Allegiante argues that “transparency is a concern” after the freighter flight moved into Mexico

Aug 31 (Reuters) – U.S. carrier Elegant Air said in a presentation published on Wednesday that the Mexican government’s transparency over flight operations in Mexico City is a concern, and appeared to confirm the U.S. government’s concerns about a federal order to move cargo flights out of Mexico City. The main airport in the capital.

US regulators suspended review of the proposed joint venture between Allegiant and Mexican airline Viva Aerobus earlier this month, citing concerns about recent actions by the Mexican government affecting Mexico City International Airport (AICM).

Regulators did not specify what those measures were, but Mexican officials speculated that a government decree requiring cargo flights to be moved out of the hub was behind the friction.

Mexico earlier this year ordered cargo lines to stop operating at AICM, prompting them instead to move operations to the military-run Felipe Angeles International Airport north of Mexico City.

Mexico extended the deadline for airlines to take the step until September after a request from US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on behalf of the US airlines involved, according to Mexican officials.

In the presentation to the U.S. Department of Transportation and State Department on Aug. 17 and published on Wednesday, Allegiant said that while “transparency is a concern,” moving shipments did not harm U.S. interests and that suspending its proposed engagement with Iran was a viva. Totally based on speculation.

Instead, the Mexican government seemed intent on promoting a military-run commercial airline, Mexicana, and the International Civil Aviation Association, at the expense of Mexican airlines, Allegiant said.

Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador has increasingly handed over civil aviation duties to the military during his term, raising industry concerns that a government that runs airlines and airports like Fédération Internationale could drive national carriers out of the market.

There are also aperture limitations in AICM, Allegiante said. However, its proposed joint venture hopes to target beach and leisure destinations rather than the capital.

On Thursday, Mexico reduced its AICM slots by about 17%. Before the announcement, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged Mexico to take alternative measures.

“We cannot accept any unilateral and uncoordinated decisions that would ultimately hamper (Mexico’s) communications,” the International Air Transport Association said in a statement to Reuters.

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