Unions Escalate Pressure Over AFAC’s Approval of Foreign Pilots

Mexican pilot unions have intensified pressure on the federal government after the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) authorized Volaris to operate domestic routes with foreign captains under a wet-lease arrangement. The approval allows crews from Malta and Lithuania to operate at least seven Volaris aircraft for 43 days between December and mid-January, sparking public demonstrations and concerns about long-term implications for labor protections and aviation policy.

Members of the Colegio de Pilotos Aviadores de México (CPAM) and the Asociación Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores (ASPA) protested outside the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), arguing that the authorization violates the Mexican Constitution and existing aviation laws. 

“We are here to demand what our authorities swore to protect,” said Ángel Domínguez, President, CPAM. He argued that Article 32 of the Constitution is clear: “Pilots operating Mexican-flagged aircraft must be Mexican.”

ASPA echoed the concern, warning that the authorization risks opening the door for airlines to resort to foreign captains during operational disruptions, which could undermine job stability. “We will not yield. This violates the Constitution,” said ASPA Secretary General Jesús Ortiz.

AFAC and Volaris insist the approval complies with international norms and is strictly temporary. Volaris said the request stemmed from the grounding of aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney engine problems and is part of a compensation arrangement with the manufacturer. The airline stressed that no Mexican pilot will lose work as a result of the authorization and framed the measure as necessary to avoid further cancellations during the peak holiday season.

Industry observers noted that Viva previously employed a similar wet-lease solution early in the engine crisis, which is expected to continue for at least two more years. Union leaders, however, reject the idea that the situation constitutes an emergency. “This was planned ahead of time. Flight schedules are not improvised,” they said during the demonstration.

Following nearly three hours of negotiations at the SICT, government officials, AFAC representatives and union leaders agreed to launch legislative review sessions aimed at strengthening the Civil Aviation Law and related regulations. Ortiz said, “AFAC informed us that foreign crews will begin flying immediately. We will continue to challenge this, but Mexican crews will be present to monitor the foreign pilots.” He added that interagency working groups will begin meeting on Dec. 8 to “ensure the necessary safeguards are put in place so this does not occur again.”

Wet leasing—the focus of the dispute—allows an airline to rent an aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance. Although the practice is included in Mexican aviation regulations, unions contend that constitutional requirements take precedence over administrative authorizations.