WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Cargo Airline Association (CAA) strongly supports today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy outlining a series of decisive actions to address the Government of Mexico’s ongoing violations of the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement.
Mexico’s unilateral decision in 2023 to force all U.S. all-cargo carriers out of Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) put them in direct non-compliance with the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement of 2015. The move not only disrupted critical air cargo operations and set a dangerous precedent for how all-cargo carriers may be treated in global markets, it also created uncertainty about how potential safety emergencies could be handled.
“Today’s announcement sends a clear and necessary message: the United States will not tolerate unfair, anti-competitive behavior that is counter to the tenants of the U.S. Open Skies framework and harms American businesses,” said Lauren Beyer. “We thank Secretary Duffy and the entire U.S. government team—including the Departments of Transportation, State, and Commerce—for their leadership in defending the rights of U.S. carriers.”
While CAA members took significant steps to adjust operations in response to Mexico’s 2023 order, we have consistently maintained that under the 2015 Agreement, all-cargo airlines must be free to choose service points that align with their commercial needs—not dictated by arbitrary foreign mandates.
The Association also remains concerned about the broader implications of Mexico’s actions. Around the world, other governments are watching this case closely. If left unchallenged, such actions could erode the core tenets of the U.S. Open Skies framework and embolden other countries to impose unjustified restrictions on cargo access to key markets.
“We applaud the Department’s use of its authority and regulatory tools to restore fairness and accountability in the U.S.-Mexico aviation market,” Beyer continued. “The Cargo Airline Association and its members are committed to supporting the U.S. government’s efforts to uphold international agreements and preserve the competitive freedoms that are essential to the global movement of goods.”
