The Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), one of the main infrastructure bets of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, faces a significant setback after the cancellation by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) of 13 routes that operated or were going to operate from that terminal to US destinations, according to experts.
The measure, announced last week, has generated concern in the aeronautical and tourism sector, by directly impacting the international connectivity of the AIFA, on the outskirts of the Mexican capital, and which sought to consolidate itself as an alternative to the saturated Mexico City International Airport (AICM).
“The DOT document recognizes that Mexico justified the decrease in operations due to the modifications in the AICM, but never presented a recovery plan with specific dates. This prevents airlines from planning their seasons in advance, such as the summer of 2026, which is explicitly mentioned,” Carlos Torres, economist and aviation specialist, told EFE.
The DOT argued that the decisions of the Mexican Government, such as the closure of the AICM to air cargo and the reallocation of slots, create inequitable conditions for US airlines.
However, President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected that accusation and assured that “there is total competition and free competition” when defending the effectiveness of the AIFA.
Brake on growth towards EU
Torres considered that Washington’s decision is a direct blow to the AIFA, inaugurated in 2022 as one of AMLO’s flagship projects and which has had difficulties attracting international flights.
Keep reading: The AIFA is not an obstacle, but a path to the integration of North America: freight forwarders
“The possibility of growing routes to the United States is practically stopped. Of the 13 canceled routes, eight were operated by Viva Aerobus, which was betting on consolidating itself in that market,” he explained.
The restriction, he said, “limits the international character of the airport and also affects users, who will lose more competitive flight options.”
For their part, the affected airlines—Viva Aerobus, Volaris and Aeroméxico, mainly—have warned of the impact on thousands of passengers and on the high season.
Effects on export
The Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE Noreste) explained that the decision will have immediate impacts on export logistics, particularly in sectors that depend on “just-in-time” supply chains such as the automotive, aerospace, medical and e-commerce industries.
The organization also estimated that the reduction in capacity and frequencies to and from the United States, as some routes will be modified, will imply longer transit times and costs, in addition to greater operational and documentary complexity when combining land and air sections.
According to COMCE figures, the AIFA recorded a total cargo volume of approximately 447,341.1 tons in 2024, and in the first six months of 2025 it moved 184,906.5 tons of international cargo.
For its part, the Aviation Pilots Union Association (ASPA) warned that the measures taken by the US authorities would “seriously affect” air connectivity, the competitiveness of national aviation and the thousands of jobs that depend on this sector, which would impact passengers, workers and companies linked to the industry.
Torres warned that, although there is room to partially reverse the sanctions, time is against Mexico.
“The United States is in no hurry, and its airlines even less so. As long as the Mexican airlines cannot grow, the American airlines will gain a greater market share,” he warned.
With information from EFE
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