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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El cargo They estimate that the remodeling of the AICM would allow for an increase in slots apareció primero en T21.

Lufthansa , the German airline, announced that its plans for the Mexican market include increasing flights from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to Munich by the end of 2026, thus once again ruling out a possible landing at Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) .

Frank Naeve, senior vice president of Global Sales and Distribution for Lufthansa Group Passenger Airlines, said they expect the AICM authorities to grant them the slots (takeoff and landing times) to begin the new flights.

“This decision to increase flights is recent. We will be approaching the authorities to explore the possibility of implementing this increase. We want to bring more tourism to Mexico. We will continue investing in Mexico, working with our partners in the country, and seeking opportunities in this market, which is very important to us,” he emphasized.

At a press conference commemorating the airline’s 60th anniversary of operations in Mexico , Lufthansa acknowledged the limitations on flight slots at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) , but stated that this does not diminish their interest in investing in the country. “We will discuss this with the authorities to determine the extent to which we will be able to operate additional flights,” they explained.

“We don’t have a plan B. We’ve been fighting for years to have more operations in the country, and we’re happy that our parent company is investing in and believing in Mexico. The limit of 44 operations per hour doesn’t allow us to grow in Mexico City, even though passenger demand will continue to grow in the coming years; hopefully, we can have more operations in the future,” Naeve said.

Regarding AIFA, he reiterated that it is a very good airport, but what is needed is better access for passengers to reach this infrastructure . “At the moment, we have no plans or vision for operating at Felipe Ángeles Airport in the future, but if ground transportation can be improved, it will be feasible.”

He noted that they currently operate daily flights to Frankfurt and Munich with three frequencies, so if approved by the AICM, the latter would increase to five weekly frequencies.

For the 2026 World Cup, Naeve commented that they have operations in each of the cities where games will be held , “we are seeing a lot of demand and making sure that football fans get to their matches.”

“There is a lot of additional demand, especially from Europe, to see the games, and we will be there to transport soccer fans to the 13 matches that will be played in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara,” he noted.

At a general level, Frank Naeve recalled that they will receive 220 aircraft, one every week starting this year , whose investment will be three billion euros annually until 2032, in addition to the actions they carry out in cabin service, where they allocate resources of 70 million euros, “we want the experience of traveling with us to be more comfortable going forward.”

Regarding a possible impact from the rise in jet fuel prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, he ruled out any problems arising from this situation, as they have a dedicated unit for the supply of this fuel, which includes advance purchases to ensure stability.

“We are reviewing flights across our network to reduce them due to the high cost of fuel. Last week, we made the decision to cut 1% of Lufthansa Group flights on short routes within Europe and also to cancel operations for a German airline that operated for us. We are talking about 20,000 flights affecting our hubs in Frankfurt and Munich; there is no impact on Mexico. We are closely monitoring this geopolitical situation to make the right decisions,” he emphasized.

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El cargo Lufthansa seeks to expand operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM); rules out landing at Federal Airport (AIFA) apareció primero en T21.

LIMA, PE.- Mexico needs to work on a master plan for the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) that will allow it to meet the growth expected in the coming years, as it requires a “dramatic change” and not just an aesthetic one, like the one being carried out in the framework of the 2026 World Cup.

“It has to be a national agenda. We know that the airports we have today are the ones we’ll have in the coming years. First, we need to develop a master plan for the next 25 years and start planning the budgets, choosing who will do the construction, and how it will be designed,” emphasized Peter Cerdá, regional vice president of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the Americas.

In an interview with T21, within the framework of the 19th IATA World Cargo Symposium (WCS) , which is being held in Lima, Peru, he reiterated the need for the master plan, since a growth of between 4% and 8% year-on-year is expected at the AICM in passenger traffic over the next 14 or 15 years.

“We need a master plan to be developed so we know what the airport designs are and can work together. We want to implement the best practices that have been used at other airports. IATA has collaborated with the Mexican government on the construction of Tulum Airport and the verification of Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) . We have experience and want to contribute, but the airport does require a dramatic change to adapt to the growth of Mexico City,” he stated.

He mentioned that the analysis will have to determine whether a third terminal needs to be built or what changes are required in Terminal 1. He recalled that in the case of LaGuardia Airport in New York, a new terminal was built on top of the existing infrastructure, although it had no impact on passengers; “the impact was minimal.”

