IATA urges Mexico to seek alternatives to flight cuts at capital airport (updated)

Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV

30/08/2023 19:35

(Changes lead, adds quote in paragraph 3, new details
throughout)
    By Kylie Madry
       MEXICO CITY, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The International Air
Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday it was aware the
Mexican government plans to announce flight reductions at the
Mexico City International Airport (AICM) and urged alternative
measures. 
    The IATA said in a statement to Reuters that it could not
accept "any unilateral and uncoordinated decisions" which would
hamper connectivity. 
    "Given the impact that this measure could have on
passengers, air connectivity and tourism, we hope that the
authorities will consider alternatives," IATA said. 
        While flights have been reduced in the past, the Mexican
government has not yet announced a fresh round of cuts at the
busiest airport in Latin America. 
  
    Mexico's transportation ministry did not immediately respond
to a request for comment. 
        Officials have previously capped flights at the airport
in an attempt to reduce saturation of the capital's airspace. 
    Mexico last year moved to diversify its airspace around the
capital, opening the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA)
north of Mexico City and turning back to the largely forgotten
Toluca airport to the west of town.
    However, the two other airports still move just a fraction
of the traffic seen at the AICM.
    The government has increasingly intervened at the AICM
since, ruling earlier this year by decree that cargo airlines
had to stop operating out of the hub.

 (Reporting by Kylie Madry; Writing by Cassandra Garrison)
 ((Cassandra.Garrison@thomsonreuters.com; +52 55 6200 7873;))