The explosive experts arrived shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday. (SSP Michoacán)
A South American person was the target of a failed explosive attack outside the offices of the National Migration Institute (INM) in Morelia on Monday, according to the Michoacán attorney general.
The explosive device didn’t detonate and was removed by explosives experts from the Michoacán Civil Guard police force at 9.24 a.m. Monday, the INM said in a statement.
The grenade was thrown toward the INM offices in the Camelinas neighborhood of Morelia, the capital of Michoacán, by a person in a vehicle, according to a preliminary report.
Michoacán Attorney General Carlos Torres Piña said that “everything indicates” that the failed attack using a “handmade” explosive device was aimed at “a South American person” who was waiting for the INM offices to open. He didn’t offer any additional information about the person who was allegedly targeted or cite any possible motive for the attack.
Morelia police chief Pablo Alarcón Olmedo said that authorities had reviewed security camera footage and obtained “important information” about the incident.
“We believe that two people are involved,” he said without offering further details.
No arrests in connection with the incident had been reported by 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The INM said that “the possible presence of an explosive device” outside the INM offices in Morelia was first reported at approximately 8:33 a.m. Monday.
It said that INM security personnel “proceeded to verify the information, cordon off the area and activate civil protection protocols,” which included reporting the presence of the explosive device via the 911 emergency telephone number.
Employees were evacuated from the INM offices and nearby streets were closed. Police and soldiers attended the scene before the explosive experts arrived shortly after 9 a.m.
Alarcón said that the leader of the Civil Guard’s explosives unit “manipulated the object and confirmed that it was an improvised, hand grenade-style explosive, which didn’t detonate.”
The INM said that an investigation is underway and expressed its willingness to fully collaborate with the relevant authorities on the matter. Torres said that the Federal Attorney General’s Office would lead the investigation.
In its statement, the INM said that “the safety of its staff and the users” of its services is a “priority.”
The National Migration Institute, part of the federal Interior Ministry, is the agency that handles immigration matters in Mexico. Among its duties is processing foreigners’ applications for residency in Mexico.
Greenpeace México is demanding the government forge a comprehensive national agreement to protect the 15-million-hectare Maya Rainforest and its waters for present and future generations. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Greenpeace activists climbed Mexico City’s Estela de Luz monument on Tuesday morning to bring attention to the destruction of the Maya Rainforest.
A group of protesters unfurled a 27-meter-long, 6-meter-wide banner calling on Mexico’s Environment Ministry (Semarnat) to do more to protect the jungle, a critical ecosystem in southeastern Mexico. The Selva Maya, which expands into northern Guatemala and Belize, is the largest tropical forest in Mesoamerica.
The protesters are seeking to call attention to the fact that “[the destruction] that happens in the jungle doesn’t stay in the jungle.” (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)The 104-meter-tall Estela de Luz monument, built in 2010 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the beginning of Mexico’s independence movement, is located on the western end of the iconic Paseo de la Reforma avenue at the entrance to Chapultepec Park.
Nine protesters arrived before dawn to scale the monument, reaching a height of approximately 70 meters, whereupon they spread open the banner, which read: The Selva Maya cries out! Semarnat, save it!
Another 20 or so protesters locked arms and formed a barrier around the base of the monument to prevent security from getting to those climbing the monument before the banner could be displayed.
One of the protesters told reporters that their objective was to send a direct message to Semarnat to enhance and enforce policies to protect the ecosystem, insisting that “what happens in the jungle doesn’t stay in the jungle.”
Greenpeace México demanded the government forge “a comprehensive national agreement to protect … the rainforest and its waters for present and future generations.”
The protesters also directed attention to the Greenpeace México website and its “México al grito de ¡Selva!” (“Mexico to the Cry of the Jungle”) campaign, which calls on the public to take action before it is too late.
“From its cenotes and underground rivers — the largest freshwater reserve in Mexico — to its ancient trees and endangered species like the jaguar, tapir and scarlet macaw, the Maya Rainforest is a treasure trove of life that regulates the climate, captures carbon, and sustains entire communities. But it is in grave danger.”
