Mexican Airports Still Scrambling for Passenger Traffic
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Mexican Airports Still Scrambling for Passenger Traffic

Photo by:   Image by Thanapat Pirmphol from Pixabay
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Alicia Arizpe By Alicia Arizpe | Senior Writer - Fri, 06/05/2020 - 11:42

The significant reduction in passenger traffic that hit Mexican airlines as measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 took hold continues to this date, with airport groups ASUR and GAP reporting over 90 percent drops in passenger traffic.

The COVID-19 outbreak continues to rampage through the global aviation industry as both fear of the virus and the economic recession caused by the halt of non-essential activities led people to postpone travel. All regions of the world have faced double-digit losses in demand, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), but Latin American airlines are facing a particularly harsh situation that has led to the bankruptcy of two of them. “The COVID-19 crisis is particularly challenging for airlines based in Latin America owing to strict containment measures and a lack of support from governments to keep cargo moving,” said IATA.

While Mexico has not closed its borders nor implemented strict travel restriction, the local aviation industry has also suffered from the significant drop in demand. Back in April, Mexico’s largest airport groups had reported an overwhelming reduction in passengers and recent reports indicate that the drought has extended into May. Trouble for airport groups started back in March. For instance, Grupo Aeroportuario de Sureste (ASUR), which operates nine airports, indicated in its first quarter report that although January and February showed positive results, the significant loss in passenger traffic during March was large enough to offset those gains. ASUR reported a 6.3 percent drop in total passenger traffic. This trend continued throughout April, with the group reporting a 95.7 percent drop in traffic in its Mexican airports against numbers from 2019. May was even worse, as the group reported a 96.6 percent drop in year-on-year passenger traffic due to the reduction of business and leisure travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), which operates 12 airports in Mexico, also faced a harsh April with a 91.5 percent drop in passenger traffic against April 2019. GAP’s troubles continued during May with a 90.7 percent reduction in passer traffic for the month. “Concerning our airports operations in Mexico, the government has not restricted flights. However, confinement levels remained high throughout May, causing the cancellation of a large number of national and international flights,” said GAP’s monthly report.

While Mexico’s aviation industry continues to face turbulent times, there are expectations that the industry might be facing a comeback in the near future. “Confinement measures (in Mexico) were lifted in June 1, 2020, which will allow a staggered return to economic activities,” said GAP.

Photo by:   Image by Thanapat Pirmphol from Pixabay

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