Cerdá considered that although the AICM remains the main entry point to Mexico, various airlines such as Air France or Iberia have expanded their connectivity to other airports such as Guadalajara, Cancun or Monterrey , “that gives the airport some breathing room, but it still remains the most important point of entry, especially in economic terms.”

Regarding the allocation of airport slots (takeoff and landing times) in the country under international standards, Cerdá expressed confidence that implementation will take place this year, given that progress is between 85% and 90% complete, although work remains on issues such as the regulatory framework. In this regard, he indicated that the goal is for implementation before the third quarter of the year.

“What we’re trying to do is accelerate that implementation. There’s no reason to wait until the end of the year, when we can already start working on certain mechanisms. There’s a regulatory framework that has the approval of the Congress of the Union to amend laws, but in a government where Congress is from the same political party, it should be relatively quick and easy. We want to move it forward because we see great opportunities for improvement, and there’s really no need to delay it any longer,” he stated.

Peter Cerdá announced that they will be meeting with the head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , Jesús Esteva, in the coming months to maintain a close and open relationship, with the purpose of working in an aligned manner so that the aeronautical industry can contribute to the development of the country.

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El cargo Mexico City International Airport (AICM) needs a master plan to address growth in the coming years: IATA apareció primero en T21.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) confirmed that Mexican airlines ceded six slots (takeoff and landing times) as part of their response to requests from the United States, regarding the alleged breach of the air agreement between the two countries.

“The airlines ceded slots; those have already been handed over. In some cases, they’ve already been taken up, and in others, on a different date. There are no cargo flights; they have more space and slots at AIFA and stated that they are satisfied and that there are some things to improve, but there will be monthly meetings,” said Jesús Esteva, head of SICT.

In a meeting with the media, he also mentioned that during the meetings held with authorities of that country, the procedure for distributing the schedules was clarified, which are under international standards; however, this action will be implemented through a system in charge of the agency or the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) , and not of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) .

“ The Navy is in the process of finalizing the software acquisition , and we presented them with dates for when it would enter service. They also suggested that it be an external entity, not the airport itself; so it would be SICT or AFAC with a board,” he noted.

However, meetings with the DOT will continue in the following days and roundtables will be held to resolve this issue.

Remodeling in progress

Regarding the remodeling of the AICM, he stated that it is progressing despite the complexity due to the operations.

Furthermore, he confirmed that they are still in talks with the taxi drivers , although it is expected that an agreement will be reached with all the transport operators in the coming weeks.

Similarly, Jesús Esteva said, regarding the expansion of the suburban train to AIFA , that the civil works are already completed, although some pedestrian crossings still need to be enclosed; however, it would begin operations at the beginning of next year.

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El cargo US airlines receive airport slots again; cargo planes remain at AIFA. apareció primero en T21.

The Mexican government confirmed that Mexican airlines ceded takeoff and landing slots at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to their US counterparts , while at AIFA they will seek improvements in cargo handling.

This was announced by Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, in response to the request made by her counterpart Donald Trump through the  Department of Transportation (DOT), stemming from the alleged breach of the Air Transport Agreement signed between both countries in 2015, and the impact on US airlines due to the reduction of slots at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and the relocation of cargo aircraft to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) .

“For some weeks now, prior to that meeting, a distribution of slots was made, a new distribution, in which Mexican airlines cede their spaces to US airlines within a framework of competitiveness,” he said in his conference.

He specified that the above is being done after meetings with DOT authorities, however, he insisted that they will continue to promote both airports.

“It’s not a question of whether it’s AIFA versus Benito Juárez, or the cargo on one or the other, although there is a decree that must be respected, but rather the fact that it’s very important for them to recognize the importance of promoting both airports, also with their US airlines. So, that was the first thing we proposed, that they understand that it is the obligation of the Mexican government to promote both airports: Benito Juárez and Felipe Ángeles International Airport. And they were very receptive to that,” he said.

In this regard, he indicated that the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) and the AICM authorities will announce how the schedules will be distributed.

He also commented that next year a more advanced digital system will come into operation, which will allow for sufficient competition and distribution among all airlines at this airport.