In a press release, Greenpeace México outlined its demands and explained that it timed this protest to roughly coincide with the nation’s Independence Day celebrations.
In demanding that the Mexican government and the states of the Yucatán Peninsula halt deforestation and commit to protecting the Selva Maya, Greenpeace México urged the public to “raise our voices during this patriotic month.”
“May our green, white and red flags blend with the deep green of the jungle, reminding us that freedom is also defended with roots and branches that sustain life,” it said.
Insisting that “deforestation not only destroys trees, it also fragments communities, poisons water and uproots cultures” that have thrived in the region for millennia, Greenpeace also asserted that “thousands of hectares disappear under the advance of megaprojects for tourism, livestock, real estate, agroindustrial and railway development … Places that were once sacred are now commodified, privatized and reduced to the logic of money.”
“Stunned, we watched as the building directly across from our house crumbled,” recalls Cristina Silvana Torres Pompa, a resident of the Tlatelolco neighborhood. “All we could do was cry, hug each other, and pray while everything creaked and we heard glass breaking. The earth shook so violently that it shook us to our core.”
Survivors share memories of the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City
Survivors of the quake express solidarity and gratitude for rescuers. (Vera Sistermans)
At 7:19 a.m. on September 19, 1985, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.1 collapsed hundreds of buildings and killed an estimated 10,000 people (although some death toll estimates are as high as 45,000).
Cristina Silvana, along with 29 other survivors, shared her story at an event titled “Living Books — After the earthquake: Voices that rebuild,”which the Ministry for Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection organized on September 17 and 20 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the disaster.
Living Books was designed to be “an exercise of memory,” Johan Antonio Toro Marín, the Ministry’s Resilience Policy Coordinator and organizer of the event, explained, highlighting the importance of such a platform. “We realized that memory, and memory of risk and disaster, is very short,” he said, “and all the people who lived through 1985 are now over 50.”
As Toro Marín noted, younger generations and those who have migrated to Mexico’s capital might be oblivious to what was lost in the rubble. Nevertheless, the stories shared at the “Living Books” event demonstrated that the 1985 earthquake continues to affect countless lives, prompting many to reassess their perspectives and priorities.
A chance to say ‘thank you’
16-year-old Carolina Rojas Ávila was still asleep in her family’s apartment in La Roma’s Benito Juárez housing complex when the earthquake hit. Woken by a strong movement, she watched in horror as the building collapsed around her.
“My mother and I looked at each other, and I knew she was saying goodbye to me. The roof collapsed on top of my mother and brother; they disappeared right before my eyes,” Carolina tells the audience, reading from her story. “The floor began to rise, causing me to slide until my legs were covered in debris. I just closed my eyes because I knew it was the end.”
Over 400 buildings collapsed during the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, and thousands more had structural damage. (Cristina Silvana Torres Pompa)
Hours later, three strangers pulled her and her family members from the rubble of their home with their bare hands, but many of her friends from the building did not survive.
She never found out who her rescuers were. “I could not thank them, and that feeling stayed with me forever. Now people look at me a little strangely because I am grateful for everything. I never miss the chance to say thank you.”
A calling to become a rescuer
While people like Carolina had to adapt to a life without their home and loved ones, others became rescue workers almost overnight.
“I wanted to be a veterinarian; that was my dream. However, the earthquake of September 19, 1985, changed the course of my life,” said Rafael López López, who shared his story titled “The Volunteer Experience That Changed My Life.”
The day after the earthquake, Rafael was walking through the disaster-stricken city center when a dump truck drove by, looking for volunteers for rescue efforts: in the Tlatelolco neighborhood, the enormous Nuevo León residential building had collapsed entirely. In response, the 20-year-old grabbed a metal helmet from his collection of military memorabilia and joined the improvised brigade. Over the following weeks, Rafael and other mostly inexperienced volunteers working in Tlatelolco pulled hundreds of bodies from the rubble. Against all odds, they managed to save a few survivors.
