DOT orders 13 Mexican carriers to seek approval for charter flights

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an order July 19 requiring thirteen Mexican airlines to obtain prior approval from it before operating charter flights into and out of the U.S. from Mexico, effective Aug. 20. “This requirement applies to each individual carrier, whether for an ad hoc charter flight or a series of flights,” the DOT told Cargo Facts . [caption id="attachment_57290481" align="aligncenter" width="1560"] Aeronaves TSM is a major operator of charters between Mexico and the United States. (Courtesy/Mayhew Trucking)[/caption] Applications must be filed with the DOT thirty days prior to the proposed operation of the flight at issue, the DOT said. Each application will be subject to a public comment period of seven business days, during which any interested party may comment. The DOT will then make its final ruling. The airlines named in the order are: Aeromexico ; Aeromexico Connect; Aeronaves TSM; Aerus; Avianca Cargo Mexico ; Awesome Cargo ; Estafeta Carga Aerea ; Magnicharters; Mas ; TAR Aerolineas; TUM AeroCarga; Viva Aerobus; and Volaris. Order 2025-7-10 The DOT issued Order 2025-7-10 “because the government of Mexico has, over the objections of the U.S. government, impaired the operating rights of U.S. carriers and denied them the fair and equal opportunity to exercise their operating rights in the U.S.-Mexico market, and thus has acted contrary to the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement,” according to the order. The Mexican government has denied U.S. cargo carriers’ requests to ferry aircraft within Mexico on a non-revenue basis and to perform co-terminalized services in Mexico, according to the DOT order. Co-terminalized services include carriers operating at multiple airports within the same city. By decree of the Mexican government, all freighter operations in Mexico City moved to Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU) from Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) as of September 2023. The DOT order will remain in effect until “these matters have been satisfactorily resolved,” it states. Carrier, forwarder concerns Mexican carriers are still trying to determine what the DOT order will mean for their operations. “This order will lead to increased filing requirements for our scheduled operations between NLU and [Los Angeles] LAX,” Mas Chief Executive Robert Van De Weg told Cargo Facts . “However, we assume that our schedule will be operated in an unchanged manner.” While Mas may not see drastic changes, the order could create disruptions to the supply chain, Brandon Fried , executive director of U.S.-based Airforwarders Association, told Cargo Facts . “The requirement for advance notice ... makes urgent and time-sensitive shipments virtually impossible,” he said. “Supply chains today rely on agility and the ability to react quickly to demand shifts or unforeseen events. “This order severely undermines that flexibility, leading to potential delays, increased costs and a reduced ability to move critical goods efficiently across the border,” he said. Cross-border Mexico-U.S. air cargo operations are essential for specialized cargo and the growing e-commerce market, Fried said. Many of these flights support the automotive sector. US-Mexico relations U.S.-Mexico relations have been tense since President Donald Trump announced tariffs against goods from Mexico shortly after he took office. The tariffs against Mexico and Canada include: Goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) have no tariff; Non-USMCA-compliant goods have a 25% tariff; and Non-USMCA-compliant energy and potash goods have a 10% tariff. The tariffs and the new order are affecting cross-border trade for those in the air cargo industry. “This is an issue between the U.S. and Mexican governments,” Mas’ Van De Weg said. “We can't be sure how negotiations between these governments will unfold. However, it's clear we hope for the overall trade environment to become easier instead of more complicated.” Meanwhile, AfA’s Fried called the ongoing negotiations between Mexico and the U.S. “a source of growing concern.” “This latest order, coupled with the existing political climate, risks straining U.S.-Mexico trade relations,” he said. “Mexico is a crucial trading partner for the United States, and efficient logistics are the backbone of that relationship.” Cargo Facts Symposium, the quintessential event for stakeholders and key leaders in the global freighter and air cargo industries, will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville . Learn more and register today to take advantage of the early-bird rate.

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