Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that the state-owned airline Mexicana de Aviación and other Mexican carriers have agreed to cede some takeoff and landing slots at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM) to U.S. airlines, amid threats of sanctions from Washington over the allocation of flights.
Last October, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an order to revoke thirteen routes operated by Mexican airlines to the United States, accusing Mexico of violating the terms of the bilateral air transport agreement.
The president explained that the Mexican government recently held a meeting with the U.S. Department of Transportation, emphasizing the importance of U.S. airlines operating at both AICM and Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) as a strategy to balance air traffic in the metropolitan area and integrate the two airports into a single system.
“Mexico City has two airports, or rather, the metropolitan area has two airports. And what we want is for both airports to have sufficient flights and be part of a single system,” she stated.
Sheinbaum added that it’s not about “winning” operations for one or the other, but rather about the United States recognizing the need to promote both.
“It’s not a question of whether it’s AIFA versus Benito Juárez (AICM) (…) but rather the fact that it’s very important for them to recognize the importance of promoting both airports, including their U.S. airlines,” she emphasized.
The head of state confirmed that, for several weeks now, Mexico has implemented a redistribution of slots, whereby Mexican airlines, including Mexicana de Aviación, according to industry sources, ceded slots to U.S. companies “within a framework of competitiveness.”
Sheinbaum announced that a new digital management system will become operational in 2026 to improve transparency and equitable allocation.
“So that there can be sufficient competition and distribution among all airlines, which are the agreements signed with the United States and with other airlines from other parts of the world,” she said.
Regarding how many slots will be returned or reassigned, Sheinbaum indicated that it is up to the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation to announce the final number.
“It is an internal arrangement that the Mexican airlines also agreed to in order to guarantee competition,” she stated.
Regarding the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), located outside the capital, the mayor assured that cargo airlines are satisfied with its operation.
“I met with the cargo airlines personally to see what they need… in general, there is a good atmosphere,” she maintained.
Source: radioformula
