Regulatory Silence: Aeronaves TSM Requests Relief from DOT Order as U.S.-Mexico Aviation Dispute Continues
The Mexican cargo airline argues the U.S. regulator's punitive order makes its on-demand freight business model unviable, requesting a 30-day exemption to survive the restrictions.
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Amid a tense regulatory environment between Mexico and the United States, Mexican cargo airline Aeronaves TSM, S.A. de C.V., has formally requested the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a 30-day temporary relief from an order that threatens to paralyze its business model. The petition, dated August 5, 2025, seeks an exemption from Order 2025-07-10, which mandates a 10-day advance notice for all cargo charter flights to U.S. territory operated with large aircraft.
The Saltillo-based airline argues that the nature of its on-demand cargo charter operations makes it impossible to comply with such a requirement. The company often receives notifications for critical shipments with just a 2 to 4-hour window, a vital service for industries with time-sensitive supply chains. The advance notice rule, as the company explains in its application, "renders it impossible for Aeronaves to provide such On-Demand Service."
This DOT measure is not an isolated event. It was implemented in response to what the U.S. government considers actions by the Government of Mexico that "impaired the operating rights of U.S. carriers" and violated the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement. Tensions escalated after Mexico restricted cargo operations at Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and applied other measures that, according to the DOT and associations like the Cargo Airline Association (CAA), harm fair competition.
Aeronaves TSM maintains in its filing that the underlying problems have already been addressed. The company states that, following meetings with Mexico's Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), it believes the issues "have now been rectified." Based on this alleged correction, it requests the renewable relief so the DOT can monitor AFAC's compliance and, eventually, nullify the order's effects.
As a gesture of goodwill, Aeronaves TSM offered to "refrain from operating non-technical positioning empty legs within the United States" until the DOT considers the situation resolved.
As of the publication date, there has been no public response from the DOT to Aeronaves TSM's specific request, and no official statements from AFAC were found detailing the "corrective actions" mentioned by the airline. The industry remains on watch, observing whether Washington will accept the Mexican airline's argument or maintain a firm stance until it deems the conditions of the bilateral agreement fully restored.
What prompted the DOT order against Mexican cargo airlines? The order was a response to actions by the Mexican government, including the forced relocation of cargo operations from Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and the revocation of slots from U.S. airlines, which were considered violations of the bilateral air agreement.
What is Aeronaves TSM's main argument? The airline claims its business model is "on-demand" charter cargo, which requires response times of just a few hours, making it impossible to comply with the requirement to notify flights 10 days in advance.
What is Aeronaves TSM? It is a Mexican airline specializing in cargo and charter flights, based in Saltillo, Coahuila. It operates a diverse fleet including Boeing 737, MD-80, and CRJ aircraft for clients such as DHL, among others.
The application from Aeronaves TSM was served to a wide range of U.S. carriers, including logistics giants like Federal Express and UPS, as well as other passenger and cargo airlines such as Atlas Air, Kalitta Air, American Airlines, and United Airlines, who now have the opportunity to present their position on the request.
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