Overview
- The U.S. Department of Transportation revoked 13 U.S.–Mexico route authorities in late October, halting planned launches from the Mexico City region including Viva Aerobus flights from AIFA to Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami and New York.
- AIFA reports 11 affected routes at its airport—nine from Viva Aerobus and two from Aeroméxico—translating to an estimated annual shortfall of about 84,000 passengers.
- Aviation authorities and carriers are conducting technical reviews and talks to resolve the DOT’s concerns, with no confirmed timetable for restoring the suspended authorities.
- Despite curtailed international growth, AIFA cites continued operational expansion since its 2022 opening and projects a 2025 surplus of 605 million pesos on 3,100 million in revenues.
- Federal planners and industry analysts are weighing shifts in AIFA’s and Mexicana’s commercial strategies toward domestic or niche models given Mexico’s heavy reliance on U.S. traffic.