The volume of cargo handled by Mexican airports fell in September from the previous year, driven by a decrease in the volumes at Felipe Angeles International (AIFA) and Queretaro Intercontinental (AIQ) airports.
Mexico's airports handled 30.03 metric tonnes of cargo in September, down by 5pc from 31.53t the previous year, according to Argus calculations using the latest data by civil aviation authority AFAC.
Cargo throughput at AIFA, which took over cargo operations from AICM two years ago, fell by 14pc to 31.08t in September, down from 35.99t in the same month a year earlier.
Meanwhile, AIQ's cargo volumes dropped by 17pc to 5.04t, down from 6.10t in September 2024.
By contrast, cargo throughput at Mexico City's main airport (AICM) rose by 3pc to 20.65t, up from 19.98t the year before.
Just over two years ago, Mexico shifted all cargo operations AICM to AIFA, a move that drew criticism from logistics operators over higher costs and longer transit times. The government said the measure was aimed at reducing congestion at AICM and boosting AIFA's role as a strategic hub. Since then, the government has reviewed moving some cargo operations back to AICM, but the majority remains at AIFA.
From January-October, Mexico's airports handled 897.37t of cargo, down by 4pc from 93.94t the same period in 2024. A slowdown in Mexico's economic growth and uncertainty brought on by US president Donald Trump's tariff threats toward Mexico are factors behind the decrease, according to market sources.
On 28 October, The US Department of Transportation (DOT) suspended all passenger flights between the US and AIFA and froze any expansion of international flights between the US and AICM, citing competition issues. In addition, the DOT is proposing a ban on cargo being transported on Mexican passenger flights between AICM and the US that would take effect 108 business days after the DOT gives the order.
Tensions between the DOT and the Mexican government have escalated in recent years over Mexico's handling of air cargo operations and airport slot allocations. In 2023, Mexico began forcing all cargo-only airlines to relocate from AICM, the country's largest airport, to former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's flagship AIFA.
The government also reduced capacity at AICM, seizing slots from both US and Mexican airlines. The DOT said these actions were taken under false claims of congestion relief and noted that airlines were given only 108 business days' notice.
Air cargo volumes are an indicator for jet fuel demand in Mexico. State-owned fuel supplier ASA sold 2.57mn bl (82,906 b/d) of jet fuel in August, down by 4pc from 2.66mn bl a year earlier, according to ASA data. September figures have not yet been released.