“We did everything empirically. Thank God it worked,” Rafael’s fellow volunteer Benjamín Izunza González points out.
Rafael López López remembers his experiences as a volunteer rescuer in the days following the disaster. (Vera Sistermans)
“The press dubbed us Los Topos (The Moles) because we resembled the little animals, entering through holes, digging tunnels,” Rafael says.
40 years later, the Topos de Tlatelolco continue to volunteer as a rescue team, responding to national and international disasters, including the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
How the 1985 earthquake changed Mexico City
Rafael currently serves as the president of Los Topos. He also reconsidered his career aspirations as a veterinarian and is now applying the lessons he learned as a rescue worker in his position as Outreach and Training Policy Coordinator at Mexico City’s Department of Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection.
The 1985 earthquake, which remains the strongest Mexico has registered to this date, not only changed the course of the lives of numerous individuals but also transformed the country’s perspective on disaster response and preparedness.
“In 1985, we had nothing. There were no protocols, mechanisms or government policies,” says Rafael. “Over the past 40 years, we have seen tremendous development in various areas.”
In May 1986, authorities established the National Civil Protection System, and since 1991, Mexico City has operated a seismic alert system featuring over 4,000 sirens strategically placed throughout the city, as noted by Toro Marín.
Additionally, city officials have adapted building codes to reduce vulnerability. “The 1985 earthquake exceeded expectations of what the seismic demand on a structure would be,” Toro Marín explains. “The lessons learned from the 1985 earthquake became the 1987 regulations.”
This year, on the 40th anniversary of the disaster that shaped Mexico City, its policies and the lives of many residents, events like Living Books and the annual September 19 disaster drill ensure that the stories and lessons from the 1985 tragedy continue to strengthen the city’s resilience.
Vera Sistermans is a freelance journalist and security analyst based in Mexico City. Her work mostly focuses on Indigenous culture, violence, and resilience.
Private school in Mexico can be an incredible experience for kids. However, there are a few things you should know before enrolling them. (The Wingate School)
Over the past decade, Mexico City has become a hub for international families. Its cosmopolitan lifestyle, relative affordability versus many other cities and vibrant culture have attracted thousands of expats and foreign families — many of them with school-aged children. One of the very first questions these families face is: Where should I send my child to school?
As an administrator of The Wingate School, a British international school in Mexico City, I’ve seen firsthand how parents navigate this transition. While curriculum and academic reputation are usually top of mind, other crucial factors determine whether a child — and the entire family — adapts successfully. Here are the five things I believe parents should consider before enrolling in a private school in Mexico.
Making the transition to a private school in Mexico isn’t just about academics, but about language and culture, too. (Facebook)
Language is a double-edged sword
Many families assume their children will pick up Spanish quickly. While it’s true that young learners usually absorb languages more easily, fluency doesn’t happen overnight. In full Spanish-immersion programs, some students struggle both academically and socially. Schools that provide structured Spanish language support and English as a medium of instruction can make this transition smoother, helping children build confidence in both academics and friendships.
Schools can be your support system
For non-Mexican parents, the school often becomes a lifeline. Beyond academics, the right school helps with practical aspects of relocation: understanding grade equivalencies, guiding you through apostilles (certifications) and official documents, and even offering advice on settling into a new community. Having a school that communicates in your language and understands the expat journey makes the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling supported.
Culture and community matter as much as academics
When visiting schools, don’t just look at facilities — look at the culture. Is the student body multicultural? I’ve seen children thrive when they feel welcomed and understood and I’ve also seen families struggle when cultural integration is overlooked. A nurturing environment is key to a successful transition.
Ensuring your children fit into school can open the doors to a new support system, network and opportunities beyond the classroom. Just watch out for hidden fees! (The Wingate School)
Think about the future, but think more about the present
Parents often worry about how the child will adapt to school when they leave Mexico and move back home. Or to another country. While that is fully understandable, I encourage families to prioritize their child’s well-being today. For example, Mexico’s school year cutoff date of December 31 can affect grade placement. So adjusting expectations is part of the process. Academic planning is important, but a happy, confident child will always perform better in the long run.
