Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said on Monday, July 21, that there is no justification for the United States to impose sanctions on Mexico following the relocation of cargo operations from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).
During her morning press conference, the president stated:
“There is no reason whatsoever for sanctions. Decisions are made based on technical, not subjective, criteria.”
Her comments came in response to statements by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), which accused the Mexican government of violating the bilateral air transport agreement by restricting slots at AICM and mandating the relocation of cargo operations to AIFA, measures that, according to the DOT, disrupted the market and caused financial losses for U.S. carriers.
President Sheinbaum emphasized that:
“Mexico is sovereign. Since 2014, there was a report about the saturation of Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City. In fact, that was part of the justification for building the airport in Texcoco, but it was evident that it was highly saturated in terms of flights and cargo.”
She recalled that previous administrations had proposed shutting down AICM and building a new airport in Texcoco. That project was later canceled under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and the new airport at Santa Lucía was inaugurated in 2022. Following that, a review of air operations led to the relocation of dedicated cargo flights to AIFA.
Sheinbaum explained:
“In that assessment, it was decided that dedicated cargo should move to AIFA, and also that the number of flights at AICM should be reduced—that was the purpose of building a new airport.”
Regarding complaints from some U.S. companies about the short notice for relocation, she stated:
“Some companies from the United States complain that they were given little time to move… however, it’s been over a year, and they have been adapting to these new circumstances.”
The President also highlighted AIFA’s growing capabilities and infrastructure improvements:
“The airport is doing very well. This December, it will receive new international flights, and cargo is also moving smoothly. Customs is being strengthened to make cargo departures even more efficient… and the decision to build the airport in Santa Lucía was a very good one.”
Finally, she clarified that the allocation of flights at both airports is based on technical criteria, and affirmed that her government is open to dialogue if formally notified by U.S. authorities:
“Flight assignments are made using technical criteria… If we receive a formal notice from U.S. authorities, we will engage in dialogue with both the airlines and the Department of Transportation itself.”
Related: Sheinbaum to Sue Ovidio Guzmán’s Lawyer for Defamation
Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
