US DOT Orders Restrictions for Mexican Airlines, Threatens More

On July 19, 2025, US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced new "America First" aviation restrictions on Mexican carriers, citing violations of the 2015 US–Mexico Air Transport Agreement.

Mexico is accused of

• Unjustified removal of airport slots at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) from US carriers since 2022, including Delta, United, and American Airlines.
• Forcing cargo operators to relocate from MEX to Felipe Ángeles Airport (NLU) with minimal notice in early 2023.
• Failing to implement transparent slot allocation.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has introduced three countermeasures.

1. Mexican carriers must submit detailed US flight schedules to the DOT by July 29, 2025.
2. All large passenger or cargo charter flights to and from the US now require prior DOT approval. Previously, they operated with minimal oversight. Now, the DOT can stop or delay charter operations.
3. A Show Cause Order was issued to remove antitrust immunity (ATI) from the Delta–Aeroméxico joint venture. Since ATI allows two airlines to coordinate pricing, capacity, and revenue-sharing, revoking it will force Delta and Aeroméxico to operate independently on US–Mexico routes.

Mexico has not yet responded publicly.

The DOT may deny future Mexican flight authorizations and escalate the issue if compliance isn't met.

Cover photo by José Pablo Domínguez on Unsplash