Regarding cargo airlines, he mentioned that he met with the companies to learn what’s needed for their operations at AIFA. “There are some customs procedures that need improvement , and they raised some other issues, and we’re going to support them in this process. But overall, the atmosphere is good, let’s say. And the talks will continue for several weeks with the understanding that we can reach an agreement.”

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El cargo Mexico relinquishes slots and will seek improved cargo operations at AIFA apareció primero en T21.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) announced the general bases for the assignment of landing and takeoff times ( slots ) at aerodromes in saturation conditions , such as Mexico City International Airport (AICM) .

“The goal is to achieve optimal efficiency in the use of airport infrastructure, with the aim of maximizing benefits for the largest possible number of airport users, and ensuring operational safety and the continuity of air operations,” the agency explained.

The measure, which was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , came into effect this Wednesday, October 15 .

The SICT reported that the airport administrator will assign landing and takeoff times only to those air carriers who request them each season.

This will have to be carried out taking into account the non-binding recommendations of the Operations and Schedules Committee, and in accordance with the reports issued by the schedule coordinator and the determinations issued by the delay subcommittee.

It also establishes that the airport administrator must assign landing and takeoff times per hour , in accordance with the declared operating capacity of both the runways and the airport terminal buildings.

“The number of landing and takeoff times assigned must not exceed the airport’s hourly operating capacity or the passenger capacity that can be served by the terminal building,” he added.

He maintained that they can only retain landing and takeoff schedules that they intend to operate, transfer, exchange, or use in a joint operation.

Otherwise, they must return to the airport administrator all time slots they do not plan to use during the season , within the deadline for returning landing and takeoff time slots.

In addition, airport administrators of airports experiencing saturation conditions in the airfield or terminal buildings must modify their operating rules within 15 business days of publication in the DOF, and must submit them for authorization to the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) .

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El cargo SICT publishes bases for slot allocation at saturated airports apareció primero en T21.

The reduction in operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) , the relocation of cargo to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) , among other actions, were carried out as a result of a technical and not a subjective decision, therefore there is no justification for any possible sanction by the United States government in air matters, assured Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico.

El cargo Changes at AICM and move to AIFA were a technical decision, not a subjective one: Sheinbaum apareció primero en T21.

Juan Antonio José, an independent aviation analyst, considered the aviation policy decisions of the previous six-year term to be a “blow” to the agreement, and gave “genuine and legitimate reasons to Donald Trump, president of the United States, to complain about the country.”

In an interview with T21, he explained that the measures will limit the expansion of Mexican airlines into the United States , increase bureaucracy, as well as the deterioration of finances in Mexican operators, and seriously jeopardize the strategic alliance between Delta and Aeroméxico .

“The risks we face are that Aeroméxico loses its antitrust immunity, that the United States denounces the bilateral agreement and says it’s withdrawing from the civil aviation agreement, and then sets its own rules. There’s also a potential audit by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) that could demote Mexico again. This will prevent Mexican airlines from growing in the US market, which will be more restricted in terms of processing with the DOT (United States Department of Transportation) ,” he said.

It should be recalled that then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador decreed the move of dedicated freighters from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in 2023, citing the saturation of the former, in addition to the reduction in operations for the same infrastructure from 61 to 49 per hour.

Juan Antonio José said that in terms of air cargo, those affected by the 2023 cargo decree were DHL , UPS and Atlas Air .

For his part, Ricardo Dadoo, president of Logistics Dadoo , indicated that a disadvantage of sending the freighters to AIFA was the impact on the package integrator UPS , as the only American carrier forced to relocate, since FedEx operates from a third airport, Toluca.

He explained that UPS had “ideal time slots” from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at AICM, schedules that had to be substantially shortened after the move to Felipe Ángeles , while costs increased as the distances for ground transfer feeders grew, in addition, customs intermediation became slower, adding that it now subcontracts warehousing instead of operating the concessionaire at the capital’s airport, and where it made a considerable investment in equipment and automation “until the unwanted movement.”

“What’s wrong is that air cargo logistics is different from that of small express packages, and the local government didn’t take this into account. It didn’t distinguish, perhaps due to a lack of understanding between the two business models (starting with short D2D times plus air volume density), with the misconception that all cargo planes are the same. UPS presented its case in vain. The AIFA has benefited the former to the detriment of the latter,” he said.

However, he explained that international air cargo tonnage has grown by almost 50%, from 440,000 tons to 640,000 tons LTM by March 2025, including the volume collected by the AICM and AIFA.

