Important Update for General Aviation Pilots Traveling to Mexico

Schedule Your Consultation
Call us (737) 257-6133
Miniature airplane and New Mexico flag pin placed on a map of the United States, symbolizing travel or relocation to New Mexico

New Restrictions on General Aviation Travel to Mexico

General aviation travel to Mexico is now significantly restricted. Mexico’s Civil Aviation Authority (AFAC) has issued a new directive that effectively blocks access to most of the country’s airports for general aviation, with immediate impact on both domestic and foreign-registered aircraft.

Pilot reviewing travel documents beside a general aviation aircraft at a regional airport.

What Changed?

In an unexpected move, AFAC issued a two-page directive (Oficio 4.1.443) to all regional commanders (“Comandantes”), ordering them to deny flight plans to most private-use airports. Any comandante who fails to comply risks disciplinary action.

This decision is already disrupting:

  • U.S. and Canadian general aviation travel
  • Mexican air taxi and charter operators
  • Resort and hotel destinations with private airstrips
  • Remote communities that rely on private airstrips for medical and humanitarian flights

Airport Classification Summary

Mexico currently lists 1,596 airports available for fixed-wing aircraft:

  • 77 airports appear in Mexico’s Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), which includes general-use airports like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Toluca.
  • 1,519 airports appear in the AFAC’s official database: 1,504 are classified as “Service for Private Use” 15 are classified as “Service for Private Use and 3rd Parties”

Under the new AFAC order, private-use airports may only be used by the airport owner and their own aircraft.

Travel Impact

This change prevents general aviation access to hundreds of previously available destinations, including:

  • Private resort airstrips such as Hacienda de los Santos, Holbox, and Punta Pescadero
  • Rural communities that depend on aviation for healthcare and essential services
  • Most charter operations, both foreign and Mexican-registered
Travelers beside a grounded private aircraft at a quiet regional airport.

What You Should Do

  • Expect widespread restrictions on general aviation travel throughout Mexico unless flying into a major public-use airport.
  • Airport owners are still reacting , and many were unaware of the ruling until now.
  • Legal challenges may be forthcoming : According to CST Flight Services, the ruling does not appear to align with Mexico’s Law and Regulation of Airports, but legal resolution will take time.
  • In the meantime, consider limiting travel to larger, officially listed AIP airports or evaluating alternative international destinations.

Stay Informed

This update was reported by CST Flight Services. We will continue monitoring the situation and share updates as more information becomes available.

If you are reviewing how these changes may affect your operations, or need support with compliance, flight planning, or aircraft transactions, our aviation attorneys provide clear, practical guidance. Contact us and learn more about how our team assists general aviation professionals with regulatory and transactional matters.