DHL to Begin Operating at AIFA in February or March

Logistics giant DHL Express will start performing air cargo operations at Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in February or March 2023, the company and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said.

After preliminary reports indicating that Mexico City International Airport (AICM) will no longer allow cargo operations, López Obrador said that DHL will be the first company in the sector to relocate its operations from AICM to AIFA. “They [DHL] decided to start bringing their shipping, cargo and planes to AIFA. The company has shown a very positive attitude,” said López Obrador.

According to DHL, the company is finalizing operational details and the new route to AIFA is part of its investment project and operational strategy in Mexico. “The integration of the new flight at AIFA will not only be ideal to continue the growth of the company in Mexico, but it will also be a useful tool to diversify our network and develop resilience, always in order to offer the best experience to customers," DHL says.

Likewise, DHL explained that it will begin initial operations at AIFA and will maintain a solid operational network throughout the country, always guaranteeing full compliance with both national and international standards and regulations.

DHL Express’ footprint in Mexico includes about 9,000 employees, over 63 facilities with sophisticated logistics infrastructure, over 740 company-owned points of sale and about 500 points of sale in an alliance scheme. DHL’s fleet includes 5,100 ground units and the company performs 12 dedicated domestic flights and 11 international flights, in addition to commercial alliances with airlines. The company covers almost 2,800 land routes and has five hubs located in the State of Mexico, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Queretaro and Mexico City.

Cargo migration from AICM to any other airport has been criticized by several actors within the aviation and logistics industries. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) asked the Mexican government to develop a joint transition plan to transfer dedicated cargo operations from AICM to other air terminals in the country, as reported by MBN.

On the other hand, Mexican logistics company Estafeta has criticized the government’s initiative to relocate cargo operations from AICM. The company estimated that moving its air cargo operations from AICM to another terminal would cost it about MX$100.5 million (US$5 million), in addition to the suspension of its delivery and collection services for at least one month and a half, reported MBN.