Travel · NEWS EXPLAINER
Aeromexico weighs new U.S. routes after Mexico City flight limits are lifted
The carrier has revived paused route planning from AICM and AIFA, but no destinations or launch dates are confirmed and normal U.S. approvals still apply.
Aeromexico is evaluating new flights from Mexico City to the United States after restrictions that had prevented Mexican airlines from adding service from the capital’s two main airports were revoked. The airline’s October 19 comments turn a regulatory change into a concrete planning step, but not a route announcement.
Both Benito Juárez International Airport and Felipe Ángeles International Airport are covered. Schedule filings and other applicable approvals remain, so travelers should wait for named destinations, timetables and bookable tickets before treating any city pair as confirmed.
Aeromexico has restarted route evaluation
Aeromexico finance chief Ricardo Sanchez said the carrier is reviewing new United States services from Mexico City after the restrictions were lifted. Plans that had been paused can now be reconsidered, but the airline has not announced a destination, frequency or launch date. The new material development is the carrier’s October 19 planning decision, not merely the October 16 regulatory order.
The change covers both Mexico City airports
The revocation applies to new United States service from Benito Juárez International Airport, commonly known as AICM or MEX, and Felipe Ángeles International Airport, known as AIFA or NLU. Mexico’s transport ministry described the decision as effective immediately and said it reopened the possibility of new routes and frequencies from both airports.
Not every oversight measure disappeared
The earlier Reuters report on the policy change says Mexican carriers must continue filing schedules for flights to and from the United States, and approval remains necessary for services using large aircraft. Aeromexico’s own statement likewise says any new service remains subject to applicable regulatory requirements. Revocation therefore creates room to apply for growth; it is not blanket approval for a particular route.
Aircraft availability makes planning practical
Sanchez said Aeromexico has aircraft available under leases negotiated during its Chapter 11 restructuring at rates below current market levels. Some assets are underused, he said, so adding the right flights could improve profitability. That is management’s assessment, not a guarantee that every proposed route will be commercially viable.
What travelers should watch next
The next reliable checkpoints are named destinations, published schedules, regulatory approvals and tickets placed on sale. Until those appear, travelers should not infer that a specific city pair will launch. Aeromexico says it continues to prioritize profitable growth and lower leverage, while competition could intensify if the proposed Volaris–Viva Aerobus combination receives approval.
