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U.S. Imposes New Restrictions on Mexican Flights

(MENAFN) The U.S. government announced new restrictions on Mexican flights this Saturday, accusing Mexico of breaching the 2015 bilateral Air Transport Agreement regarding aviation access and fairness.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Mexico has been non-compliant with the agreement since 2022, when it suddenly withdrew flight slots and compelled U.S. all-cargo carriers to relocate their operations.

At the time, Mexico’s then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador cited severe overcrowding at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) as the reason for these moves, emphasizing the need for renovations ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which Mexico will co-host. He pointed to a newer airport approximately 48 kilometers away as the solution for handling the increased traffic.

"By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of MEX, Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market, and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," the U.S. Department of Transportation declared.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy outlined three “America First actions” aimed at responding to Mexico’s violations: Mexican airlines must now submit schedules for all U.S. operations to the Department for approval, prior authorization will be required before any large passenger or cargo charter flights operate to or from the U.S., and the Department may revoke antitrust immunity from the Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico joint venture to address market competition concerns.

Since their partnership began in 2016, Delta and Aeromexico have resisted the Department’s threats, arguing that penalizing their alliance for Mexico’s governmental decisions is unjust. They warned that dissolving their joint venture could disrupt nearly two dozen routes and eliminate approximately $800 million in annual consumer savings.

The Department of Transportation also emphasized it "reserves the right to disapprove flight requests from Mexico should the country fail to take corrective action."

Mexico remains the top international destination for U.S. travelers and hosted around 45 million international tourists in 2024, per data from the Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography.

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