Mexico's aviation sector warns of 73% budget cut to AFAC

Aviation industry stakeholders in Mexico have expressed serious concern regarding a proposed 73.3 percent budget reduction for the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) in the 2027 Federal Expenditure Budget Project (PPEF).

The proposal allocates 175.45 million pesos to the AFAC for 2027, a significant drop from the 657.5 million pesos approved for 2026. The Association of Aviator Pilots of Mexico (ASPA) warned that such a decrease could leave the nation's highest aviation authority in a critical state, impacting essential tasks such as certification, surveillance, and technical inspections.

Additional warnings from the College of Aviator Pilots of Mexico (CPAM) suggest the cuts could lead to reduced supervision of civil aviation operations, fewer inspections of aircraft and airports, and delays in certification processes. Experts warn that the reduction may compromise operational safety and the country's ability to meet both national and international aviation security standards. Organizations including the Mexican Association of Aeronautical and Aerospace Institutions (AMEIA) intend to present formal requests to the Chamber of Deputies to reconsider the allocation.