More Communication Needed Around Santa Lucia Airport

The National Air Transport Chamber (CANAERO) and the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) addressed their collaboration in the construction of Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) at the Santa Lucía Military Base to identify the needs of airlines and the construction priorities at the moment. 

This communication has become relevant because it was made difficult due to the pandemic, according to A21. Luis Noriega Benet, recently ratified as President of the organization and head of Air Canada for Latin America and the Caribbean, mentions in said article that from the beginning, there has been a collaboration. “Obviously, it is a different experience for us to work with whoever is carrying out this project because they have a different vision than what we were used to in the industry. However, the collaborative work between industry and government has been increasingly close.” Communications between airlines, customers and builders was reestablished two months ago, and the needs of each side are now being presented. 

According to the website of the Mexican government, the first stage of the Santa Lucia airport would be ready in 2021 and will be used to solve the problem of saturation in the Mexico City metropolitan area in an orderly, austere way. So far, the airbase has been completed, which was inaugurated by López Obrador who flew from Mexico City to Santa Lucia, as reported by MBN. 

In general, the development of this airport has been highly controversial, beginning with the agrarian communities of San Miguel Xaltocan, who have reiterated the legitimate nature of their claim to the land rights of over 128ha that are to be occupied by the airport, according to MBN. In addition, it has been pointed out that the cost of the cancellation of NAIM is equivalent to four Saint Lucia airports, reported El Economista. 

“The safety of the airport, its affordable and passenger-friendly nature, are the factors that will determine the success of this project and I believe that everything we are requesting is being given in a timely manner,” said Cuitláhuac Gutiérrez, representative of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Mexico and Director of CANAERO in the A21 article.