Mexico awaits FAA decision on aviation safety Category 1 status

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has concluded a five-day inspection of Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC). The audit, conducted from August 10 to 14, aims to determine if Mexico will maintain its Category 1 aviation safety rating. A final report is expected within 60 days.

Maintaining Category 1 status is critical for the Mexican aviation sector. A downgrade to Category 2 would not suspend existing flights but would restrict Mexican airlines, such as Aeroméxico and Volaris, from expanding routes, increasing flight frequencies, or adding new aircraft to operations in the United States.

The regulatory uncertainty surrounding this audit contributed to a decline in the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV), which fell 0.66 percent on Friday. The airport sector was particularly affected, with Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico dropping 7.61 percent during the week due to concerns regarding the aviation authority's regulatory standing.