ATLANTA- The US government has introduced new restrictions on Mexican airlines, citing violations of a bilateral air agreement. Delta Air Lines (DL) and Aeromexico (AM) now face the potential termination of their long-standing transborder partnership.
This move follows Mexico’s earlier policy that redirected flights away from Mexico City’s main Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) to the newer Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), raising concerns over competitive fairness.
Photo: By Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA – N342AM Aeroméxico 2005 Boeing 737-8Z9(WL) – cn 34262 / ln 1720, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58161328US Restricts Mexican Flights
The US Department of Transportation (DoT), under Secretary Sean Duffy, has mandated that all Mexican airlines’ passenger, cargo, and charter flights must now seek advance approval before operating flights into the United States.
This applies until US officials are satisfied with Mexico’s treatment of American carriers.
The decision stems from Mexico’s enforcement of capacity restrictions at Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX), compelling airlines to relocate operations to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU), over 30 miles away.
US officials argue that this shift violates the US-Mexico Air Transport Agreement, which is designed to ensure fair and reciprocal access for both countries’ airlines.
Mexico remains the top international destination for US travelers, with over 40 million passengers flying between the two nations last year. The policy change may significantly impact air travel and logistics between the two countries.
Photo: DeltaDelta Aeromexico Partnership
The Delta Air Lines (DL) and Aeromexico (AM) partnership, established in 2016, is under threat due to the current dispute. This partnership, approved by both governments, has enabled coordinated scheduling, pricing, and shared revenues on US-Mexico routes.
According to APN News, both airlines argue that dissolving the alliance would punish private companies for government policy decisions beyond their control.
They cite nearly two dozen joint routes and an estimated $800 million in annual economic benefits, including tourism and employment, as reasons to preserve the agreement.
Efforts to end the joint venture began in early 2024, with the US government increasingly framing it as an issue of market fairness.
Delta and Aeromexico have continued to appeal for reconsideration, emphasizing the strategic value of their cooperation in maintaining affordable, efficient transborder air service.
Photo: Clément AlloingPolitical and Trade Implications
While the broader impact on the US–Mexico trade relationship remains uncertain, this aviation dispute introduces a new dimension to cross-border tensions.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explicitly linked the action to a broader “America First” stance, stating that allowing Mexico to disregard bilateral commitments would no longer be tolerated.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has not publicly addressed the new restrictions. Requests for official comment have gone unanswered, and the issue was notably absent from her recent public appearances.
As negotiations continue, the outcome may affect tariff discussions and future infrastructure cooperation between the two nations.
For now, increased scrutiny of Mexican carriers and the threatened rollback of the Delta–Aeromexico partnership mark a new phase in US–Mexico aviation policy.
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