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Airlines and airports in Mexico: concessions, permits and foreign ownership

Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Stable

Scheduled domestic air transport needs a concession from the transport ministry, granted only to Mexican companies, for up to 30 years and renewable; domestic air transport, air taxis and specialized air services are capped at 49 percent foreign ownership. Foreign airlines cannot carry passengers or cargo between two Mexican points (cabotage). Airports are run under concessions of up to 50 years, renewable up to 50 more, generally awarded by tender; foreign ownership above 49 percent in airport concessionaires needs Foreign Investment Commission approval.

USD conversions use MXN 18.6638 per US dollar, the US Federal Reserve H.10 noon buying rate in New York for 23 October 2026 (FRED series DEXMXUS), the latest observation available when this page was verified. Legal conversions in Mexico use the Banxico FIX, which differs slightly. Conversions are for orientation only. Fines set in UMA use the 2026 daily UMA of MXN 117.31 published by INEGI in the DOF of 9 January 2026.

Key facts

Foreign ownership cap in domestic air transport	49 %LIE art. 7, section III, item y), as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum term of a scheduled domestic airline concession	30 yearsLey de Aviación Civil art. 10, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum term of an airport concession	50 yearsLey de Aeropuertos art. 15, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Foreign ownership in public service aerodrome concessionaires allowed without CNIE approval	49 %LIE art. 8, section III, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Domestic scheduled airlines. A concession from the infrastructure, communications and transport ministry (SICT) is required for scheduled domestic air transport and is granted only to Mexican companies that prove technical, financial, legal and administrative capacity, aircraft meeting airworthiness and environmental rules, hangars, workshops and trained staff, and experience directly or through associated Mexican companies. Concessionaires may fly international scheduled routes with route authorization from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency. Concessions last up to 30 years and may be renewed one or more times for up to 30 years each, if obligations were met and renewal is requested at least one year before expiry.
Cost to do it: Concession duties are under the Ley Federal de Derechos; not restated here.
Example: A startup airline based in Monterrey must be a Mexican company with Mexican majority ownership, own or lease airworthy aircraft and have maintenance capacity before the SICT grants the concession. / No currency threshold applies.Ley de Aviación Civil, DOF 12 May 1995, last reform DOF 14 November 2025, Arts. 9 and 10, 2025-11-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. Foreign ownership caps and cabotage. Foreign investment may hold up to 49 percent in domestic scheduled and non scheduled air transport, international non scheduled air taxi services and specialized air services; the cap cannot be exceeded through trusts, agreements or pyramids. Foreign permit holders may not carry out cabotage in Mexico.
Cost to do it: No fee; structure the cap table from the start.
Example: A Chilean airline group can hold 49 percent of a Mexican domestic carrier; the other 51 percent must be held by Mexican investors. / No currency threshold applies.Ley de Inversión Extranjera, art. 7, section III, item y); Ley de Aviación Civil, LIE art. 7, section III, item y); LAC art. 17 Bis, 2025-11-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

3. Airports. Building, operating and exploiting civil airports needs a concession from the SICT, generally awarded by public tender, though direct awards are possible to existing concessionaires that need a complementary airport, to relocated airports, and to companies majority owned by states or municipalities; federal entities receive indefinite assignments that cannot be transferred to private parties. Concessions last up to 50 years and may be renewed for up to 50 additional years if conditions were met, renewal is requested before the last five years begin, and the holder accepts new conditions. Foreign investment above 49 percent in concessionaires or permit holders of public service aerodromes needs a favorable CNIE resolution, and control and supervision of airports is reserved to the State.
Cost to do it: CNIE application duty MXN 10,448 in 2026 (LFD art. 72, section I).
Example: An infrastructure fund wanting 70 percent of a regional airport concessionaire first obtains a favorable CNIE resolution. / CNIE duty about USD 560.Ley de Aeropuertos, DOF 22 December 1995, last reform DOF 14 November 2025; Ley de Inversión Extranjera, Ley de Aeropuertos arts. 10 to 15; LIE arts. 5 section XIII and 8 section III, 2025-11-14 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Worked example

A European airline group partners with Mexican investors to launch a domestic carrier: it takes 49 percent, the Mexican partners 51 percent, and the company applies for a SICT concession. Separately, it may operate its own international flights into Mexico under its foreign carrier permit, but may not sell Cancún to Mexico City segments on its own aircraft.

Step by step

1. Fix ownership at or below 49 percent foreign for any domestic airline.
2. Apply to the SICT for the concession with capacity, fleet and maintenance evidence.
3. For airports, follow SICT tenders; request a CNIE resolution if foreign ownership will exceed 49 percent.
4. Calendar renewal: one year before expiry for airlines, before the last five years for airports.

Common traps

Using voting agreements to give a foreign partner control of a domestic airline (LIE art. 7, last paragraph).
Selling domestic segments with a foreign carrier (cabotage) (LAC art. 17 Bis).

Sources

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