McAllen’s nonstop Mexico City service has been cleared to return at the federal level, but no restart date has been confirmed. Mayor Javier Villalobos announced the restoration in a Facebook post, describing it as the result of a nearly yearlong effort to bring the route back.
The service was grounded after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy ordered the cancellation of direct flights to Mexico City from more than a dozen American airports on October 28, 2025, according to the RGV Business Journal. The order canceled 13 existing or planned routes between the two countries. The department described Mexico’s conduct as continued abuse of a decade-old aviation agreement, alleging that Mexico’s federal government manipulated access to Benito Juárez International Airport in violation of the 2015 air transport agreement.
McAllen was the only Rio Grande Valley airport with a direct route to Mexico City, and losing it stung. Villalobos called the ban a strike at the heart of the binational economy, families and cultural ties, while U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez — who represented McAllen as part of Texas’ 15th Congressional District before moving to District 34 — condemned the cancellation and said the Trump administration was using McAllen as a pawn.
A Route Worth Fighting For
Aeroméxico had operated the McAllen-to-Mexico City flight daily as a nonstop service after the airport secured the route in early February 2024. Villalobos said the flight ran at about 90% capacity all the time and was one of the airport’s most successful routes, calling it, as he put it to the RGV Business Journal, “a much needed flight that was carrying at a high capacity.” The flight had flown into Felipe Ángeles International Airport, located roughly 22 miles from Benito Juárez in the Mexico City suburb of Zumpango.
Which Mexico City Airport Did the Route Use?
McAllen’s former nonstop service flew to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), not Benito Juárez International Airport; the two airports are about 22 miles apart. AIFA transported 5 million passengers between January and October 2024, according to Mexico Business News, offering a snapshot of the airport that handled the McAllen route.
U.S. officials alleged Mexico froze out American cargo carriers at Benito Juárez since 2023 in part to spur growth at Felipe Ángeles, and that Mexico reduced flight capacity at Benito Juárez while revoking takeoff and landing permits for American carriers American Airlines, Delta and United, along with Mexican carriers Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris. U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, who currently represents District 15, urged Secretary Duffy to reconsider the ban in an October 31, 2025 letter, saying the loss of direct air service harmed McAllen and the broader Rio Grande Valley. She cited figures showing the airport generated more than 8,400 direct jobs and $620 million in economic output in 2024.
Federal Order Reversed, But Timeline Unclear
Mexico’s federal government has announced the pending reopening of routes between Mexico and the United States. Its Secretary of Foreign Affairs office said the decision immediately reopens the possibility of developing routes and frequencies to the U.S. market. The U.S. Department of Transportation said actions taken by the Mexican government addressed the concerns behind its earlier order, according to a release distributed via GlobeNewswire. The release says the restrictions no longer prevent Aeroméxico from adding frequencies or introducing scheduled service between Mexico City airports and the United States, subject to regulatory requirements. The revocation gives the airline more flexibility to consider expanding capacity.
Reports differ on when the federal reversal took effect. The GlobeNewswire release says the DOT revoked its October 28, 2025, order effective immediately on October 19, 2026; Latin Times reported that the DOT revoked the relevant order on October 16, 2026, with immediate effect. Even after the reversal, airlines must file schedules with the DOT, secure airport slots and open ticket sales before flights can operate, according to Latin Times.
No Confirmed Takeoff Date Yet
Villalobos thanked De La Cruz and Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for their efforts to restore the route and said he was glad to be back on it. But the restoration announcement has not yet translated into a confirmed departure date: airline booking sites showed no Aeroméxico departures from McAllen to Mexico City in the latest checks. Live and Let’s Fly reported that no new scheduled service had been filed as of its most recent search. Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa said the airline could announce new U.S. destinations as soon as the following week, with initial services expected in early 2027.
Aeroméxico was reviewing opportunities to add U.S. capacity after the restrictions were removed, according to Investing.com. FlightsFrom.com still lists the McAllen-to-Mexico City route as inactive and says it could not find an airline offering direct flights. Its database estimates the trip between McAllen Miller International Airport and Mexico City International Airport at 3 hours and 10 minutes. Aeroméxico’s booking page lists flights from McAllen starting at $785, but does not confirm that the fare is for the restored nonstop service. As MySA reported, the route’s return has been announced, but its actual restart remains uncertain.
