Sunday, July 20, 2025

Mexico is facing a wave of strict new aviation rules imposed by the United States that also strike at a core claim by the Trump administration in its long-simmering fight over what it says is unfair competition and discriminatory airport slot practices. The U.S. Transport Department has cracked down on Mexican carriers, forcing the airlines to disclose schedules, grounding charter flights, and threatening to cancel the Delta-AeroMexico tie-up’s antitrust immunity. These actions come on the heels of Mexico’s contentious reassignment of critical airport slots for U.S. and Mexican carriers at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport, as well as the mandatory relocation of cargo operations to a new airport, Felipe Ángeles International Airport. American officials say these are violations of bilateral air transport accords and of the balance of the market, leading to an escalation of the standoff over aviation rights, transparency and fair access.

In a significant move that signals rising tensions in U.S.-Mexico aviation relations, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has introduced a new set of regulatory restrictions targeting Mexican airlines operating within the United States. The measures, announced in July 2025, come amid long-standing concerns over Mexico’s aviation policies and their impact on fair competition, operational transparency, and bilateral agreements.

At the core of these new measures is the DOT’s effort to enforce stricter oversight of Mexican carriers’ operations on U.S. soil. All Mexican airlines must now submit detailed flight schedules for U.S. operations directly to the DOT, a step aimed at increasing transparency and ensuring regulatory compliance. In addition, any charter flight involving large passenger or cargo aircraft will require advance approval from the DOT before being allowed to fly to or from the U.S. This requirement significantly limits operational flexibility for Mexican carriers and adds an extra layer of scrutiny to their services.

One of the most impactful proposals involves the potential withdrawal of antitrust immunity granted to the joint venture between Delta Air Lines and AeroMexico. The partnership, which allows the two carriers to coordinate pricing, schedules, and revenue-sharing, has come under review due to concerns about market imbalances. According to U.S. authorities, interventions by the Mexican government—especially actions related to slot allocations at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City—have created an uneven playing field that undermines the original intent of the joint venture agreement.

In 2022, Mexican aviation authorities revoked historic takeoff and landing slots at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport from six airlines, including three from the U.S.—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines—and three domestic Mexican carriers—AeroMexico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris. These removals were reportedly made under the justification of capacity limitations, though U.S. officials claim the process lacked transparency and violated bilateral aviation protocols. Since then, repeated inquiries by U.S. authorities about the timeline for restoring these slots or completing airport construction have gone unanswered.

Further straining relations, the Mexican government issued a sweeping decree in February 2023 mandating that all dedicated cargo operations relocate from Mexico City International Airport to the newer Felipe Ángeles International Airport. This abrupt transition disrupted key U.S. cargo routes and drew strong objections from both the aviation industry and diplomatic circles. Critics argue the move was implemented without adequate notice or coordination, affecting the efficiency and profitability of cargo carriers.

The DOT also flagged another key concern: Mexico’s continued failure to establish a transparent and non-discriminatory slot allocation system at its airports. This oversight, the agency claims, is a direct violation of Article 11 of the 2015 U.S.-Mexico air transport agreement, which requires both countries to adopt fair and internationally recognized aviation practices.

As of July 2025, negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico remain active, but no resolution has been reached. Diplomatic discussions are ongoing in an effort to reestablish normal aviation protocols and restore trust between the two nations. Both sides are reportedly seeking to find a path forward that upholds their mutual commitments under the 2015 agreement and respects operational fairness for all airlines involved.

Should the DOT finalize its proposed revocation of antitrust immunity, the partnership between Delta and AeroMexico would lose its ability to coordinate fares, schedules, and revenue-sharing strategies. Although Delta would still retain its equity stake in AeroMexico, any joint coordination would end, and each carrier would operate independently on cross-border routes. This could lead to higher costs, route inefficiencies, and a reconfiguration of transborder service options for travelers and shippers.

Mexico is under mounting pressure as the U.S. enforces tough new flight restrictions, citing unfair competition and discriminatory airport slot practices. The crackdown targets Mexican airlines and threatens cross-border aviation partnerships.

The aviation landscape between the U.S. and Mexico now faces a period of uncertainty. The DOT has signaled that further actions could be taken depending on Mexico’s future aviation decisions and the outcome of current diplomatic efforts. In the meantime, both passengers and airlines must navigate an evolving regulatory environment shaped by broader geopolitical and economic considerations.