The administration of former President Donald Trump announced this Saturday a series of measures it is considering as retaliation against the Mexican government, which it accuses of violating bilateral aviation agreements.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that the Mexican government’s actions to force airlines to move their operations from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) — located over 50 kilometers away — violate a trade agreement between the two countries and give an unfair advantage to Mexican airlines.
Duffy noted that Mexican authorities forced U.S. cargo airlines to relocate their operations under the pretext that AICM would be remodeled to ease congestion — a promise that, he said, has not materialized after more than three years.
In its statement, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) outlined three potential sanctions:
- Require Mexican airlines to submit their schedules to the DOT for all operations within U.S. territory.
- Mandate prior DOT approval for operating large aircraft charter flights — both passenger and cargo — to or from the U.S.
- Withdraw antitrust immunity (ATI) from the Delta-Aeroméxico joint venture, as a corrective measure for what the DOT considers a distortion of market competition.
The DOT also warned that it reserves the right to deny flight applications to or from Mexico if the Mexican government does not implement corrective actions. Additionally, it criticized the recent restrictions placed on the number of passenger flights allowed at AICM.
Last May, Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) authorized an increase in operations at AICM from 43 to 44 per hour — still far below the 52 per hour eliminated in early 2024, and the 61 that were allowed up until October 2022.
For its part, the Mexican government, through the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT), responded that transferring cargo operations to AIFA has improved operational conditions and aviation safety, both of which were affected by AICM’s congestion.
According to official data, the number of cargo airlines operating at AIFA grew from 18 to 47, and between February 2023 and July 2025, more than 843,000 tons were transported, compared to the 250,000 tons annually handled at AICM through 2022.
The SICT stated it will continue working in coordination with all involved parties — airlines, foreign authorities, and international organizations — to ensure that the decisions made tangibly benefit passengers.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Mexico is the most popular international destination for American travelers, with hundreds of daily flights between the two countries. Additionally, Mexico is currently the United States’ top trading partner.