Mexican airlines eager to launch new US flights – but no freighters

After the US lifted restrictions on Mexican airlines launching routes from the capital to the northern neighbour, several have signalled ambitions to avail themselves of the opportunity.

With restrictions on US airlines also removed and moves by the Mexican government to beef up aviation, cross-border traffic appears poised for expansion.

The US-Mexico aviation dispute took a large step towards resolution last week when Washington announced the end of its sanctions on Mexican airlines imposed in July of last year after taking umbrage at the government’s decision in 2023 to ban freighters from Mexico City’s Benito Juarez airport (AICM) and curtail take-off slots at the chronically congested airport – steps the US authorities deemed a violation of their aviation bilateral agreement.

Faced with the prospect of having its aviation safety downgraded once again to Category 2, the Mexican authorities have largely yielded to US demands for restitution of landing slots at AICM taken from US passenger airlines. They also took a step back on the freighter ban.

This story was originally published by The Loadstar. Read the full story at The Loadstar →