Washington Quietly Unlocks the Door It Slammed on Mexico City Flights

The U.S. Department of Transportation has reversed a decision that kept Mexican airlines from adding flights to the United States. On October 16, 2026, DOT revoked an order issued in late October 2025 that barred Mexican carriers from new routes and extra frequencies from Mexico City’s main airport and its second airport, Felipe Ángeles. The new order says Mexico’s recent steps sufficiently address the concerns behind the freeze, and it takes effect immediately.

The original order, announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, accused Mexico of abusing a 2015 aviation agreement, and it blocked 13 routes that Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus had planned or already operated. Those included Felipe Ángeles to Houston and McAllen for Aeromexico, Mexico City to Newark for Volaris, and nine Viva Aerobus routes to cities from Austin to Orlando. AeroCorner’s report notes that neither DOT nor Mexico has yet named a specific route that will restart, or given a date.

Mexico appears to have met the U.S. demands on slots and oversight. A consultation memorandum in May 2026 committed Mexico to return takeoff and landing slots taken from airlines in 2022 and 2023, to adopt the global 80/20 use-it-or-lose-it rule, and to create an independent slot coordinator. The Bulkhead Seat’s weekend roundup says Aeromexico has already announced three new U.S. routes from Mexico City following the reversal.

Not every restriction is gone. Mexican airlines must still file their U.S. schedules with DOT, large charters still need approval, and a proposed ban on Mexican carriers hauling belly cargo has no final order. A separate FAA review of Mexico’s aviation oversight is also ongoing. Still, for travelers, the immediate effect should be more choice and, eventually, more competitive fares between the two countries.

Sources: AeroCorner, The Bulkhead Seat