Tensions are rising in the airspace between the United States and Mexico: in July 2025, the US Department of Transportation launched formal action against the Mexican government over alleged breaches of the 2015 bilateral air transport agreement. The decision responds to what Washington considers discriminatory and anti-competitive measures, particularly the forced relocation of all cargo carriers from Mexico City’s main airport, Benito Juárez, to a remote and poorly equipped secondary airport.
The current crisis has deeper roots. In 2023, the Mexican government mandated the transfer of all cargo flights from Benito Juárez to the newly built Felipe Ángeles airport, located around fifty kilometres from the capital. While the official explanation cited congestion reduction and expansion plans, the US Department of Transportation viewed the move as a unilateral action that disadvantaged American carriers and contravened the principles of the bilateral agreement, which guarantees equal access and operating rights.
Washington argues that the relocation imposed additional operating costs and significant logistical challenges on US airlines, particularly hybrid carriers operating both passenger and cargo services. Built on a former military base, the new airport was not yet adequately prepared to handle freight efficiently, forcing airlines to invest in new infrastructure and equipment to maintain service levels. Slot restrictions and the sudden loss of operating rights have led, according to the DOT, to millions of dollars in losses and represent a clear breach of the international agreement. Affected carriers include FedEx, UPS, Atlas Air, as well as American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta.
The new US transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, has unveiled a three-phase strategy aimed at forcing Mexico City to reverse course. The first step requires all Mexican airlines to provide the DOT with detailed information on their US-bound and outbound flights by 29 July, including aircraft types, frequencies, airports of origin and destination, and schedules. Secondly, they will no longer be permitted to operate charter cargo or passenger flights using large aircraft without prior approval.
Finally, the exemption granted to the Delta-Aeromexico joint venture, in place since 2016, has been revoked. If confirmed, the measure will take effect on 25 October, requiring the two airlines to cease all coordination on pricing, capacity and revenue, although limited cooperation such as codesharing would still be allowed. “This is a warning to all countries that think they can take advantage of the United States, our companies and our market. America First means fairness,” Duffy stated.
US cargo airlines have welcomed the government’s intervention. The Cargo Airline Association, which represents FedEx, UPS, Atlas Air and ABX Air, expressed full support for the DOT’s action: “Mexico has set a dangerous precedent and undermined the predictability needed for global logistics. Airlines must be free to choose their airports based on commercial, not political, criteria.” Amazon Air, DHL Express and Kalitta Air have also been affected by the operational fallout of the Mexican measure, which has lengthened transit times and complicated emergency responses.
Mexico’s response came swiftly. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her government had received no official communication from the United States regarding possible sanctions: “We see no justification for these measures,” she said, suggesting the dispute could escalate through diplomatic channels.
The action against Mexico also serves as a clear warning to Europe, which could be the next target of the DOT. The United States has already voiced concerns over the Netherlands’ decision to reduce slots at Schiphol airport by 10 percent for environmental reasons. Washington has argued that such unilateral decisions must be negotiated within the framework of the Open Skies agreement between the United States and the European Union.
