The International Airport of Mexico City (AICM) published information regarding the new Airport Use Fee (TUA) for 2021, which will cost $24.50 dollars ($489.402 Mexican pesos) for domestic flights and $46.52 dollars ($929.264 Mexican pesos) for international flights, or 1.1% more than the fee charged in 2020. According to statements made by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), Mexico’s City International Airport (AICM) is the second most expensive airport in the world for this fee, surpassing others such as London Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Madrid Barajas or Narita in Japan. www.transponder1200.com/aumenta-en-mexico-el-impuesto-tua-en-1-1/ January 06, 2021.
The Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) does not have the means to certify arrival, departure and approach routes, using the required navigation system based on the aircraft's performance. We are referring to the RNP (Required Navigation Performance), which is very delicate because it involves parameters of accuracy, availability, integrity and continuity that the aircraft's navigation equipment must meet. The Mexican Airspace Navigation Services (SENEAM) have said that this system is ready to be used, but the Undersecretariat of Transportation has remained silent about it. The reasons why the Undersecretary of Transportation, Carlos Moran, has preferred to use the traditional system, the satellite navigation system or PBN (Performance Based Navigation), remain unknown.
Travel restrictions were gradually eased throughout 2020, but this trend took a turn after the holidays as COVID-19 cases rose and a new strain of the virus was identified, leading some countries to revise their travel regulations. Under these circumstances, industry associations are urging governments to replace restrictions with testing and, eventually, vaccination. “Recovery needs testing to replace quarantine measures,” said Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO of IATA. That is why some countries, like the US, are already requesting a negative COVID-19 test from all travelers. On the other hand, IATA has recently introduced its Travel Pass, which among other features allows users to upload test results or vaccination certificates, to facilitate travel and guarantee access to a reliable and safe system.
Aircraft to use 100% biofuel by 2030.
The manufacturer Boeing pledged that all its commercial aircraft will be capable and certified to fly on 100% sustainable fuel by 2030. The U.S. company explained that it will determine what changes are required so that its current and future commercial aircraft can operate only on fully sustainable turbo fuel. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Air Transport Action Group, among other organizations, sustainable aviation fuels reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80%, so they are seeking to reach 100%.www.a21.com.mx/index.php/aeronautica/2021/01/24/avionesusaran-100-de-biocombustible-para-2030 January 24, 2021.
Vaccine optimism was short-lived: IATA.
The International Air Transport Association stated that the announcement of the commencement of vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 supported the recovery of airlines; however, the optimism was short-lived, as the expected reactivation of demand was not reflected in financial results. It is no surprise, the airline industry continues to be in the doldrums due to low passenger confidence in air transportation, leading to a marginal recovery in demand due to the prevalence of restrictive measures such as the imposition of mandatory quarantines. www.a21.com.mx/ index.php/aerolineas/2021/01/24/optimismo-por-vacuna-duro-poco-iata January 24, 2021.
Passenger traffic decreased 51% in 2020.
In 2020, Mexican airlines carried a total of 34.12 million passengers, a 51% drop from what they recorded in 2019, prior to the covid-19 pandemic, reported the Secretary of Communications and Transportation (SCT). In fact, the crisis reduced passenger traffic to 2012 levels. Likewise, the eight airlines that operated commercially during 2020 carried 28.23 million passengers in the domestic market, down 47% from the previous year. www.a21.com.mx/ aerolineas/2021/01/25/disminuyo-51-trafico-de-pasajeros-en-2020 January 25, 2021.
US quarantine requirement seen as new blow to tourism and airline travel.
A requirement for travelers entering the United States to go into self-quarantine will not be good for Mexican tourism, according to an aviation and tourism expert. United States President Joe Biden signed an executive order that requires travelers to produce proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test and comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines concerning international travel, including recommended periods of self-quarantine. The quarantine requirement is a blow for Mexican and foreign airlines that fly between the United States and Mexico and vice versa. Demand for air travel between the two countries and airlines’ revenue will both fall, he said.
www.mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/us-quarantine-requirement-seen-as-new-blow-to-tourism-andairline-travel/ January 25, 2021.
General Rodríguez Munguía appointed director of AFAC.
The former commander of the Mexican Air Force (FAM), General Carlos Antonio Rodríguez Munguía, will assume the direction of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC) as of February 1, as appointed by the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation. He has served as commander of the Northeast Air Region (2018), as well as the Southeast Air Region (2014), Chief of the General Staff of the Mexican Air Force, Commander of an Air Region (Santa Lucía, State of Mexico), and Operational Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Mexican Air Force, among other positions. It will be quite challenging to take the reins in the middle of an audit carried out by the Federal Civil Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States that began in October last year.
www.a21.com.mx/index.php/aeronautica/2021/01/26/nombran-al-general-rodriguez-munguia-director-de-afac January 26, 2021.
In this month extract was prepared by A. Fragoso, A. De la Fuente, R. Nerio, R. Mancilla, J. García.