A member of the National Guard observes the AIFA clearance strip (Photo: Twitter/aifaaero)
The spokesman for the Presidency, Jesús Ramírez Cuevas, used his Twitter account to defend the construction of the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), a flagship mega-project of the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
The Government insisted that the carrying capacity of the AIFA is greater than that of the AICM: “We are overflowing”
The decree that closes the “Benito Juárez” airport for air transport granted a period of 108 business days for airlines to relocate their operations
The official pointed out that “there is a press” that defames that the air terminal managed by the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena) does not have the capacity to receive commercial cargo operations arriving at the “Benito Juárez” International Airport of Mexico City (AICM). ).
He even recalled that they did the same when they claimed that the Control Tower was crooked and that the President of the United States, Joe Biden, was not going to land there on his last visit to Mexico:
“AIFA is gaining ground as one of the most modern airports in AL. The same voices and media that published that it was a failure, that the control tower was leaning, that there would be no international flights, that Biden would not land; today they say that there is no capacity to operate cargo”
Jesús Ramírez Cuevas, spokesman for the Presidency (Photo: @sarapablo1 / Twitter)
And it is that on February 2, AMLO published a decree by which within a period of 108 business days the cargo work at the AICM will be closed to move to the AIFA or to some other airport.
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After the publication of the new regulation, the International Air Transport Association (IATA, for its acronym in English) said that although it will comply with the government provision and help the transfer of cargo permit holders to AIFA to be carried out successfully, the equipment required to handle import and export cargo is still in the process of being installed and tested.
In this regard, the AIFA management stated that the new airport has 15 controlled areas, four of which are ready to operate. The military command assured that the other warehouses will be ready to operate in the following months, however, it is currently in a position to receive 490,000 tons of cargo, more than the amount received by the AICM in international operations of this type.
(Photo: special)
Meanwhile, on February 3, DHL Express México confirmed in a statement that it will begin its transition from AICM to AIFA with the inauguration of a new flight on February 28.
AIFA has the necessary infrastructure, but does not have equipment or cargo certifications: IATA
The Association pointed out the lack of bureaucratic procedures, but reiterated that it will collaborate with the authorities to develop a work plan in light of the imminent move of cargo activities to Saint Lucia.
“We are respectful of institutions, governments and their laws, so we will abide by the presidential decree issued on February 2, 2023, in a timely manner,” said Antonio Arranz, CEO of DHL Express in Mexico.
Last week, DHL Express said it would open an additional flight at AIFA between February and March. The company now speaks for the first time of “a transition of operations” from the AICM to the new airport.
With the inaugural flight to AIFA on February 28, DHL Express Mexico will expand its operational capacity in the metropolitan area, continuing the company’s investment plans.
(Photo: Reuters)
The company explained that it has a plan to transfer the flights with which it currently operates in the AICM to the AIFA, which contemplates, among other things, an increase in operational capacity derived from a large investment, as well as greater security with security equipment. Last generation.
“DHL Express México will continue to operate in the AICM as established by the official provision. All the operational and investment details and, in general, the improvements that the company will have to serve customers in Mexico, will be announced at the inaugural event,” the company said.