The Trump administration has imposed new restrictions on flights from Mexico in response to the Mexican government’s limitations on passenger and cargo flights into Mexico City. This move, announced on Saturday, threatens a longstanding partnership between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico that has been in place since 2016.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized Mexico’s actions, which require airlines to relocate operations from the main Benito Juarez International Airport to the newly built Felipe Angeles International Airport, located over 30 miles away. Duffy asserted that these actions violate a bilateral aviation agreement and provide undue advantages to domestic airlines in Mexico.
Mexico remains the top international destination for American travelers, with over 40 million passengers flying there last year. Duffy stated, “Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg deliberately allowed Mexico to break our bilateral aviation agreement. That ends today. Let these actions serve as a warning to any country who thinks it can take advantage of the U.S., our carriers and our market. ‘America First’ means fighting for the fundamental principle of fairness.”
Under the new regulations, all Mexican passenger, cargo, and charter airlines must submit their flight schedules to the U.S. Department of Transportation for government approval. This requirement will remain in effect until Duffy is satisfied with the treatment of U.S. airlines by Mexico.
The implications of this decision on the broader trade conflict with Mexico and ongoing tariff negotiations remain uncertain. A spokesperson for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum did not respond immediately to requests for comment, and Sheinbaum did not address the flight restrictions during a public event on the same day.
Delta and Aeromexico are actively contesting the Transportation Department’s efforts to terminate their partnership. The airlines argue that punishing them for the actions of the Mexican government is unjust. They claim that ending the partnership could jeopardize nearly two dozen routes and result in a loss of approximately $800 million in annual consumer savings.
In a statement, Delta noted, “The U.S. Department of Transportation’s tentative proposal to terminate its approval of the strategic and pro-competitive partnership between Delta and Aeromexico would cause significant harm to consumers traveling between the U.S. and Mexico, as well as U.S. jobs, communities, and transborder competition.”
Aeromexico’s press office confirmed that it is reviewing the order and plans to issue a joint response with Delta in the days ahead. The order to terminate the agreement between the airlines is set to take effect in October 2023, and both companies are expected to continue their legal battles against this decision.
As tensions escalate, the outcome of these developments could significantly impact the aviation landscape between the United States and Mexico, as well as affect travelers and industry stakeholders on both sides.
