Writer

Amy Wilder

General aviation (GA) access to Mexico has been restricted following two major regulatory changes by the country’s civil aviation authority, Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil (AFAC). In March, AFAC issued orders limiting GA use of private airports in the country. Last week, Mexico further tightened restrictions, adding new permit and insurance requirements for operators.
The changes have disrupted charter and private flights from the U.S., Canada, and within Mexico. Legal challenges may emerge, but operators are advised to limit operations to major public-use airports and carefully check documentation requirements while the situation unfolds.
Universal Weather and Aviation Mexico reported last week that AFAC implemented <a href="https://www.universalweather.com/blog/mexico-tightens-permit-timelines-and-insurance-rules/">stricter charter permit procedures</a>. Effective immediately, charter, demo, and aerial photography flights must be submitted at least 10 business days in advance, up from the previous five-day window. New or modified blanket permits may take up to 90 business days to process, compared to the earlier 30- to 60-day range.
Mexico has also updated its insurance requirements. All policies must now precisely match the aircraft registration certificate, including make, model, serial number, and tail number. Operator or company names are no longer accepted in place of the registered owner.
Meanwhile, AFAC issued a directive in March to all regional commanders requiring them to deny flight plans to nearly all of Mexico’s private-use airports. <a href="https://www.kellylegalgroup.com/mexico-aviation-update/">The March 2025 order</a> threatens disciplinary action against local officials for noncompliance and limits access to airport owners operating their own aircraft.
Of the 1,596 airports currently listed for fixed-wing use in Mexico, only 77 appear in the country’s Aeronautical Information Publication, according to Kelly Legal Group. The remaining 1,519, most classified as “private use,” are now off-limits to GA, including many resort and community airstrips that previously welcomed domestic and international operators.

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