SICT Works Toward Category 1

Mexico’s long-awaited reclassification as Category 1 air space by the FAA will likely come in the summer of 2023, as SICT releases plans to strengthen the country’s aeronautical ecosystem. 

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) unveiled its plans for ameliorating the current aeronautical circumstances. Minister Jorge Nuño Lara explained that Mexico must recover Category 1 in air safety by the summer of 2023 through the strengthening of the country’s airport system, which will provide better services for passengers, while promoting tourism and boosting the Mexican economy. However, Nuño Lara argued that it is an operation that must have an active participation and support from the US FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). 

Mexico has increased its air connectivity between September 2021 and June 2022 with 176 new international routes and 69 national ones. Minister Nuño Lara argued that it is vital to improve the current state of the infrastructure of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), including a diagnosis for the renovation of the Terminal 2 building. The works will involve a rehabilitation process and a hefty improvement of the airport infrastructure.

"Regarding the airports under concession to the Southeast, Pacific and Central North airport groups, MX$8.9 billion (US$450 million) were invested in the airports of Cancun, Merida, Guadalajara, Tijuana and Mazatlan," said Nuño Lara via a SICT press release.

The new Airport Management System for the consolidation of the Airport Command Center was deemed vital alongside the modernization of the Chetumal, Puerto Escondido, Ciudad del Carmen, Colima and Tamuin airports. The main objective is to enhance airport infrastructure and to reinforce connectivity.

"We had a meeting with the AFAC where we reviewed ​​how the efforts to regain Category 1 have been addressed and practically 80 percent of them have been covered. By next week, we will have some conclusions regarding the Corrective Action Plan. This is not an audit, it is only a technical review, and we will be able to receive some recommendations that will be implemented in the following days," said Nuño, as reported by MBN.