Financial clarity prevents surprises
Tuition fees are only part of the equation. Families are sometimes surprised to learn that services like transportation, after-school activities, supplies, meals and insurance are billed separately. Reviewing the fee structure and withdrawal policies upfront saves stress later — and helps you budget realistically for your child’s education.
Finally, schools are dynamic communities. Don’t rely solely on websites or the recommendations of people who lived in Mexico many years ago. If you can, talk to current parents. Ask the questions that truly matter to you and choose a place where your child will flourish not only academically, but socially and emotionally.
Juliet Wingate is a School Administrator at The Wingate School.
"Providing [government] reports in the states is unprecedented. And the truth is that the people are happy that we're holding ourselves accountable," Sheinbaum said on Monday. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
During her Monday mañanera, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to questions on a range of topics, including one on what Mexicans want from the federal government and another on the Mexican Navy ship that was involved in an accident in the United States earlier this year.
Sheinbaum also spoke about the current state of the main water system that supplies Mexico City, where water availability remains a concern despite an especially productive rainy season in 2025.
What do Mexicans want the most from the federal government? It depends on the state
A reporter asked Sheinbaum about her so-called “accountability tour,” in which the president has visited 23 states in recent weeks and delivered speeches to update residents on government projects and initiatives in each one.
When asked to cite the issues that citizens most want the government to attend to, Sheinbaum replied that there are different priorities in different states across the country.
“It depends on each location; every state is different,” she said.
“In some cases it’s security, in other cases it’s support for fishermen,” Sheinbaum said.
“In other cases, it’s support for the countryside,” she continued, referring to assistance for farmers.
“In other cases, [people want] greater access to employment for a certain sector of the population,” Sheinbaum said.
“For example, women aged 30 to 60 ask a lot for jobs,” she said, adding that Labor Minister Marath Bolaños is looking at ways in which the government can “generate conditions for employment” for women in that age bracket.
Sheinbaum is planning to deliver “accountability” speeches in all 31 states before concluding her national tour with an address in the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, on Sunday, Oct. 5.
She described the exercise in accountability on a “state-by-state” basis as a “very good experience.”
Sheinbaum asserted that “the people are very happy, not just inside the events but outside as well.”
“Providing [government] reports in the states is unprecedented. And the truth is that the people are happy that we’re holding ourselves accountable,” she said.
Sheinbaum highlighted that reservoir levels were “very low” in recent years, forcing authorities to reduce the quantity of water piped to the metropolitan area of Mexico City from the various reservoirs of the system.
“Normally, the Cutzamala [system] sends about 15 cubic meters per second to the metropolitan area, historically speaking. … Last year, it … [declined to] six cubic meters [per second], less than half,” Sheinbaum said.
She said that more water in the Cutzamala system, coupled with work that was undertaken to reduce leaks and control water pressure, will result in “less scarcity” of water in the Mexico City metropolitan area.
Sheinbaum said that rainfall this rainy season has helped fill reservoirs across Mexico, with the exception of four states.
“Baja California Sur, Baja California, Sonora and Sinaloa are the states where the rains haven’t arrived,” she said.
“And there are other states where, conversely, there is more rain than the historical average,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexican Navy ship that struck Brooklyn Bridge is ready to sail again
The ARM Cuauhtémoc at port in Dublin prior to its accident in May. (Miguel Mendez/Wikimedia)
“I don’t know if it’s today or tomorrow that it will set sail,” she said without mentioning a destination.
Mexico’s Navy Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the Cuauhtémoc — a training vessel — had arrived at Pier 86 in Manhattan after successfully completing sea trials.
It said that the ship “will continue to carry a message of goodwill across the seas of the world, sailing on behalf of Mexico as a symbol of pride and honor in our country.”
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Morena party senator Adán Augusto López Hernández, who appointed Hernán Bérmudez as his state security minister, has faced questions over what he knew about the alleged criminal activities of his police chief. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)
Morena party Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández continues to face accusations related to the alleged criminal activity of the man who served as his security minister when he was governor of Tabasco.
