Aeromexico CEO Andres Conesa expects the FAA to upgrade the safety rating of Mexico’s civil aviation authority before the end of July, a move that would once again allow Mexican airlines to introduce new U.S. service. 

“We expect that to change next month after two years,” Conesa said during Delta’s Investor Day on Tuesday. “Our authorities have been working very hard.”

The FAA declined to confirm that such a move is in the offing.

“We continue to provide assistance to Mexico’s civil aviation authority,” the agency said in a brief email.

The FAA downgraded Mexico’s civil aviation agency to Category 2 status in May 2021. Though the U.S. agency didn’t detail Mexico’s specific deficiencies at the time, a downgrade generally means that the country in question either lacks laws or regulations necessary to oversee airlines or its civil aviation authority is lacking in one or more areas, such as technical expertise, trained personnel, record-keeping or inspection procedures.

Under Mexico’s Category 2 status, Mexican airlines have been allowed to continue operations to the U.S., however they have not been allowed to add new routes. They also have been prohibited from adding service on existing routes. 

The FAA, though, did grant an exception to Aeromexico for the launch in May of service between Mexico City’s new secondary airport, Felipe Angeles, and Houston Bush Intercontinental. 

Conesa said that at such time as Mexico is returned to Category 1 standing, Aeromexico won’t immediately launch new routes. That will take a few months. 

First, the carrier will increase aircraft size on existing services. Aeromexico had just six Boeing 737 Max aircraft prior to entering bankruptcy in June 2021. Now, it has 51, according to Planespotters, including 18 of the larger Max 9 variant. 

Aeromexico coordinates cross-border flights with Delta under the two carriers’ antitrust-immune joint venture. Delta has a 20% equity stake in Aeromexico.

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