Aeromexico Expands Mexico City Service to Three U.S. Cities
Aeromexico, in partnership with Delta Air Lines, will launch daily nonstop flights from Mexico City to Fort Lauderdale, Portland, and Orange County starting January 2027.
Delta Air Lines flyers will have three new options to Mexico City come January. Aeromexico will launch daily nonstop service from Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) to three U.S. cities in January 2027.
Aeromexico plans to launch new service to John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, on Jan. 11, 2027. Flights to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in Florida will begin on Jan. 14, 2027. Service to Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon starts on Jan. 21, 2027. The carrier will be the only airline offering nonstop flights between Mexico City and each of these destinations. Schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows no other airlines currently fly these specific routes.
All three routes will operate daily, year-round, on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The aircraft will be outfitted with 166 seats in a three-class configuration.
| Destination Airport | Code | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| John Wayne Airport (Orange County, CA) | SNA | January 11, 2027 |
| Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FL) | FLL | January 14, 2027 |
| Portland International Airport (OR) | PDX | January 21, 2027 |
Delta Partnership Enables Expansion
The new routes are enabled by the immunized joint venture between Aeromexico and Delta. This agreement allows the airlines to operate as essentially one airline in the U.S.-Mexico market. Delta SkyMiles members receive reciprocal loyalty benefits on Aeromexico flights and can earn and redeem points.
Aeromexico's new routes strategically link its Mexico City hub to strong Delta cities in the U.S. At FLL, Delta is the largest network carrier and second only to JetBlue. PDX retains a large loyalty base for the airline, though Alaska Airlines is now the dominant carrier there. This expansion will grow the joint network to 27 U.S. destinations from Mexico City.
Regulatory Context and Safety Concerns
The expansion follows recent regulatory clearance. A court ruled in August that the joint venture could continue. Earlier in October, the U.S. Department of Transportation lifted its restrictions on Mexican airlines adding new U.S. flights from Mexico City. Those restrictions had been imposed in 2024 when the DOT moved to end the Delta-Aeromexico joint venture. The dispute dates to 2022 when the Mexican government unilaterally reduced slots at MEX after opening the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU).
Despite this clearance, a potential U.S. safety rating downgrade for Mexico looms. U.S. authorities could downgrade Mexico to Category 2 as soon as February 2027. Mexico's safety rating was previously Category 2 from 2021 through 2023. If a downgrade occurs, Mexican airlines would be barred from adding new flights to the U.S., though they could continue operating existing schedules. A downgrade does not change U.S. airlines' ability to serve the country.
Since August, discounter Volaris has unveiled new service to Boston, Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, and Washington Dulles. Tickets for Aeromexico's new routes are available for purchase now. Service will begin in January 2027 with daily operations year-round on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
