Exciting FAA Decision Empowers Mexico to Expand US Flight Connections

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made an exciting announcement, revealing that Mexico’s aviation safety rating has been restored to the highest level after more than two years of being downgraded. This significant development means that Mexico can now expand its service and routes to the United States, and U.S. airlines are permitted to sell tickets for and market jointly with Mexican-operated flights, according to a statement by the FAA.

In May 2021, Mexico’s air safety rating was downgraded by the FAA after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) determined that Mexico did not meet the required safety standards. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, however, refuted these claims, stating that the country’s air travel was safe.

“We firmly believe that this decision should not be enforced as we are fully compliant,” said López Obrador in 2021.

Over the past two years, a dedicated team of aviation safety experts has provided assistance to Mexico’s Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil, offering their expertise and resources to address the outstanding safety concerns. This concerted effort has led to the restoration of Mexico’s aviation safety rating.

The downgrade came as a result of Mexico’s failure to pass the International Aviation Safety Assessment, which is a measure for all civil aviation authorities that engage in operations with or to the United States, or participate in code-sharing arrangements with U.S. aviation authorities.

Earning a Category 1 rating requires a country to adhere to the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which operates under the United Nations. It’s important to note that these assessments evaluate whether civil aviation authorities meet the minimum ICAO safety standards, rather than FAA regulations.

Currently, countries with a Category 2 rating include Russia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Venezuela, and the Organizations of Eastern Caribbean States.