U.S. DOT revokes order that froze Mexican airline routes

The U.S. Department of Transportation revoked Order 213-2, which had restricted existing, proposed and future operations of Mexican carriers.

Aeroméxico said the revocation gives it greater flexibility to evaluate opportunities to increase frequencies and introduce new services between Mexico City and the United States, while Viva said it will evaluate opportunities to develop new international connections, subject to operating and regulatory conditions. The DOT will still require Mexican airlines to register schedules to and from the United States and obtain approval to operate widebody aircraft, and neither airline announced specific routes or dates. Viva’s portfolio of nine destinations planned from AIFA is identified as the most direct candidate for revival pending DOT approval.