US Revokes 13 Mexico Flight Routes Over Alleged Violations

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has revoked approval for 13 routes operated by Mexican airlines between Mexico and the United States, citing ongoing violations of the 2015 Air Transport Agreement. The decision affects flights from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), effectively suspending current and planned routes “until further notice.”

According to DOT order DOT-OST-2025-0436, 11 routes from AIFA and two from AICM are impacted. Airlines affected include Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva, which now face a freeze on both passenger and cargo (“belly cargo”) operations to the United States. “The Department adopts this measure upon determining that the operation of these services would adversely affect the public interest, due to actions of the Government of Mexico that have harmed operational rights granted to US airlines,” the order states.

The DOT also blocked any further expansion of flight frequencies, noting: “The Department disapproves all proposed schedules submitted by the aforementioned foreign airlines for any increase in frequency between Santa Lucía (NLU) or Mexico City (MEX) and any US destination, until further notice.”

Suspended Viva routes include Austin, New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver, Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami, and Orlando. Aeroméxico’s affected flights include AIFA to Houston, McAllen, and Puerto Rico.

Flights currently operating between AIFA and the United States—specifically to McAllen and Houston—must be suspended by Nov. 7, with planned routes canceled immediately.

The DOT acknowledged Mexico’s recent airport slot reform as a potentially positive step but added that “numerous questions persist regarding Mexico’s compliance with the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG) of IATA, both in regulation and in practice, and the information provided so far remains incomplete.”

The agency reserved the right to take further actions as needed, stating: “The Department will continue monitoring Mexico’s compliance and may impose further measures if necessary”.