Mexico City, Mexico — President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says that the publication of the decree that establishes the closure of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) for cargo flights was brought forward with the aim of giving more time to companies to move their operations to the International Airport Felipe Angeles (AIFA) in the State of Mexico.
“It is giving them more time because it was initially three months. Now, from the time the decree was published, instead of three months, it is four because business days are counted. The term will end in June, so they have time,” he explained.
In a morning press conference, he pointed out that move will reduce the saturation that is currently being felt at the Mexico City International Airport.
The AIFA, he said, has optimal conditions to receive and store merchandise.
“There are many more warehouses, more facilities than there are in the current airport (in Mexico City), new, first class. (…) We are looking for more space in the current airport, which is saturated,” he reiterated.
During his Friday press conference, López Obrador said that AIFA has a platform that can receive up to ten Delta category aircraft at the same time. Up to five 747 aircraft, the largest for cargo handling, can be received simultaneously on the apron.
Twelve authorized bonded warehouses for international cargo, two domestic cargo warehouses, and a strategic bonded warehouse for the Mexican Postal Service were also built. Of the 15 spaces, four are ready and the rest are in the process, but are expected to be operating shortly.
López Obrador has been working on reducing both passenger and cargo flights into the Mexico City Airport due to its saturation, which is being partly blamed on the country’s loss of its category 1 safety status.
