After 28 months, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) returned the Federal Civil Aviation Agency to Category 1 in air safety.
The U.S. authority pointed out that this allows Mexico to add new services and routes in the cross-border market. The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation stated that, with the return to Category 1, in the short term more than 50 new routes would be opened from Mexico to the US, which could represent more than one million passengers per year.
The National Chamber of Air Transportation was pleased with the announcement, as restrictions that prevented national airlines from strengthening their operations and presence on flights between Mexico and the United States will be eliminated.
For Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, the return to Category 1 civil aviation will deepen North American integration and strengthen regional supply chains. “Mexico is the country with the most commercial flights to and from the United States, making it the number one travel destination for Americans. The private sector plays a crucial role in our integration and competitiveness,” he said.
The FAA downgraded Mexico in May 2021 after finding that it did not meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s minimum safety standards.
The benefits
With the recategorization, Mexico can add new services and routes in the U.S. market.
In the short term it is estimated to open more than 50 new routes from Mexico to the US.
This could represent more than one million passengers per year.
North American integration and supply chains will be strengthened.
Mexican airlines prepare routes to the u.s.; category 1 is recovered
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) returned Mexico, specifically the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), to Category 1 in air safety after 28 months of remaining in Category 2.
According to the U.S. authority, with the recategorization, Mexico can add new services and routes in the cross-border market and recover its code shares with U.S. airlines.
The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) stated that with the return to Category 1, it is expected that in the short term more than 50 new routes will be opened from Mexico to the United States, which could represent more than one million passengers per year.
The recovery of Category 1 in international air safety will bring numerous benefits for Mexico and the United States,” said the head of the SICT, Jorge Nuño Lara.
For its part, the National Chamber of Air Transportation welcomed the FAA’s announcement, as restrictions that prevented domestic airlines from strengthening their operations and presence on flights between Mexico and the United States will be eliminated.
Strengthening Mexico’s aviation authority is critical to ensure the necessary conditions to avoid a further downgrade in the future,” he warned.
The FAA downgraded Mexico in May 2021 after finding that it did not meet minimum ICAO safety standards.
Tulum will generate more flights
The Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport, located in Tulum, will not take connectivity away from Cancun’s International Airport, on the contrary, it will generate more flights, assured Javier Aranda Pedrero, director of the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo (CPTQ).
He revealed that Spanish hotel groups that also operate airlines are very interested in the new air terminal, as it will facilitate the arrival of travelers without the need to go all the way to Cancun.
Talking with hoteliers, they assure that the airport is beneficial for them because for some of them the distance their clients will have to travel is 25 minutes”, he said.
Among the tour operators that could move planes to Tulum are Grupo Piñero’s Soltur, Avoris and World2meet.
Aranda added that although domestic and foreign airlines have already shown interest, the growth of this terminal, which will have capacity for 5 million passengers, is expected in the medium term.
However, he stressed that it is expected that the opening of this new airport will help to support the destinations in the south of the state.
The airport will allow us to generate additional development poles, especially from Tulum to the south of the state.
Greater integration
Mexico’s return to Category 1 civil aviation will deepen North American integration and strengthen regional supply chains, said U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar.
He stressed that civil aviation plays a crucial role for both societies and boosts our economic ties.
He pointed out that the announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on returning our country to the highest air safety status is the result of in-depth dialogue and collaboration over the past two years.
(During this time) the U.S. Government shared its experience and provided assistance to Mexico to resolve different safety issues, thus complying with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)”.
The diplomat emphasized that the dialogue that has been rebuilt between the administrations of both countries can be seen in the historic number of high-level visits, including those of President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
Mexico is the country with the most commercial flights to and from the United States, making it the number one travel destination for Americans. The private sector plays a crucial role in our integration and competitiveness.
Ken Salazar stated that the aviation industry helps both nations get to know each other better and unites families, strengthens trade to take advantage of the T-MEC and at the same time protects supply chains.
Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program, Mexico was downgraded for two and a half years due to unfavorable conditions in which its civil aviation operated.
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