AIFA, North American Leaders' Summit on the Spotlight

This week, the Mexican government offered US$38 million to several unions of Mexicana de Aviación to acquire the defunct airline. The government also announced it would expropriate the land connecting the Suburban Railroad and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).

In other news, US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived at AIFA for the North American Leaders’ Summit.

Interested in more? Here are the week’s major headlines in Aerospace!

Mexico to Expropriate Land to Extend Suburban Railroad to AIFA

The Mexican government said it will expropriate the land connecting the Suburban Railroad and AIFA, which comprises about 137.6 million m2 in the municipalities of Tultitlan, Tultepec and Nextlalpan, State of Mexico. The objective is to guarantee connectivity to and from AIFA. Through this project, the Suburban Train will be extended by 23 km to reach AIFA, adding six stations with a passenger transfer center. According to federal government estimates, the new infrastructure should be operating by the end of this year.

Back and Forth Negotiations for Mexicana de Aviación

Mexico’s government has offered US$38 million to several unions of Mexicana de Aviación to acquire the defunct airline. This offer would transfer the brand, buildings in Guadalajara and Mexico City and a simulator to SEDENA. The offer was presented by Luisa María Alcalde Luján, Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STPS), to union representatives. If the purchase is completed, the Mexicana de Aviación brand and assets will be transferred to SEDENA, which will be in charge of relaunching the Mexican carrier. Mexicana de Aviacion had over 8,000 employees before going bankrupt in 2010. Mexican and foreign investors have expressed interest in purchasing the company. However, Felipe Calderon, Mexico’s president at the time, blocked the operation.

US President Joe Biden and Canadian Minister Justin Trudeau Land at AIFA

US President Joe Biden arrived in Mexico aboard the Air Force One, which landed at Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) on Sunday for the 10th Summit of North American leaders. This is the first time the new airport has received an aircraft from the US. Prior to his arrival, Biden visited the US-Mexico border for the first time since taking office, tackling one of the most politically charged issues between both countries. Biden was received in Mexico by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard, the Mexican Ambassador to the US Esteban Moctezuma, and the US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, according to the Mexican Government’s press release. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also arrived at AIFA and told media that his priorities during the meeting included resolving the energy dispute. The summit was reactivated in 2021 after a pause during Donald Trump’s administration. During the summit, North America’s largest countries, representing a third of the global GDP, will address challenges ranging from a looming recession to soaring migration levels. “It is not a logistical issue, and it is a political issue. Perhaps President Biden does not know this, but I am taking this opportunity to tell him that out of friendship and diplomacy, we ask for his plane to land at the General Felipe Angeles Airport,” said López Obrador in the morning press conference of Jan 5.