AIFA to Receive 36 New Flights

Mexico’s President López Obrador said that Aeromexico will expand its operations to the new Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) from August, despite the resistance of companies toward using the new facilities. 

The president confirmed that Javier Arrigunaga, Chairman of the Board, Aeromexico, committed to increase the airline’s flights at AIFA up to 36. “[Arrigunaga] came to propose the increase of flights in August [2021]… from November or December [2022] onward, AIFA will manage 36 flights. Volaris and Viva Aerobus will do the same,” López Obrador explained. 

President López Obrador said that there is some resistance to use the new airport, but assured that any change will come voluntarily from companies and not by force. In this regard, he rejected speculation regarding a rumored decree to ensure companies move to AIFA. 

During the past week, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) prepared to issue a decree to reduce the hourly operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) by 30 percent, with the aim of allocating the excess flights to AIFA and Toluca Airport. 

This weekend, passengers condemned what could have been a tragic accident involving two Volaris airplanes, the incident recorded by airline crew nearby. In the already notorious video circulating on social media, one Volaris airplane was about to land on the same runway where another plane from the same company was about to take off. 

SICT reported that the involved airships are the Airbus A320, which was flying to Guatemala, and an Airbus A320 coming from Mazatlan International Airport. Both operations were authorized by an air traffic controller. 

Last week the International Federation of Air Line Pilots (IFALPA) warned pilots of potential incidents that could occur while arriving at AICM. The organization recommended that planes carry additional fuel to deal with unplanned waiting periods or directions before landing at AICM. IFALPA denounced deficient training for air traffic controllers regarding how to operate the Valley of Mexico airspace, which has been modified following the inauguration of AIFA. After authorities ignored pilots and flight crews’ complaints regarding these incidents, Victor Hernández, Director General, Mexican Air Traffic Control Services (SENEAM) resigned and SICT announced that it would investigate the incidents