Why the Trump admin just rejected approval of 13 Mexican airline routes to US

The Trump administration is sending Mexico a stern message about playing “games” with the United States, canceling more than a dozen airline routes into the country.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy issued a new order this week cutting “13 current or planned routes by Mexican carriers into the United States.”

“Mexico has illegally canceled and frozen U.S. carrier flights for three years without consequences,” the Department of Transportation noted in a press release. “All the while, Mexican carriers have been adding new routes and services between MEX and the United States.”

“In addition to these actions, Secretary Duffy is also proposing a prohibition of Mexican passenger airlines from transporting belly cargo between MEX and the United States. This action would take effect 108 business days after it is finalized,” the press release noted.

Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg were too weak to stand up to Mexico when they walked all over our bilateral aviation agreement.

These deals are binding, and like our trade agreements, @POTUS is going to enforce them. America First! https://t.co/UPmdHaqxml

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) October 29, 2025

“Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg were too weak to stand up to Mexico when they walked all over our bilateral aviation agreement. These deals are binding, and like our trade agreements, President Trump is going to put America First and enforce them,” Duffy said. “Until Mexico stops the games and honors its commitments, we will continue to hold them accountable. No country should be able to take advantage of our carriers, our market, and our flyers without repercussions.”

The flights disapproved by the Transportation Department include:

An Aeromexico service between MEX and San Juan;
A Volaris service between MEX and Newark;
Viva Aerobus’s proposed services between NLU and AUS, JFK, ORD, DFW, DEN, IAH, LAX, MIA, and MCO;
Aeromexico’s current services between NLU and Houston and McAllen;

Duffy put Mexico “on notice” back in July for “its blatant disregard of the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement and its ongoing anti-competitive behavior,” according to the DOT. “Mexico has promised to level the playing field but remains unwilling to address the United States’ concerns.”

“Mexico has not been in compliance with the bilateral agreement since 2022, when it abruptly rescinded U.S. passenger carriers’ slots and then forced U.S. all-cargo carriers to relocate operations. Mexico claimed its actions were temporary to allow for construction to alleviate congestion at Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) that has yet to materialize three years later,” noted the Department of Transportation, accusing Mexico of having “broken its promise, disrupted the market, and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is reportedly seeking a meeting between Duffy and Mexico’s foreign minister as she expressed her disagreement with the Trump administration’s move, according to Reuters.

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Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
Frieda@bizpacreview.com

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.