Summary
- The Mexican government has postponed the reduction of hourly slots at Mexico City International Airport until January 2024, avoiding holiday season disruptions for travelers.
- By delaying the measure, the government and airlines will have more time to solve slot planning and assignment issues while taking advantage of the traditionally slow months of January and February.
- International flights will not be impacted by the slot reductions, easing the concerns of foreign carriers. However, the domestic connectivity from Mexico City will be further impacted, as seen by Aeromexico’s decision to increase operations at the newer Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
After facing tremendous backlash from the Mexican and regional airline industry, the Mexican government has postponed the reduction of hourly slots at Mexico City International Airport (MEX) until January 2024.
Postponing the measure
Mexico’s Civil Aviation Federal Agency (AFAC) announced on Wednesday that the hourly reduction of slots from 52 to 43 at MEX will not begin on October 2023, as initially planned. Instead, it will now take place on January 8, 2024, to avoid impacting the flying public that had already bought tickets to fly during the holiday season. When the measure was first announced, the airline industry said it would create havoc and cascading cancelations.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock.
By delaying the measure, AFAC and the airlines will have more time to solve the planning and assignment of slots at MEX. Additionally, January and February are traditionally the slow months for Mexico’s airline industry.
In late 2022, Mexico City airport saw a decrease in the number of hourly slots from 61 to 52. This year, said measure was followed by ousting all cargo flights relocated to the newer Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU). Once the latest reduction to 43 hourly slots is complete, MEX will see a 30% reduction in the number of slots in a little over a year.
This third measure was received poorly by the airline industry. Companies such as Aeromexico and Volaris released statements against it. They were joined by airline bodies such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), Mexico’s pilot union (ASPA), and the National Chamber of Air Transport (Canaero).
International flights will not be impacted
When the government announced the measure a few days ago, domestic and international airlines were worried. How would the airport authorities decide the slot reduction, and which flights would be impacted?
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
From the point of view of international relations, if the Mexican government decided to impact the operations of a foreign carrier, it could face equal retaliation. Nonetheless, AFAC announced on Wednesday that the slot reductions would not impact international flights.
While this announcement eases the minds of international players operating to and from MEX, it also reveals a complex outlook: the domestic connectivity from MEX will be further impacted. The first signs of this impact are noticeable.
Aeromexico reduces flights from MEX; increases connectivity at NLU
On Wednesday, Aeromexico announced it will begin a new growth face at NLU starting October 5. The full-service carrier will connect 13 destinations through over 1,000 monthly departures and landings and offer over 120,000 seats.
Starting on October 5, Aeromexico will transfer its domestic flights to Colima (CLQ) from MEX to NLU, where it will operate a daily flight. Additionally, Aeromexico will launch two new routes from NLU to León (BJX) and Aguascalientes (AGS). Finally, of the 28 weekly frequencies currently operated between MEX and Durango (DGO), 14 will be moved to NLU.
With these adjustments, Aeromexico’s offer from NLU will have 1,008 monthly flights. It will serve Acapulco (seven weekly flights), Aguascalientes (seven), Cancún (21) Colima (seven), Durango (14), Guadalajara (14), Houston (seven), Leon (seven), Monterrey (14), Mérida (seven), Oaxaca (seven), Puerto Vallarta (seven), and Veracruz (seven). Aeromexico will operate six out of every ten departures at NLU this winter season.
Is it a good idea to postpone the introduction of this measure? Should the airline industry and the government negotiate for a different measure? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
