Background on Mexico City Airport Slot Regulations
In 2013, authorities at the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México (AICM) declared the airport saturated, emphasizing the need to establish slot operation rules compatible with global standards and prevent discretionary actions, overlaps, and disputes. After twelve years of setbacks, losses, and conflicts, the Regulation of the Aeroports Law was published on the previous Friday, attempting to align with IATA’s slot allocation rules (WASG) and the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines. Despite initial efforts, these international standards were not adopted.
The Cancellation of Texcoco Project and AIFA Construction
During this period, there were denunciations and a case brought by the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (Cofece) to propose international standards for slot operation and management rules. Meanwhile, the Texcoco airport project was canceled, and construction of the Felipe Ángeles (AIFA) began. Aerolineas exclusively handling cargo were swiftly relocated to AIFA without proper consultation, while commercial flight operators were “encouraged” to fill AIFA’s limited spaces by restricting AICM slots by up to 30%.
Consequences of AIFA’s Inadequate Infrastructure and Slot Limitations
The consequences of these decisions were disastrous. Initially, AIFA lacked the necessary infrastructure for efficient cargo operations; there was no dedicated road between AICM and AIFA, causing inefficient cargo handling and increased costs for consumers. Secondly, limiting commercial flight slots at AICM by 30% strained connectivity and further weakened the already fragile finances of AICM, burdened by payment obligations for bonds issued to build Texcoco, linked to the Aeroport’s Usage Tariff.
US Department of Transportation’s Influence
The US Department of Transportation’s decision to sanction Mexico for these decisions has prompted current authorities to recognize that airport operations follow international norms connected to bilateral aviation agreements. These global standards ensure harmonious coexistence with airlines from countries with bilateral aviation agreements.
New Regulation and Future Outlook
The publication of the new regulation is a positive step, though it took 12 years to implement what was logically necessary. Hopefully, this, along with the return of slots to US airlines, will restore a peaceful bilateral relationship. However, cargo issues remain unresolved.
Key Questions and Answers
- What led to the establishment of slot operation rules at AICM? Authorities declared the airport saturated in 2013, necessitating compatible global standards to prevent disputes and ensure fairness.
- Why weren’t IATA’s slot rules adopted initially? The reasons remain unclear, but the focus shifted to relocating cargo airlines and limiting commercial flight slots at AICM.
- What were the consequences of AIFA’s inadequate infrastructure and slot limitations? Inefficient cargo handling, increased costs for consumers, strained connectivity, and weakened AICM finances due to Texcoco bond obligations.
- How have international norms influenced Mexico’s airport operations? The US Department of Transportation’s sanctions have prompted Mexico to recognize that airport operations follow global standards connected to bilateral aviation agreements.
- What remains unresolved in the situation? Cargo issues have yet to be addressed adequately.