On Monday, a former National Action Party (PAN) lawmaker submitted a request for López Hernández to be subjected to an impeachment process known as juicio político.
The document submitted to the General Secretariat of the Chamber of Deputies by María Elena Pérez-Jaén Zermeño, a stand-in PAN deputy until last week, accuses the Morena senator of having allowed criminal networks to operate in Tabasco when he was governor of the Gulf coast state between 2019 and 2021.
The main group that Pérez-Jaén alleges benefited from López Hernández’s conduct is La Barredora, a criminal organization linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel whose alleged leader is Hernán Bermúdez Requena, security minister in Tabasco between 2019 and 2024.
Bermúdez was arrested in Paraguay on Sept. 12 and returned to Mexico last week. He faces charges of criminal association, extortion and express kidnapping, and is currently detained at a federal prison in México state.
López Hernández, who appointed Bérmudez as his state security minister, has faced questions over what he knew about the alleged criminal activities of his police chief.
He relinquished the governorship of Tabasco to become interior minister in the federal government led by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. López Hernández became the leader of Morena — Mexico’s ruling party — in September 2024.
Pérez-Jaén seeks to have López removed from the Senate and disqualified from holding public office
In her juicio político request, Pérez-Jaén wrote that she was seeking the dismissal of López Hernández from his senator position as well as a judgment that disqualifies him from holding public office for “up to 20 years.”
Succeeding in having López Hernández removed from office is, in effect, a pipe dream, given that two-thirds of lawmakers would have to support such a motion, and Morena and its allies dominate both houses of Congress.
Pérez-Jaén also wants the senator to be subject to a criminal investigation.
She claimed that it’s well known that López Hernández “had knowledge of the illicit activities” allegedly committed by Bermúdez during his governorship. Pérez-Jaén also claimed that the ex-governor engaged in influence peddling and bribery, and covered up the illegal conduct of his ex-security minister.
La Barredora, a Tabasco-based crime group, is allegedly involved in a range of illicit activities, including migrant trafficking, drug trafficking, fuel theft and extortion. Illegal taps on Pemex pipelines in Tabasco increased 167% annually in 2019, the first year of López Hernández’s governorship, the newspaper Reforma reported Monday.
Pérez-Jaén told reporters that her allegations against López Hernández are supported by military information that was hacked and leaked in 2022. Pérez-Jaén also submitted media reports that implicate the senator in the alleged criminal activities of Bermúdez. She stressed that she was presenting the request for juicio político as an ordinary citizen rather than in any official capacity.
“Anyone can come here and submit [a request],” Pérez-Jaén said.
Asked last Friday whether López Hernández’s leadership of Morena in the Senate was “sustainable” given the accusations Bermúdez faces, President Claudia Sheinbaum said there was no evidence against the senator.
“There is nothing, at this time, that incriminates him,” she said at her regular press conference.
Thirty-one-year-old Bayron Sánchez, widely known as B King, and his DJ, 35-year-old Jorge Luis Herrera (who goes by Regio Clown), had been reported missing in Mexico City on Sept. 16. (Social media screen captures)
The bodies of the Colombian singer B King and DJ Regio Clown, reported missing in Mexico since Sept. 16, were identified Monday in the municipality of Cocotitlán, México state.
Their corpses, reportedly tied up and covered by black plastic bags, had been found on Sept. 17. However, they were not identified as the two entertainers until Monday, when family members of the singer, whose given name is Bayron Sánchez, were flown to Mexico to confirm the identification.
The performers’ disappearance had an immediate impact across Latin America, prompting Colombian President Gustavo Petro to request diplomatic assistance from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in the search. Petro’s reaction after receiving the news of B King’s death was strong and political.
“They murdered our youth in [Mexico]. More young people murdered by an anti-drug policy that isn’t an anti-drug-trafficker policy,” he wrote from his X account.
