Mexico issues new aviation slot allocation guidelines

Mexico’s Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), through the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), has released new general guidelines for assigning takeoff and landing slots at public service civil aerodromes with Level 2 saturation potential.

The regulations aim to prevent and mitigate congestion during specific times of the day, week, or season. Under these rules, air carriers and airport administrators must agree on schedule adjustments to ensure the efficient and orderly use of airport infrastructure.

The guidelines mandate that slot assignments be conducted in an impartial, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner. These provisions are mandatory for airport concessionaires, administrators, air carriers, and air navigation service providers at Level 2 saturation sites. The new rules, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, are set to take effect on September 5, 2026.