Authorities at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) believe that the renovations being carried out on this infrastructure could allow for a further increase in takeoff and landing slots .

“I believe so, we are working towards that. We are building three taxiways; Delta One is already finished, which allows the aircraft to occupy the runway for the shortest possible time; the second taxiway is already under construction and will be completed in July of this year, and a third one between December and January of next year,” Admiral Juan José Padilla Olmos, general director of AICM, told T21.

However, he specified that the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)  will determine, through an evaluation of the AICM’s capabilities, whether it is feasible to increase the slots .

Padilla Olmos also confirmed that the slots that were taken away from Mexican and international airlines in 2022 have already been returned to them. Furthermore, he confirmed that there are no dedicated cargo planes involved in this arrangement, although if one requests it, the AFAC (Federal Civil Aviation Agency) will evaluate its potential landing at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) .

“We haven’t received any requests from any cargo companies. They would have to submit their request, and AFAC has the directives, and as soon as we receive a request, we will forward it to the agency,” he explained.

It is worth remembering that the federal government, when it was headed by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, decreed saturation at the AICM in 2022, so the operations went from 61 to 52 and later from 52 to 43, until May 2025, when they increased to 44 and recently the increase to 46 was ordered, a measure that came into effect on June 1 .

Padilla Olmos indicated that granting a slot means 1.2 million additional passengers per year , so it is expected that with the increase to 46 operations, 2026 will close with close to 49 million travelers.

“Those 46 are now permanent, and the results will start to be reflected from December onwards because the airlines have to offer them and adjust their flights,” he explained.

In that regard, Héctor Fabián Cortés Álvarez, Deputy Director of Operations at AICM, told this media outlet that the slots that were taken away from them in 2022 have already been reinstated for US airlines Delta , American Airlines and United , as well as for Aeroméxico , Viva and Volaris , and also Avianca , while Lufthansa continues to analyze the offer.

He recalled that on May 15, takeoff and landing slots were assigned for the upcoming winter season , “some were confiscated for misuse, that is done by the AFAC, and they are told what the assignment list is, what they cancel and what they are going to use and an operational reserve is generated that we take to the Slot Convention (held in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 9 to 11).”

He explained that a reservation of 2,300 slots was achieved , plus the increase, so there were 5,600 new operations.

“That’s something we’ll see reflected through October, November, and December. International companies received refunds for about 700 transactions, and domestic companies also received refunds for previous reductions, for which 2,400 transactions were processed,” he emphasized.

In that regard, he emphasized that American Airlines requested more operations because it anticipates a greater increase in winter; additionally, Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva are requesting to increase flights, as they will start new routes to Latin America.

“Of those, 1,100 will be new operations; most already fly here, but they will increase routes,” he explained.

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American Airlines has appointed Paola Torri as Chief Operating Officer for Mexico and Canada, a move that seeks to support the continued growth and strength of the airline’s operations in two of its most important international markets.

“It is an honor to assume this new role and continue building upon the strong foundation our teams have created in Mexico and Canada. Throughout my career at American, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication and talent of our people, and I am excited to work alongside them to further strengthen our operations, improve reliability, and deliver the exceptional service our customers expect,” said Torri.

The airline stated that this appointment is part of a broader reorganization of the management team across the region, building on the strong foundation established by the late Tony Gutiérrez, followed by José María Giraldo, who recently moved into a key leadership position in the United States.

Paola has over 25 years of experience at American Airlines . Most recently, she served as People Business Partner for the international division, based in Mexico City, supporting teams in Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States. She will continue to be based in Mexico City and will report to José A. Freig, Vice President of International Operations and In-Flight Catering Services.

American Airlines will offer more than 600 weekly flights this summer and up to 760 weekly flights during the peak winter season, including its recently expanded service to Puerto Escondido. In Canada, it will operate more than 390 weekly flights and continues its expansion with new service between Calgary and New York, complementing its existing service at LaGuardia.