Bayron Sánchez, widely known as B King, was a 31-year-old reggaeton and corrido artist originally from Santander, Colombia. According to the Mexico City Commission for the Search of Persons, Sánchez and his DJ, 35-year-old Jorge Luis Herrera (who goes by Regio Clown), were reportedly heading to a gym in Mexico City’s upscale Polanco neighborhood when they disappeared on Sept. 16.
The pair apparently had recently performed in the northern border state of Sonora, marking Sánchez’s debut concert in Mexico. However, the Sonora Attorney General’s Office reported in a statement, “So far, there is no evidence to support the possibility that they came to sing in the state of Sonora at any time.”
Petro took to social media on Sunday to elucidate his concerns. “I request of the President of the United Mexican States, Claudia Sheinbaum, my friend and comrade in struggle since the M19, and of the entire diplomatic corps of Colombia in Mexico, to ensure that the singer Bayron Sánchez and his fellow band member Jorge Herrera appear alive,” Petro posted on X.
Sheinbaum responded at her Monday morning press conference, clarifying that she had not yet communicated directly with Petro but emphasizing that the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office (FGR) began investigating as soon as a complaint was filed.
According to a statement released by the FGR on Monday evening, “forensic services personnel from the México state Attorney General’s Office (FGJEM) compared the profiles of the missing persons and found matches with two deceased individuals who were located on Sept. 17 in the municipality of Cocotitlán. In light of these facts, the FGJEM is conducting a homicide investigation.”
“On Monday, Sept. 22,” the statement continues, “the relatives of Bayron Sánchez Salazar identified him during a proceeding held at the FGJEM’s Regional Deputy Attorney General’s Office in Tlalnepantla, in San Pedro Barrientos.”
Initial reports from Mexican news outlets have linked the performers’ deaths with La Familia Michoacana, a cartel with a stronghold in central Mexico.
In upgrading Mexico's GDP forecast for this year to 1.0% growth from the April forecast of 0.3% contraction, the IMF urged an even more aggressive deficit reduction strategy than the one that's in place. (@NigeriaStories/X)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised its forecast upward for Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on Friday to 1.0% growth for 2025 and 1.5% in 2026.
Though the new figures still reflect a general slowing, they are an improvement over the 0.3% contraction predicted by the IMF in April and the 1.4% growth in 2024.
Helping Mexico’s improved economic prospects is the expectation that it will meet the 3% goal for inflation by the second semester of 2026. (Unsplash)
The IMF warned that the forecast could change if additional challenges come up, such as fiscal consolidation, a contractionary monetary policy or trade tensions with the United States.
The economic outlook of Latin America’s second-largest economy had yo-yoed in recent months, as U.S. President Donald Trump shuffled plans to introduce tariffs on a range of Mexican goods, spurring greater investor uncertainty across several sectors.
Nevertheless, said the IMF, “Mexico’s record of very strong policies and policy frameworks has also proved to be an important asset as the country navigates the uncertain economic environment.” Growth is expected to accelerate somewhat in 2026, although the effect of tariffs and trade uncertainty will continue to be felt.
The agency said that near-term risks to Mexico’s economic activity are broadly balanced, and stronger-than-expected demand in the U.S. and a resolution to tariff uncertainty helped push the forecast up.
The IMF also noted that if Mexico could achieve a favorable outcome in the coming review of its trade pact with the U.S. and Canada (the USMCA), it could further enhance its economic outlook.
Headline inflation has improved, and Mexico is expected to achieve the 3% inflation target set by the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) for the second half of 2026.
The Mexican government’s own economic forecast expects growth in 2026 of between 1.8% and 2.8%, with the budget deficit declining slightly to 4.1%, from 4.3% in 2025.
The IMF recommended that Mexico aim for a fiscal deficit of 2.5% by 2027, as well as adopt measures to boost fiscal credibility. The agency said that stronger fiscal and structural measures would help ensure long-term economic stability.
“Further deficit reduction and policy measures are needed going forward to prevent further upward drifts in public debt and create fiscal space to respond to possible shocks,” the IMF said.
