Vaccine Tourism, Redesign Suspension: The Week in Aerospace

This week, a Federal judge suspended the airspace redesign of the Valley of Mexico after reports of possible collisions and other potential dangers. Also, flocks of Mexican passengers are flying to the US to get vaccinated, increasing demand for flight across both countries.

Buckle up! This and more in your weekly aerospace roundup!

Top MBN

Mexican Judge Suspends Airspace Redesign

The redesign of the airspace in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico almost caused two commercial planes to collide mid-air, claim representatives from the air controllers union. Now, a Federal judge ordered a temporary suspension of the redesign, stating that safety must be prioritized. However, the Head of the Legal Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT), Roman García, argues that these operations cannot be suspended.

The General Secretary of the Controllers Union, Jose Alfredo Covarrubias is also concerned that air controllers might be sanctioned if an incident occurs. The redesign of the SCT launched on March 25, 2021, was designed to reduce average flight times by around 16 percent and optimize operations and fuel consumption. Read more here!

Mexicans Flock to the US for Vaccines

Demand for the US from Mexico has increased considerably in the past month. Why is there such a sudden surge in demand? The answer lies on the world’s most sought-after item: the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine tourism has caused flocks of wealthy Latin Americans to travel to the US to get vaccinated.

Domestic demand in Mexico grew slightly for Volaris but not for other airlines. When will the Mexican industry recover? The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) believes the recovery will depend on vaccination campaigns as countries like Chile, which have higher vaccination rates, are recovering much faster than others. Read more here!

International

Boeing Started the Year with A US$561 Million Loss: A21

This was a 10 percent loss year-over-year for the company. In 1Q21, the company delivered 77 aircraft to clients. Despite the news, Dave Calhoun, CEO of the company, believes that 2021 will be a turning point for the global air industry.