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American Airlines Group will invest one billion dollars (USD) in the expansion of Terminal D at Miami International Airport (MIA) , which is an essential hub and international gateway for the airline.

“The new and redesigned D60 is a transformative project that will provide a much better experience for our customers and our team. This investment, along with the new VIP lounges and new routes, reflects our shared commitment to Miami-Dade County and the airport to ensure that Miami remains the premier gateway from the United States to Latin America,” said Robert Isom, CEO of the airline.

The project will begin in 2027 and will include a three-level expansion to create 17 new boarding gates to accommodate larger aircraft and eliminate exterior boarding. The shared boarding area will also be expanded, incorporating adjacent spaces for each gate to optimize passenger flow and offer customers more space and comfort.

The expansion will also facilitate international arrivals and offer direct access from the third floor to the customs hall. The new terminal will feature spacious, bright areas with indoor palm trees, as well as new dining and shopping options for travelers.

“The D60 expansion is one of the most significant customer service improvements within our unprecedented, airport-wide modernization plan that will transform the passenger experience from the cockpit to the curb over the next five years,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

At Miami International Airport, American Airlines operates approximately 400 daily departures and, with its summer schedule, plans to operate more than 380 flights per day during peak hours to 155 destinations in 45 countries. The airline accounts for more than 60% of traffic and, for Latin America and the Caribbean, provides access to more than 90 destinations, including new service to Milan, Italy, and Bimini, Bahamas.

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During the Christmas season, American Airlines will welcome 12.7 million customers through more than 118 thousand flights, of which 770 weekly flights will be made in Mexico from 28 destinations, which translates into a 4% increase compared to the previous year.

“We aim to offer industry-leading performance, operating up to 137 daily flights to 18 destinations in the United States and beyond,” said José María Giraldo, the airline’s general manager for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

He said American’s winter operations in Mexico will include up to 204 weekly flights from Cancun and up to 81 weekly flights from Los Cabos, while it will operate up to 90 weekly flights from Mexico City.

He recalled that the holiday period runs from December 18, 2024 to January 6, 2025. The day with the most trips will be Friday, December 27, while the second day with the most trips will be Friday, December 20.

He said 1,500 airliners, both regular and regional, will fly more than 102 million miles during this period. That’s the equivalent of almost 1.1 trillion candy canes lined up end to end.

Of the total number of aircraft, 1,074, both scheduled and regional, are scheduled to be en route at 00:40 on Sunday, December 22, the largest number of flights managed at a given time during this period.

“During last year’s holidays, American customers watched nearly 20 million minutes of holiday movies and TV shows during their flight. The airline will once again offer a collection of the best holiday content for customers to enjoy during their travels,” he said.

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American Airlines began its flight between Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Veracruz, operated by Envoy Air as American Eagle, a route that becomes the 28th destination in the country for the US airline.

“American has had a record year in Mexico and we are proud to continue solidifying our position as the largest US airline in the country with new flights to Veracruz,” said José María Giraldo, general director of operations for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean of The airline.

In a statement, he stated that whether for business or pleasure, Veracruz will be a popular destination for travelers flying to and from Dallas-Fort Worth and other cities, providing access to its largest hub in the United States with more than 925 flights. daily to more than 230 destinations.

Iván Martínez Olvera, Secretary of Tourism of Veracruz, said that this new American Airlines flight opens a range of possibilities for Tourist Service Providers and Tour Operators, who will be able to optimally market connectivity with the United States and, specifically, with the center. from Texas.

“In addition, it will generate tourist influx from Texas, without ruling out that this flight will be used to visit nearby entities. Direct connectivity between Veracruz and Dallas is an alternative to attract tourism not only to Veracruz, but to all of southern Mexico,” he mentioned.

American recently inaugurated its Tijuana-Phoenix route  and launched new service to Tulum from DFW, Miami and Charlotte. With this growth in the network, it will operate up to 690 weekly flights this summer from 28 destinations in Mexico, representing an increase in seat capacity of 5.5% compared to the same period in 2023.

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