum described the U.S. decision as “unilateral” and announced plans to request high-level discussions with the U.S. Secretary of State. “Mexico is exercising its sovereign right to manage its airports and airspace,” she said, adding that operational limits at MEX were introduced “because the airport is saturated and undergoing modernization.”
A statement from Mexico’s Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation reiterated that the policy aims to “reduce congestion at Mexico City International Airport and promote the use of new infrastructure like Felipe Ángeles International Airport.” The government maintains that its aviation decisions are part of a long-term infrastructure strategy rather than a measure against foreign carriers.
However, U.S. officials counter that Mexico’s sovereignty argument does not exempt it from treaty obligations. The 2015 U.S.–Mexico Air Transport Agreement guarantees “fair and equal opportunity for the airlines of both countries to compete” and requires “non-discriminatory treatment in slot allocation and airport access.” By reallocating flight capacity and forcing U.S. carriers out of MEX, Washington contends, Mexico may have breached those commitments.
Reuters reported that Sheinbaum’s administration intends to pursue “dialogue and understanding” but remains firm that its airport policy “is a matter of national jurisdiction.” Mexican airlines—Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris—also expressed confidence that cooperation between both governments will lead to a resolution. “We trust that through dialogue, normal operations can be restored as soon as possible,” Aeroméxico said in a press release.
Sources:
• U.S. Department of Transportation press order, October 28, 2025.
• Reuters (October 29, 2025): “Mexican President Sheinbaum disagrees with U.S. revoking 13 Mexican airline routes.”
• Mexican Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation public statement.
• Public comments from Aeroméxico and U.S. congressional representatives.
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