US Probes Mexico Aviation Oversight, Category 1 Rating at Risk

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated a new safety assessment of Mexico’s civil aviation framework, placing the country’s Category 1 air safety rating at risk of a downgrade as regulators evaluate the oversight capabilities of the Civil Aviation Federal Agency (AFAC).

According to industry sources, Mexican aviation authorities have completed and submitted answers to a 339-question questionnaire issued by the US government to determine whether Mexico will maintain its top-tier safety status. Neither the FAA, AFAC, nor Mexico's Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) responded to official requests for comment regarding the review process.

The review is being conducted under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, which measures a foreign nation's civil aviation authority against safety standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The technical evaluation examines primary aviation legislation, specific operating regulations, state civil aviation systems, safety oversight functions, technical personnel qualifications and training, technical guidance and tools, licensing, certification, authorization, surveillance obligations, and safety issue resolution.

Sources indicated that the ongoing audit focuses specifically on five ICAO annexes covering personnel licensing, airports, and air navigation, with FAA auditors preparing to issue recommendations following field evaluations and meetings with local officials. Aviation specialist Rogelio Rodríguez, consulted by El CEO, noted that the FAA’s process involves extensive field gathering and direct consultations, meaning final conclusions will not be immediate.

A core element of the US evaluation centers on Mexico's compliance with commitments made when it recovered Category 1 status in September 2023, specifically promises to increase AFAC's budget to ensure adequate surveillance. However, operational funding for the Mexican regulator has dropped by 37% since the status was restored. While AFAC executed MX$902 million (US$52.78 million) to recover Category 1 status in 2023, the approved budget for the current year was reduced by MX$244 million (US$14.28 million).

AFAC estimates that its operational needs require at least MX$2 billion (US$117.12 million) annually, a figure supported by the College of Commercial Pilots of Mexico (CPAM) and the Air Line Pilots Association (ASPA). The budget shortfall has left the agency without sufficient trained technical personnel required to execute complete inspection programs across all domestic air operators.

"It must be remembered that when the category was returned to us, it was conditioned. And they are reviewing us again. I hope that with the 339 questions that the Mexican state has already answered, that will resolve it and we will not be downgraded," said Jesús Ortiz, general secretary, ASPA.

Ortiz pointed to funding as the primary vulnerability facing Mexican aviation oversight. "The big issue is the budget that is not allocated to AFAC. This budgetary issue needs to be addressed, and lawmakers must look at separating it, or if they do not want to grant it budgetary autonomy, allocate more resources to avoid a downgrade," Ortiz said.

Mexico was previously downgraded to Category 2 in 2010 and again in May 2021 under former President Andres López Obrador, remaining downgraded for over two years before regaining Category 1 in September 2023. A Category 2 classification signifies that a nation fails to provide international-standard safety oversight. While existing flights to the US may continue under Category 2, domestic carriers are barred from adding new routes, expanding flight frequencies, or deploying new aircraft on authorized routes. This restriction benefits US airlines, which remain free to expand their market presence.

The safety audit follows prior regulatory disputes between the two nations. In October 2025, US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy blocked 13 proposed routes connecting the US to Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) after the Mexican government suspended several US flights at Mexico City International Airport (AICM). No flights currently operate between AIFA and the United States.

Results of the FAA evaluation and requests for additional documentation are expected to be processed in the coming weeks.