The US Department of Transportation has scrapped its 2025 order that blocked Mexican carriers from launching new flights between Mexico City and the United States. The reversal took effect immediately on October 16, clearing the way for Aeroméxico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus to grow their US networks again – and Aeroméxico says announcements could come within days.
The original freeze covered 13 routes at Mexico City's two airports, Benito Juárez (MEX) and Felipe Ángeles (NLU) – two existing and eleven proposed. Among the casualties were Aeroméxico plans for Houston, McAllen and San Juan, a Volaris service to Newark, and Viva Aerobus routes to Austin and Los Angeles. Washington framed the move as retaliation for Mexican government decisions that hurt US carriers, chiefly the relocation of cargo operations and slot cuts at Mexico City. President Claudia Sheinbaum called the US decision unjustified at the time.
The thaw followed a May agreement between the two governments giving both sides equal cargo access at MEX and NLU. The US now says Mexico has met most of its demands, including returning landing slots to American operators. Two loose ends remain: it's unclear whether the shelved routes come back automatically or need to be refiled, and an FAA safety audit of Mexico is due to conclude in February 2027 – though few expect it to cause real disruption.
There's good news on the alliance front too. The DOT had also pulled its approval of the Delta–Aeroméxico joint venture, but in August the Eleventh Circuit court struck that order down, so the partnership can keep coordinating schedules and sales. Delta describes it as delivering more choice and better connectivity, and a fresh attempt to block it looks unlikely.
For travellers, Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa said on October 20 that new US destinations could be named as soon as next week, with the first launches in early 2027 and a second wave around mid-2027. San Juan is a strong candidate for a return, though the second half of 2027 may be more realistic because of cruise-season dynamics in Puerto Rico. Watch the cities that were on the rejected list – Houston, Austin, McAllen, Newark and Los Angeles – for the first announcements.
The practical upside is straightforward: more nonstops into Mexico City and, from smaller US markets in particular, more options and potentially keener fares as Volaris and Viva Aerobus follow Aeroméxico's lead. A fare war seems improbable – the Delta tie-up gives the market leader little incentive to flood the route map – but competition against American Airlines' push into Latin America should keep things honest. If you've been eyeing a Mexico City trip, booking early still works in your favour until the new capacity actually lands in the schedules.
