Aeromar authorities and directors of Benito Juárez International Airport, known as AICM, met yesterday at the offices of the General Directorate of the terminal that serves Mexico City. At the meeting, the company presented a proposal to settle the debt of around 500 million Mexican pesos owed to the airport.
According to the Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport in an official statement, the proposal will be «reviewed and analysed». The same text states: «With these actions, the administration of Benito Juárez International Airport reaffirms its decision to continue acting with order, discipline and transparency, within the framework of the rule of law that governs our country».
Two hangars at the AICM under guard
On Friday 13 January, the agencies involved had confirmed that two hangars would be under guard, «without hindering regular operations, both administrative and maintenance, as well as flights», due to the airline’s debt.
As a result of this decision, the Secretaría de Marina, the body responsible for security at Benito Juárez International Airport, «proceeded to exercise its functions of protection and surveillance of these hangars».
According to the airport administration, the measure is not aimed at suspending the company’s operations. In this sense, they explained that «it is only aimed at guaranteeing compliance with the obligations contracted, as well as preventing further damage to the finances of the AICM».
In addition, Aeromar has debts with social security services and the savings funds of its workers affiliated to the Asociación Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores (ASPA), which has already warned of possible strike actions. Although it continues to operate regular commercial services, its schedule has been reduced as a result of economic difficulties and fewer aircraft available.
The impact that Aeromar’s bankruptcy would have on the Mexican airline market
Should Aeromar fail to overcome its financial crisis and cease operations, Mexico would lose around 250 flights and more than 16.000 seats per week.
The company currently has ten aircraft, all of them ATR 42-600 and 72-600 models, although only four of them are still in operation due to the difficult situation. With these regional turboprops, which are among the most popular models on the market in this segment, it serves a route network consisting mainly of domestic services.
