Mexico aviation authority to receive record budget amid leadership changes

Jesús Esteva Medina, head of Mexico’s Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), announced that the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) is projected to receive a historic budget of 1,400 million pesos by 2027. This represents a 56 percent increase compared to 2025 and aims to strengthen operational safety, technical supervision, and competitiveness within the sector.

The budget increase follows discussions regarding Mexico’s aviation safety standing. Esteva met with U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford to coordinate on air traffic control, technical challenges, and regulatory processes. This follows the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent decision to revoke restrictions on Mexican airlines operating new flights from Mexico City (AICM) and Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) to the United States.

Additionally, the aviation sector is seeing leadership transitions at the regional level. Andrés Conesa, CEO of Aeroméxico, has been elected president of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Executive Committee for the 2026-2027 period, succeeding Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, who will transition to vice president.