Volaris faces a proposed 10% airspace fee hike in Mexico

Airlines operating in Mexico, including Volaris, Viva and Aeroméxico, could face a 10% increase in the fee they pay to the state for using national airspace. The adjustment is part of a federal initiative to reform the Federal Rights Law, submitted to the Congress of the Union within the 2027 Economic Package on 18 September 2026.

The Ministry of Finance and Public Credit justified the increase as a necessary measure to ensure the technical, operational and financial viability of the Mexican air navigation system. The ministry stated that the revision aims to align fees with international standards and fund infrastructure, while being structured under criteria of gradualism and proportionality to minimise the impact on passengers and consumer fares.

Currently, airspace charges in Mexico are calculated based on aircraft wingspan or classification, flown kilometres along the shortest direct route, and the nature of the flight, covering domestic, international, overflight or local routes. The authorities also framed the adjustment as a complement to non-tax revenue collection efforts.

The fee proposal arrives alongside a sharp reduction in federal funding for aviation agencies. The 2027 draft budget allocates around 926 million Mexican pesos to Servicios a la Navegación en el Espacio Aéreo Mexicano (Seneam), a 75% drop from the 3,913.2 million Mexican pesos approved for 2026, despite managing over 1 million annual operations across 5.5 million square kilometres. The Federal Civil Aviation Agency faces a 73% cut in federal resources for next year.