Aeromexico Will Operate Flights From AIFA

In an effort to provide better customer service, make better use of strategic geographic location and airport infrastructure, Aeromexico, Mexico's leading airline has announced it will start operations at the new International Airport Felipe Angeles (AIFA) in April. Months prior the airline had announced it would not fly from AIFA.

"We are in the final stage of a profound restructuring and transformation process that will allow us to emerge stronger and make decisions like this one to benefit the connectivity of our country, provide better customer service and generate additional jobs," said Andrés Conesa, CEO of Grupo Aeroméxico. The airline will offer two daily flights to Merida, Yucatan, and Villahermosa, Tabasco. Prior to Aeromexico’s announcement, only three commercial airlines reported they would fly from AIFA: Mexican carriers Volaris and VivaAerobus, and Venezuelan airline Conviasa. These Mexican airlines have opened routes to Cancun, Tijuana, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

Pablo Casas, director of the National Institute of Aeronautical Legal Research (Inija), says that Aeromexico's change of opinion is due to political intentions rather than technical reasons, as a sign of support to one of President López Obrador´s signature infrastructure projects. Casas says the reasons behind Aeromexico’s decision to start flying from AIFA in April, instead of March, is because it gives time to the company to evaluate its competitor´s performance amid a lack of traditional market studies that would back-up the viability and cost of the new routes.

AIFA plans to start operations on March 21, nevertheless, time is running out, and questions remain if the airport will be concluded on time, especially road infrastructure to and from the airport.  

This lack of accessibility to AIFA has been one of its weaker points. According to Forbes Mexico, AIFA will not count with mass public transportation systems, like Mexibus or Suburban lines, and road accesses show significant delays in their construction progress. However, Jorge Nuño, Undersecretary of Infrastructure, claims that roads to access AIFA from the Mexico-Pachuca highway and the Circuito Exterior Mexiquense are just a few days away from completion, allowing passengers and employees to arrive at AIFA by car.