AIFA Director Flags Delays, Bottlenecks in Military Leadership

The Director General of the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), Brigadier General (retired) Isidoro Pastor, issued an internal memorandum in February 2025 addressing significant coordination issues within the airport’s military command structure. The memo, addressed to AIFA’s legal department and obtained by Reforma, highlights a persistent lack of effective communication and operational alignment that is hampering decision-making processes.

“I bring to your attention that despite repeated directives issued by this General Directorate to foster cohesion among the different departments of this state-owned enterprise, evidence continues to emerge showing a persistent lack of assertive communication and comprehensive coordination at the leadership level,” Pastor wrote.

AIFA operates under a hybrid structure comprising military and civilian personnel. According to airport sources, approximately 80 command positions across various departments are predominantly held by military officers. The airport’s workforce includes over 700 military and civilian employees, in addition to National Guard security personnel.

Both civilian and military employees report that decision-making has become increasingly centralized over the past year, causing operational bottlenecks and delaying routine processes. “Decision-making has begun to concentrate at higher levels, generating bottlenecks and delays in implementing changes or operational improvements. This is especially evident in delays for decisions requiring ‘authorization’ from top command, even for routine tasks that should be resolved at lower levels,” reads a letter employees intend to submit to President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Employees allege that the military chain of command often overrides technical recommendations from civilian experts. In one recent case, a military decision led to the procurement of unnecessary equipment despite advice to the contrary from technical staff. “An operational decision made by a military commander resulted in the purchase of unnecessary equipment, overruling recommendations from civilian experts,” said one source.

This hierarchical command structure, employees argue, discourages initiative and fosters a risk-averse environment. “Subordinate personnel have stopped taking risks, abandoned proactivity, and now wait solely for specific instructions,” the letter states.

Staff have also raised concerns about working conditions. Testimonies gathered independently from military and civilian employees describe a tense atmosphere at the airport, with some workers concealing operational errors out of fear of sanctions. There are also claims of a perceived culture of internal surveillance.

“Personnel work under stress, hide mistakes to avoid punishment, and even feel that subordinate behavior is under constant scrutiny,” an employee said.