Aeroméxico announces new flight from AIFA to Houston

January 31, 2023

Aeromexico airplane — The new route was authorized by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) despite a current FAA ban on airlines adding flights to the United States from Mexico's airports. (Photo: Creative Commons)

Starting May 1, Aeroméxico will become the first airline to fly from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) to the United States. The direct flight will connect Mexico City and Houston, Texas, with daily flights onboard an Embraer 190.

“After a regulatory assessment of the current conditions, U.S. and Mexican authorities approved the route, considering that AIFA also serves the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico,” Aeroméxico said in a statement, adding that tickets will be available for sale in the next few days.

According to the company, the scheduled flights to Houston from the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) will not be affected by the new flights.

Houston will be the ninth destination Aeroméxico offers from AIFA in addition to Acapulco, Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mérida, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta and Veracruz.

Aeroméxico’s goal is to expand its connectivity network between Mexico and the United States with 22 routes from AIFA.

The airline obtained authorizations from Mexico and the United States to operate the route, despite Mexico’s loss of its Category 1 air safety rating with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in May 2021. Part of the consequences of being downgraded to Category 2 status was a prohibition against Mexico’s airlines adding new routes to the United States until Category 1 status is restored.

Aeromexico said it will continue to support the FAA’s aeronautical authority in the matter.