The FAA downgraded Mexico's aviation safety rating to Category 2 in 2021, citing safety deficiencies and blocking Mexican carriers from adding new U.S. flights. Since Mexico lost the rating, the FAA has conducted a series of audits on the local civil aviation authority and its compliance with international safety standards. Mexican newspaper El Financiero had earlier reported that Mexico had already recovered the safety rating, citing government sources, but a short time later backtracked on the initial report. In the two years since the FAA dropped Mexico to Category 2, the country has revamped its aviation standards, replacing officials and most recently overhauling its civil aviation law. Asked to comment on Mexico's air safety rating, an FAA spokesperson would only say the agency continues "to provide assistance to Mexico's civil aviation authority."

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Persons: El Financiero, Andres Conesa, Kylie Madry, Adriana Barrera, Carolina Pulice, Ana Isabel Martinez, Brendan O'Boyle, David Alire Garcia, Diane Craft Organizations: MEXICO CITY, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, El, U.S, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Mexico, United States