Queretaro Can Handle Cargo From AICM: SEDESU
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Queretaro Can Handle Cargo From AICM: SEDESU

Photo by:   AIQ
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Antonio Gozain By Antonio Gozain | Senior Journalist and Industry Analyst - Fri, 01/20/2023 - 17:05

Queretaro International Airport (AIQ) is capable of handling part of the cargo that is currently moved through Mexico City International Airport (AICM), reported authorities after a leaked document indicated that the government may close cargo operations at AICM.

AIQ authorities, jointly with the state government, which is responsible for cargo operations, will begin negotiations with companies currently operating at AICM to present them the option of moving to Queretaro, said Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero, Queretaro’s Minister of Sustainable Development.

“We will knock on the doors of cargo airlines that currently operate at AICM and see if they are interested in operating in Queretaro. It will be a market decision. They arrived in Mexico City because of its centric location. We will be presenting the benefits that Queretaro provides in terms of logistics, costs and competitiveness of the airport itself,” Del Prete Tercero told local media outlets.

Cargo airlines and logistics operators will make the decision to move based on market analyses and the evaluation of road and rail logistics, in addition to logistics within the airport itself. AIQ is part of both the Mexican Airport System and the Metropolitan Airport System. AIQ operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has a suitable runway for cargo jets, in addition to being surrounded by railways and highways, said Del Prete: “The cargo terminal is competitive, with short operating times and four cargo contact positions. It has 10,000 mt2 of covered warehouses, with refrigerated rooms, a controlled area and internal customs. Companies such as FedEx, DHL and UPS are already operating at AIQ.”

While the government’s proposal to ban cargo operations from AICM has been criticized by several industry players, Del Prete considers it could democratize cargo operations, given the large amount of cargo that arrives at AICM. This decision invites other airports to compete with AICM, which faces saturation, he added.

AIQ closed 2022 with about 72,000 tons of cargo handled, while AICM received over 518,000 tons in that year, according to the Ministry of Communications and Transportation Infrastructure (SICT).

“Currently, Mexico City receives over 500,000 tons of cargo. Queretaro could take advantage of a big slice of the cake,” said Del Prete. While the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and Toluca International Airport (AIT) can also receive cargo operations, Queretaro is better positioned due to the height of those airports, which is not beneficial for cargo operations because of the weight of aircraft, he added.

Photo by:   AIQ

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