A Sikh Indian-American actor and designer says he was barred from boarding an Aeromexico flight from Mexico City to New York because he refused to remove his turban.

Waris Ahluwalia posted a picture of himself on Instagram holding up his boarding pass and another in front of an Aeromexico customer service desk.

"This morning in Mexico City I was told I could not board my @aeromexico flight to NYC because of my turban," Ahluwalia said.

The 41-year-old has appeared in the Oscar-nominated film The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and the US television series The Carrie Diaries. He also has modelled for clothing brand Gap.

The House of Waris chief was en route to New York Fashion Week.

"Dear NYC fashion week. I may be a little late as @aeromexico won't let me fly with a turban. Don't start the show without me," he said.

The Mexican airline issued a statement saying that it was obligated to follow "federal requirements in terms of security determined by the US Transportation Security Administration to review passengers".

The airline said it "regrets the inconvenience that any passenger may perceive from the application of these procedures" and it vowed to transport all passengers regardless of their religious beliefs.

In January, US Customs and Border Protection denied it was racial profiling a Pakistan-born New South Wales MP who said she was interrogated about how she got an Australian passport as she entered the US.

Hamish Bowles (L), Waris Ahluwalia (C) and Chrissie Miller (R) during 2012's New York Fashion Week. ( AFP: Cindy Ord/Getty )

AFP