Mexico’s aviation authorities have implemented stricter controls on airport slots to address persistent congestion, which will directly impact operations in Mexico City. The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT), acting through the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), published new “General Bases for the Assignment of Landing and Takeoff Schedules at Saturated Airports” in the Diario Oficial de la Federación. These rules became effective on October 15, 2025, and are applicable to all airports operating at full capacity.
How will the new slot rules work?
According to the updated framework, airport administrators are now required to assign slots only to airlines that submit a formal request for each operational season. These decisions must take into account the recommendations from the Operations and Scheduling Committee, reports provided by the slot coordinator, and findings from the Delay Subcommittee. Importantly, AFAC has specified that assigned landing and takeoff times cannot exceed an airport’s hourly operational limit or the passenger capacity of its terminal buildings.
Who is affected by the changes?
These regulations apply to all saturated airports and are especially relevant for Mexico City International Airport (AICM). Airlines that operate in these locations will need to align their seasonal requests, planning activities, and daily operations with the new capacity limits and committee-based oversight required by AFAC.
What changes for airlines?
Airlines can now only retain slots they plan to operate, transfer, exchange, or use for joint operations. Any unused slots are required to be returned before the deadline for each season. To maintain their historical priority, airlines must now use at least 80% of their scheduled slots, a decrease from the previous 85% requirement. AFAC emphasizes that these measures are intended to enhance punctuality, lower the number of cancellations, reduce delays, and ensure slot assignments are traceable and consolidated efficiently.
Key requirements at a glance
- Submit slot requests for every operational season through the established procedures.
- Adhere to recommendations from the Operations and Scheduling Committee and the slot coordinator.
- Ensure assigned schedules do not exceed hourly and terminal capacity limits.
- Return all unused slots by the specified deadline for the season.
- Fulfill the 80% usage requirement to keep historical priority.
- Saturated airports are required to update their operational rules within 15 business days and submit the changes to AFAC for approval.
Why does this matter for Mexico City travelers?
These new regulations are a component of a larger strategy to manage congestion, particularly at AICM in Mexico City. Previous efforts there, such as reducing hourly operations from 61 to 43, were widely seen as ineffective. By matching slot allocations to actual capacity and requiring the return of unused slots, authorities hope to improve on-time performance and minimize disruptions for passengers at the capital’s primary airport.
How long will the transition take?
Although the new framework took effect on October 15, 2025, saturated airports are given 15 business days to revise their internal operating rules and submit them to AFAC. In this timeframe, airlines and airport administrators must synchronize their schedules and processes while staying within all capacity limits.
What happens next?
In the coming seasons, AFAC will review the updates from airports and monitor their compliance. Travelers in Mexico City and other impacted cities can expect to see a growing emphasis on punctuality and a decrease in cancellations as slot usage becomes more organized. For anyone with immediate travel plans, it is recommended to keep an eye on airline communications and flight-status information.
Where to find more information?
The complete text of the regulations is available in the Diario Oficial de la Federación. For specific operational details, affected parties should contact their airline and the relevant airport administrator in Mexico City or other saturated airports.
Source: https://mexicobusiness.news/aerospace/news/mexico-tightens-airport-slot-rules-congested-airports
