Saturday, November 8, 2025

Americans will no longer be able to travel 13 critical flight routes as of this weekend

More than 10 flight routes between the US and Mexico will be axed today, affecting thousands of travelers.

Major flight routes between the neighboring countries are set to be canceled due to a government order aimed at combatting Mexico's 'unfair' air practices. 

Announced in October, the order formed part of broader US measures targeting Mexico's aviation industry.  

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) made the decision a decade after an agreement was made between the two nations that promoted ease of air travel across the border.

Signed in 2015 under the Open Skies framework, the Mexico Air Transport Agreement was designed to promote an unrestricted flow of passenger and cargo flights between the US and Mexico. 

It sought to limit government involvement in airlines' commercial decisions concerning routes, capacity, and pricing. 

The DOT has targeted three Mexican airlines: flag carrier Aeromexico and low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobus. 

As part of the decision, 13 flight routes operated under the agreement will end by November 7, 2025. Scroll down to see the full list.  

Passengers booked on any of the 13 affected routes should expect cancellations unless the decision is reversed. 

The DOT advises travelers to contact their airline for refunds or rebooking options.

All passengers are entitled to a full refund if their flight is canceled, regardless of the carrier. 

Major US airlines — including American, United, and Delta — continue to operate daily flights to Mexico City, though fares are typically higher than those of Volaris or Viva Aerobus.

The Trump administration asked a US appeals court on Monday to reject Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico's bid to halt the order forcing them to unwind their joint venture.

The airlines sought to have waived a January 1 deadline to end their venture as ordered by the DOT, so that the court can have time to conduct a review and issue a full opinion. 

In a filing by the DOT, the government called the joint venture 'legalized collusion.' 

The filing said the joint venture gave those three airlines a dominant market share — around 60 percent of traffic — on some US-Mexico City routes, limiting competition. 

Aeromexico told the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals it would face extreme costs it could not recover even if a court later upheld the arrangement. Delta has also made a similar claim.

The government said the airlines' claims are overblown, and the public interest favors restoring full and fair competition between Delta and Aeromexico themselves and among them and their competitors.

In 2022, Mexico was accused of breaching the agreement after revoking several flight slots held by US carriers at Mexico City's Benito Juárez International Airport.

The Mexican government has criticized the US decision, with President Claudia Sheinbaum saying it could negatively affect air travel between the two countries.

Following the DOT's announcement, President Sheinbaum said she would seek a meeting between the US Secretary of State and Mexico's foreign minister and expressed optimism about reaching a constructive outcome. 

She also confirmed plans to meet with the Mexican airlines involved. 

Viva Aerobus, the airline most affected, said that the sudden switch-up will impact thousands of travelers on both sides of the border. 

'We trust in the dialogue between the authorities of our government and their counterparts in the United States to find a reasonable and fair solution to this conflict and minimize its impact on passengers,' the airline said.  

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