Aggressive recent expansion into the Mexican market has helped American Airlines become the No. 1 carrier of travelers between Mexico and the United States. (American Airlines/Facebook)
American Airlines is the air carrier transporting the most passengers between Mexico and the United States, accounting for nearly one in five of total passengers.
New data from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) reveals that travelers between the two countries prefer U.S.-based airlines, with American Airlines (17.8%) and United Airlines (15.5%) accounting for a solid one-third of all such passengers.
Soon, American Airlines will offer the only international flight connecting the U.S. state of Oklahoma with Cancún. (Cuartoscuro)
The two leading Mexican airlines on those routes — Volaris (14.7%) and Aeroméxico (11%) — carry just over a quarter of the passengers.
Delta, at 8.8%, rounds out the top five.
American Airlines’ leadership in U.S.-Mexico travel caps an accelerated effort in recent years to expand its service to and from Mexico, positioning it to be the U.S. airline with the most flights, seats and destinations in Mexico.
“With the announcement of American’s 30th destination in Mexico — Puerto Escondido — we further solidify our position as the leading U.S. airline in the country with an operation and network that is unmatched,” José A. Freig, American’s Vice President of International, Contact Center Operations and Service Recovery said.
In March, the airline launched new service to the northern Mexican city of Tampico and in November, AA will be the only international flight service connecting the U.S. state of Oklahoma with Cancún.
The service expansion also includes routes from Dallas-Fort Worth to Morelia, Oaxaca and Durango; from Phoenix to Zihuatanejo; and a recently announced seasonal route expansion from Chicago to Querétaro, which was previously scheduled to end on January 5, 2026.
These new destinations join other recent routes launched by American Airlines, including to Tijuana, Tulum and Veracruz.
As a result of these additions, American Airlines will operate more than 880 weekly flights to Mexico, which represents a 10% increase in its local operations and a 13% increase in its seat capacity.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ordered both airlines to end their nearly decade-old joint venture by Jan. 1, citing “ongoing anticompetitive effects in U.S.-Mexico City markets that provide an unfair advantage to Delta and Aeromexico.”
American Airlines supported the DOT’s decision, stating that Mexico has breached a bilateral agreement by reducing slots at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and shifting dedicated cargo to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), thus affecting U.S. carriers.
Aeroméxico and Delta have said that if their alliance were to end, it would jeopardize 3,800 jobs in the U.S. Furthermore, it would cause losses of more than US $310 million in GDP and over $200 million in annual tourism spending.
President Sheinbaum emphasized that the presentation that the foreign affairs minister will be making to the United Nations on Tuesday will be Mexico's official position, not just a personal opinion. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)
As the United Nations General Assembly convened in New York on Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s position that the genocide taking place in Gaza must be halted.
Sheinbaum told reporters during her Monday morning press conference that Foreign Relations Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente would deliver a message to the General Assembly encouraging peace in line with Mexico’s long-held foreign policy of non-intervention and self-determination.
In addition to condemning Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, Sheinbaum joined several other heads of state who recently voiced their support for a two-state solution to the conflict. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico has supported all formal denunciations of the violence taking place in Gaza, Sheinbaum said, adding that she is following in the footsteps of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in supporting international condemnation of genocide in Gaza.
Sheinbaum added that she supports a two-state solution, saying that “there can’t be aggression against the civilian population as is happening now.”
“This is the message our foreign minister will deliver and it is important that it be known that this is our official position,” she said.
“This was the first time we recognized an ambassador from Palestine, the first time a president of Mexico accepted the credentials of the Palestinian State and it’s very important that this be acknowledged,” she said.
Before this, Mexico recognized diplomatic representatives from Palestine, but not as credentialed ambassadors.
De la Fuente, Mexico’s ambassador to the United Nations from December 2018 through September 2023, is scheduled to speak at the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.
He met with Mexico’s current ambassador to the U.N., Hector Vasconcelos, in New York on Saturday to finalize Mexico’s activities and priorities in the Assembly and the General Debate.
The General Debate, which begins on Tuesday, is also expected to be heavily focused on the war in Gaza, especially after Britain, Canada, Australia, France and Portugal formally recognized Palestine.
