Mexico Blasts U.S. for Cancelling Thirteen Flights to AIFA
(MENAFN) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sharply criticized the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Wednesday for canceling 13 air routes to Mexico and cargo flights to the capital’s new Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA), calling the move “unilateral” and unjustified.
“We disagree with this decision by the Department of Transportation. From our perspective, these actions, which are being taken unilaterally, have no basis. Let's hope there isn't some other interest at play,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing.
The president announced she has directed Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente to seek an urgent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. transportation officials to examine the rationale behind the cancellations. Sheinbaum suggested the decision could involve a “political interest” or a motive to “support some companies over others.”
In addition, she instructed the National Antitrust Commission to review the U.S. claim that Mexico violates “the competition of U.S. companies.”
“From our perspective, there is no impact on airlines, and we say that with complete certainty. Mexico is not anyone's pinata. Mexico deserves respect,” Sheinbaum added.
The USDOT announced its action on Tuesday, citing alleged “continuous abuse” of the 2015 bilateral Air Transport Agreement. The department pointed to Mexico’s presidential decree moving air cargo operations from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to AIFA, as well as the government’s allocation of landing and takeoff slots at AICM, as evidence of anti-competitive practices.
Sheinbaum said she plans to meet on Friday with executives from Mexican carriers Aeromexico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus to coordinate a strategy to respond to the restrictions, which she said are disrupting operations.
She defended the move to shift cargo flights to AIFA as necessary due to AICM operating at full capacity, noting that U.S. companies have been “very satisfied” with the change.
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