Mexico aviation sector budget reduction concerns

Mexico’s aviation sector is facing significant operational risks due to proposed budget reductions for key regulatory and service agencies.

In early September, stakeholders expressed concern over a projected 73.3 percent budget cut for the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) in the 2027 budget proposal. The Association of Aviator Pilots of Mexico (ASPA) and the College of Aviator Pilots of Mexico (CPAM) warned that reducing AFAC’s funding from 657.5 million pesos to 175.45 million pesos could compromise certification, surveillance, and technical inspections, potentially failing to meet national and international safety standards.

By late September, similar concerns emerged regarding the Mexican Air Navigation Services (SENEAM). The agency is also facing a projected 73 percent budget reduction, with the Ministry of Finance expected to allocate 926 million pesos. Javier Vanegas of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) warned that these cuts pose a high risk to operational safety and may impact the ability to guarantee salary payments. This financial strain occurs alongside a reported shortage of at least 500 air traffic controllers.