Latest News

Mexico announces measures to increase state control over the skies

Mexican officials announced on Tuesday that they want to increase state and military control of the country's aviation system, and include increased subsidies and investment in order to boost regional airports which have been neglected for a long time.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of the United States, has redoubled her efforts to follow the path of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who, as her mentor and predecessor, handed control of several public airports over to the military, and revived the bankrupt airline Mexicana.

David Sandoval is the deputy director at Grupo Mundo Maya - a military-run airport operator. He said that both the federal and state government are offering incentives for services, ranging from parking and landing fees to checked luggage. He called the newly opened Tulum airport a "cherry-on-top" success.

Analysts have stated that the airport already draws traffic from nearby vacation hub Cancun operated by ASUR. The airports run by the military also have lower tariffs for their use than other airports.

The military was given the task of increasing traffic to older regional airports that are unprofitable.

Eric Mario Barrera is the technical corporate director at Mexico City Airport Group. He said that they are working to upgrade infrastructure and attract airline interest. He said airports in Sonora like Guaymas have been "a bit of a hassle" because they are under-trafficked and the facilities are neglected.

Before leaving office, Lopez Obrador began a massive expansion at the port of Guaymas to transform it into a major export hub.

Raul Revuelta is the CEO of GAP airport operator. He said that many regional airports do not break even, and need about one million passengers per year to be profitable.

Officials insisted that profit was the priority but also mentioned a social mandate, to serve areas where private operators and airline companies failed to reach.

Sheinbaum said last week that Mexicana was "by the people and for the citizens" and "would fly wherever you are."

Mexicana's projected losses were expected to last for almost a decade when it relaunched its services in 2023.

Carlos Merino said that the administration is considering more public-private partnership after seeing signs of success in a joint venture between Mota Engil and airports at Tepic and Puerto Escondido. (Reporting and editing by Richard Chang; Kylie Madry)

(source: Reuters)