The FINANCIAL — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which IATA will provide technical and operational assistance for the design and construction of Mexico City’s new airport.
The agreement also encompasses IATA offering technical and professional advice for the current Mexico City airport to ensure it continues to operate efficiently until the new facility is completed around 2020, according to IATA.
“The MOU further strengthens the already strong ties between IATA and air transport in Mexico. We are proud of a partnership that will help make sure the future Mexico City airport meets the needs of the growing flying public and is a facility that is comfortable, efficient, and cost-effective both for air travelers and airlines,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
“The MOU will allow the Mexican government to understand and adopt global best practices in the design of large-scale hub airports, just what we are looking to achieve with the new Mexico City airport. Additionally, IATA’s experience analyzing the management of slots will improve the process and align it with global best practices and be very helpful ahead of the increased air traffic in the country,” said Gilberto López Meyer, Director General of Mexico’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation.
The MOU was co-signed by General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) of Mexico, the Mexico City Airport Group (GACM—representing the future airport) and the Mexico City International Airport (AICM—representing the existing airport), on the sidelines of the 71st IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, which is taking place in Miami, 7-9 June 2015.
“IATA is pleased to be working with the Mexican authorities from the early stages on one of the region’s most significant air transport infrastructure projects. By working together we can ensure that the right decisions are made. The key to success is consultation, so that what is built meets the needs of the airlines at a cost they can afford. We look forward to the collaboration that will make Mexico City’s new airport an example other regional developments can emulate,” said Tyler.
Slot Allocation at Mexico City International Airport
The MOU has a provision for the study of the slot management at the existing Mexico City International Airport. Mexico City’s current airport is saturated. Effective slot management helps to maximize capacity so that the greatest economic and social benefits can be derived from the airport’s limited capabilities. Under this MOU, IATA will continue its work with local authorities to ensure slots at Mexico City International Airport are optimized and global best practices are implemented in accordance with the IATA World Slot Guidelines.
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