The US has canceled 13 routes operated by Mexican airways and frozen new service expansions from Mexico Metropolis’s Benito Juárez Worldwide Airport (MEX), escalating tensions over aviation rights between the 2 nations. The transfer, introduced Tuesday by Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, halts all passenger flights between the U.S. and Felipe Ángeles Worldwide Airport (NLU) and responds to what U.S. officers name Mexico’s “continued abuse” of the 2015 U.S.–Mexico Air Transport Settlement.
Among the many routes affected are Aeroméxico’s NLU–Houston and NLU–McAllen flights, Volaris’s MEX–Newark service, and Viva Aerobus’s deliberate NLU routes to main U.S. locations reminiscent of Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. The Division of Transportation has additionally proposed banning Mexican carriers from transporting stomach cargo between Mexico Metropolis and the US, which might take impact in about 108 enterprise days.
Secretary Duffy stated Mexico has didn’t honor the settlement since 2022, when it withdrew U.S. airways’ airport slots and compelled all-cargo operators to relocate from MEX. “These offers are binding, and like our commerce agreements, President Trump goes to place America First and implement them,” Duffy stated.
Potential Influence on Mexican Tourism
The cancellations might have a major impact on Mexico’s tourism sector, one of many nation’s key financial drivers. With fewer flight choices between main U.S. and Mexican cities, journey capability could tighten, probably rising ticket costs and lowering accessibility for American vacationers. The U.S. stays Mexico’s largest supply of worldwide guests, and air connectivity has been central to post-pandemic tourism restoration.
Business analysts warn that lowered competitors and route availability might influence common locations served through Mexico Metropolis’s hubs, reminiscent of Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos. Mexican carriers may additionally face monetary losses if restrictions persist, particularly throughout the upcoming winter journey season.
Vacationers affected by the cancellations are suggested to contact their airways for rebooking or various flight choices.
