Goodbye Aeroméxico and the AICM; AeroBienestar and AIFA are coming

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It is very difficult for Aeroméxico to succeed. Meanwhile, everything indicates that the intention of AMLO 4T is to let the AICM deteriorate.

“After days of full storms, I saw you at Mass pray with holy calm, and I said to myself: From evil the least: give the body to the devil, but to God the soul!

“RAMON DE CAMPOAMOR

“Governments are the worst calamity and the greatest enemies of the human species.

“LIBRADO RIVERA

The perfect storm looms over Mexican skies. There were problems in other times; those of now is of reserved prognosis.

The first element is the fact that Aeroméxico has been protected under the US bankruptcy law (Delta Airlines has a 49 percent stake in AMX). This in order to restructure liabilities and try to resurface as a new airline but with the same name. There are questions about whether under this plan it would not end up favoring Delta Airlines and its financial holding company called Apolo.

Then came the scourge of Covid and inflicted heavy costs on the airline. The situation suffered worldwide, but while Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia, the governments of their countries of origin injected money so that no one was fired and they could survive, in Mexico that did not happen. As we know, government support with public resources destined for companies in Mexico was minimal and, as of this year, not even that minimum will be had.

As if that were not enough, with the Omicron wave of the Covid, Aeromexico has had to suspend more than 260 flights, which will entail extra costs, fines from Profeco, and higher expenses when occupying space at the airport.

At the same time, the AICM looks more neglected and dirty every day. It seems that it is a slogan to make people no longer want to go there or feel that it is not safe. In part, this may be the result of the AICM’s entry (TUA / right of use) not being used for maintenance. This money is being used to pay for the penalties that the federal government incurred in canceling the NAICM. How long will this indentation keep? We do not know it, as it is confidential information.

Hopefully now, with the new director of the CDMX Airport, Carlos Morán Moguel, there will be improvements in it. It needs to be at least as it was before it was abandoned. I am afraid, however, that the mandate of the head of the Federal Executive has been another: to finish dismantling the AICM to favor the new “alternative”: AMLOs Santa Lucia Airport (AIFA).

In other words, the reality is far from the “other facts” and good wishes. It is very difficult for Aeroméxico to succeed. Meanwhile, everything indicates that the intentions of 4T are to let the AICM deteriorate without being attended to and that Aeromexico also, without public support, will disappear.

What does the above mean? That, as is the presidential intention, the Felipe Ángeles International Airport, also known as Santa Lucía, is the one with the highest air traffic in Mexico, and this happens due to the fact that the AICM stops having the flow it has today. There are ways to discourage the user (and the airlines themselves) from using it to encourage a choice for Saint Lucia.

In addition, establish a government airline with military administration and control called Bienestar Airline (or some similar name).

I doubt it, but maybe some Mexican airlines and the next one of the Bienestar ones depart from Santa Lucia, but for those that are foreign lines, if the AICM continues declining, they will not opt ​​for the AIFA; They will prefer to arrive in Cancun or another city that has the capacity for their planes.

With which the prices of the flights will be more expensive. While the foreign planes stay in another airport in the country, the small Mexican commercial airlines will have to have a connection to land in Santa Lucia and from there to the country’s capital.

What will be the planes of the Aerolinea del Bienestar? The ones that Aeroméxico will leave? Or will they look for less expensive and therefore older ones? The pilots and crews? Also those of Aeroméxico, or will they be members of the armed forces? We do not know, what we do know is that difficult times are coming for national aeronautics.

Soon I will talk about the partial exit of Citigroup (the sale of its entire consumer banking business in Mexico, including the Banamex brand and its branches). The strategy and the possible outcome in the banking sector would be very similar to the one I describe for the Mexican airline industry. Alarming all of it.

Mexico Daily Post