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SICT says they are refining strategies to meet July deadline for cargo transfer to AIFA

Mexico City, Mexico — The Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) says they are refining a strategy for the transfer of cargo. The SICT says they, along with the cargo companies, are refining the strategy for the transfer of cargo to the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).

The head of the SICT, Jorge Nuño Lara, affirmed that the agency under his charge is open to receive questions and concerns from the industry and provide solutions in order to have an efficient immigration process.

To date, there is already a schedule of activities with progress in order to reach the July 7, 2023 goal that has been set for the closure of operations at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM).

“If we do a coordinated job, we will be able to achieve the goal of generating an orderly migration and removal at the lowest possible cost,” emphasized Nuño Lara.

He explained that for this, meetings have been held with all the entities involved to follow up on the strategy, such as the National Chamber of Air Transport (Canaero), cargo airlines, the United States Embassy and customs.

“We have to find the formula to reduce the processes, seek that the certifications are given, that we have all this management need at hand,” he added.

The Undersecretary of Transportation, Rogelio Jiménez Pons, agreed that the authorities are here to work hand-in-hand with the cargo industry where “we maintain an open dialogue.”

He thanked all those involved for the effort in the process, since after the publication of the Decree on February 2, “time is of the essence.”

According to estimates, the cargo capacity of the AICM is half a million tons per year, while the AIFA currently has a capacity of one million tons per year and could grow up to two million tons of cargo.

At the meeting at the AIFA facilities, a schedule of activities and progress made to date, related to procedures, management and certification, route modifications, accreditation of cargo agents, operation of government agencies such as the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM) and the National Health, Safety and Quality Service (SENASICA) was reported.

As well as the main agreements, among which the customs operation guidelines stand out, processing of electronic identification badges in customs, and authorization of 10 customs in the catalog of transit routes: AICM, Cancun, Guadalajara, Lázaro Cárdenas, Manzanillo, Monterrey, Querétaro, Toluca, Tijuana and Veracruz.

Implementation of the ANAM-Remote Consultation and Validation of Authorized Pedimentos systems, link between the Single Window for Mexican Foreign Trade and Validation of Pedimentos, and three pilot operations (two for exports and one for imports) to ensure safe and successful data transmission between the controlled areas, customs agents, airlines and ANAM itself.

Currently, the cargo terminal at AIFA can already carry out processes of imports, transits, transshipments, exports, transfers and processing of badges for all types of users from the new air terminal.

For all these reasons, 73 agreements have been finalized and 35 are in the open process of relief in the work groups coordinated with federal authorities.