MCALLEN, Texas - McAllen City Manager Isaac Tawil has has called on U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Patrick Duffy to reconsider the proposed cancellation of Aeromexico’s service to and from McAllen International Airport.
In a letter to Duffy, Tawil emphasized that no U.S. carrier currently serves or plans to serve this route, meaning the cancellation would not enhance competition but instead cut off a critical international connection that supports families, businesses, and regional growth.
“The proposed cancellation would not advance competitive equity but rather diminish essential connectivity for our region,” Tawil wrote. “McAllen's proximity to Mexico is not merely geographic—it is economic, cultural, and strategic. Our city serves as a critical gateway for binational commerce, education, and tourism.”
Tawil said the Aeromexico route “is a lifeline for families, businesses, and institutions on both sides of the border.” He said its removal would “disproportionately harm McAllen's residents and regional partners, undermining years of diplomatic and economic progress.”
Tawil points out that McAllen International Airport generates $1.2 billion in annual economic output and supports over 8,400 local jobs. He notes that the Aeromexico route alone contributes millions in economic impact each year, serving as a lifeline for cross-border commerce and cultural exchange.
He urges the Department of Transportation to remove the MFE–Aeromexico route from the list of affected cancellations to preserve essential connectivity for the region.
Here is a copy of the letter:
October 31, 2025
The Honorable Sean Patrick Duffy
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
Subject: Request for Reconsideration of Route Cancellations Affecting McAllen International Airport
Dear Secretary Duffy,
I write to you today on behalf of the City of McAllen to respectfully express our deep concern regarding the Department of Transportation's recent actions affecting international air routes operated by Mexican carriers, particularly the proposed cancellation of Aeromexico's service to and from McAllen International Airport (MFE).
We commend your commitment to fostering an equitable aviation market for U.S. carriers.
Your leadership in promoting fair competition is vital to the health of our national transportation system. However, we urge that these efforts be targeted toward markets where competition exists or is anticipated. In the case of McAllen, no U.S. carrier currently competes-or has expressed interest in competing-with Aeromexico's route from MFE.
The proposed cancellation would not advance competitive equity but rather diminish essential connectivity for our region.
McAllen's proximity to Mexico is not merely geographic—it is economic, cultural, and strategic. Our city serves as a critical gateway for binational commerce, education, and
tourism. The Aeromexico route is a lifeline for families, businesses, and institutions on both sides of the border. Its removal would disproportionately harm McAllen's residents and
regional partners, undermining years of diplomatic and economic progress.
At our recent "Morning of Diplomacy" event, city and airport officials unveiled updated economic impact data for McAllen International Airport. The findings are compelling:
• $1.2 billion in total economic output for 2024
• 8,419 direct jobs supported by airport activity
• $356 million in payroll impact
• Each new flight generates up to $10 million in direct economic impact annually
These figures underscore the airport's role as a regional economic engine. The Aeromexico route contributes meaningfully to this impact, and its cancellation would reverberate across
sectors-from workforce development to international trade. Over 3,500 passenger reservations will be directly impacted after November 7th due to the proposed cancellation.
We respectfully request that the Department of Transportation remove the MFE-Aeromexico route from the list of affected cancellations. Doing so would preserve vital connectivity, honor the unique circumstances of our market, and align with the Department's broader goals of equitable access and economic vitality.
Thank you for your continued service and for considering this urgent request. We welcome the opportunity to engage further and provide any additional data or context that may assist your decision-making.
Sincerely,
Isaac Tawil
City Manager
City of McAllen