“Thanks to the first-world infrastructure and the 24/7 availability of the slots offered at AIFA, Mexico City now ranks second in Latin America in tonnage. Gradually, its volume from Central and South America to Asia has reduced transit times by one or two days without going through Los Angeles. A feat impossible within AICM’s cargo infrastructure,” he said.

New actions by the US

Last Saturday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a series of measures against Mexico’s alleged abuse of the bilateral aviation agreement.

He indicated that  Mexico abruptly rescinded slots ( takeoff and landing times) at the AICM and forced U.S. cargo carriers to relocate their operations as part of the effort to alleviate congestion. This has not materialized three years later, causing cost increases for U.S. airlines.

“That ends today. Let these actions serve as a warning to any country that thinks it can take advantage of the United States, our operators, and our market. America First means fighting for the fundamental principle of fairness,” he said in a statement.

Therefore, it imposed three actions: Mexican airlines must submit applications to the DOT for all their operations in the United States, in addition to requiring prior approval for any charter flight of large passenger or cargo aircraft to or from this country , and the withdrawal of antitrust immunity (ATI) between Delta and Aeroméxico, thus taking corrective measures to address competitive problems in the market.

“Mexico’s actions harm airlines seeking to enter the market, existing competing airlines, consumers of air travel and products that depend on time-sensitive air cargo shipments traded between the two countries, and other stakeholders in the U.S. economy,” he stated.

The U.S. agency stated that it “reserves the right to reject flight requests from Mexico if the country does not take corrective measures.”

Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) stated that the actions it has taken at AICM and AIFA have served to strengthen the airport system in the Valley of Mexico. “Measures have been implemented to improve the safety, efficiency, and competitiveness of the aviation sector.”

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El cargo Air traffic and cargo traffic are expected to decline due to new US measures apareció primero en T21.

Mexico City International Airport (AICM) assured that there is room to increase slots (takeoff and landing times), however, they will wait for the results of the study carried out by Services for Navigation in Mexican Airspace (Seneam) and the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) .

“The authorities are carrying out an in-depth study because ultimately what we want is, in every sense, to provide a quality service. It is the authorities who are going to determine whether it is done or not,” said José Ramón Rivera Parga, the airport’s general manager.

However, he assured that “yes there is (space), but we will wait for what Seneam and AFAC say and we will align ourselves.”

In an interview after Cirium awarded AICM the recognition of being one of the most punctual global airports in the world during 2024 , he stated that there was no proposal from them, but that they will wait for what the authority determines. Although he specified that there is no date for the delivery of the slots study, they hope to have favorable responses .

It is worth remembering that last December, Jesús Esteva, head of the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) , announced that this study would be ready in the first third of this year.

Last year, the previous federal government decreed a temporary reduction of domestic flight operations from 52 to 43 per hour due to the saturation of the capital’s airport and for security reasons, actions that, according to the authorities, contributed to improving this infrastructure.

According to AICM’s own statistics, the airport transported 48 million 415 thousand 693 passengers in 2023, an increase of 4.7% year-on-year, while a year later it ended with a decrease of 6.3% as it handled 45 million 359 thousand 485 users; by January of this year, it went from three million 794 thousand 940 to three million 715 thousand 108 travelers, which is 2.1% less.

Likewise, Rivera Parga mentioned that the SICT’s Transportation Undersecretariat is conducting a study on the access of taxis to the application not only for the AICM, but at a general level.

“They asked us for information and we hope that they will give us an answer soon, but it is an issue for the Undersecretariat and is not exclusive to the airport, since it is at a national level,” he said.

In this regard, he explained that this document will be submitted to the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece), which is the one that regulates how many units could enter into operation at this airport.

Cirium Recognition

AICM became the third airport with the highest punctuality during 2024, for which it received recognition from the consulting firm Cirium, achieving 84% in flights that departed on time or within 15 minutes before or after the scheduled time.

Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen said AICM’s performance and teamwork enabled millions of people to travel with minimal disruption over the period.

He highlighted that in 2022, AICM ranked 22nd globally, while a year later it ranked 20th, to “rise impressively” during 2024, since its Punctuality Index (OTP) went from 76% to 84 percent in the last two years.

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El cargo AICM says there is room to increase takeoff and landing times apareció primero en T21.