MEXICO'S RECOVERY IN AIR CARGO

More than 50 new routes are approaching between Mexico and the United States, resulting in more than 1 million passengers each year, thanks to the fact that our country regained Category 1 air cargo.

‍

WHAT HAPPENED?

On May 2, 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lowered Mexico's rating to Category 2 in the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA), causing several Mexico-United States routes to be frozen and dozens of aircraft recently purchased by Mexican airlines to be unable to fly to the United States because their certifications were suspended; since our country did not meet the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

‍

WHAT IS CATEGORY 1?

The Chicago Convention (International Civil Aviation Convention) states that each country is responsible for overseeing the safety of its aircraft and airlines. In addition to this, in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration has a program called the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA), which is responsible for regularly auditing all countries that have air connections to the United States.

This country determines whether countries meet safety standards, classifying them in Category 1 and Category 2. These safety standards are developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization and a United Nations agency.

Category 1 is the highest rating, and is awarded to countries that meet those standards. Those with Category 1 can start or continue their air services to the United States and participate in reciprocal codeshare agreements with US airlines.

Category 2 classifies those countries whose laws or regulations are not adequate to supervise airlines. A country can also move to Category 2 if it has deficiencies in its technical knowledge, in the training of its personnel, in its inspections, records, among other areas.

‍

HOW DO WE RECOVER IT?

The Federal Aviation Administration provided Mexico with resources and expertise to resolve the safety issues for which we lost Category 1. This administration sent a group of aviation safety experts during these two years to ensure that our country complied with the requested standards and move back to Category 1.

On September 6, 2023, officials from the neighboring country visited the country with the objective of carrying out the last round of review of Mexico's compliance with regulations. On that last visit, the efforts of Mexico and the Federal Aviation Administration were recognized and our country was once again awarded Category 1 in air cargo.

Thanks to this, it is expected that in the short term more than 50 new routes will be opened from Mexico to the United States, representing more than one million passengers each year.

Some of the benefits it brings to both countries:

Having a Category 1 rating in air cargo will allow an increase in flights between the two nations, which will generate an improvement in the labor supply in the sector, as well as industries such as tourism, transport and related services in both countries that will also benefit from the increase in flights between these nations.

As mentioned before, classification as Category 1 allows Mexico to participate in reciprocal codeshare agreements with United States airlines.

‍

WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE CATEGORY 2?

To date, of the 80 registered entities that have air connections to the United States, 5 belong to Category 2. Here is the list: Bangladesh, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Russia, Thailand and Venezuela. The rest of the 75 entities are in Category 1.

It is time for Mexico to regain its position in the market, since it has important and recognized aviation that keeps our country connected, playing a crucial role in the country's economy.

‍