Trump Governance Cancels 13 Mexican Airline Routes to U.S. in Response to Aviation Agreement Dispute
WASHINGTON D.C. - The Trump Administration has canceled 13 routes operated by Mexican airlines to various U.S. cities, effective promptly, in response to what officials are calling “continued abuse” of the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transportation Agreement. The decision, announced Tuesday by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, marks a significant escalation in a growing dispute over aviation access between the two countries.
The cancellations impact routes operated by Aeroméxico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus, including services between Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico; Houston and McAllen, Texas; Newark, New jersey; and proposed routes from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) to cities including Austin, Texas, New York-JFK, Chicago-O’Hare, and Orlando, Florida.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the action stems from years of alleged violations by Mexico, specifically citing the cancellation of slots for U.S. airlines at Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM) in Mexico city and the forced relocation of U.S. cargo operations to AIFA in the State of Mexico.
“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg where too weak to stand up to Mexico when they trampled our bilateral aviation agreement,” Duffy stated in a released statement. “These agreements are binding and, like our trade agreements, President Trump will put the United States first and enforce them.”
This move follows a September order from the DOT to end the alliance between Delta and Aeroméxico, a decision the airlines are currently challenging. The DOT argued that the partnership was detrimental to other U.S. airlines.
The cancellations come at a sensitive time, as a tariff truce granted by Trump to Mexico, preventing a 30% tariff increase on exports not compliant with the USMCA, is set to expire on November 1st. While the Mexican government, under Claudia Sheinbaum, has publicly maintained a “cordial relationship” with the White House, this latest action opens a new front in the ongoing binational relationship.
The U.S. government has stated it will continue to hold Mexico accountable “until Mexico ends the games and fulfills its commitments,” adding, “No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market and our passengers without repercussions.”
