by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:15 AM ET, Fri September 15, 2023
The United States government announced that Mexico’s
aviation safety rating was once again elevated to the highest level two years
after being moved to Category 2.
According to The
Associated Press, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed on
Thursday that Mexican airlines would be permitted to add routes to the U.S.,
while carriers in America can once again sell tickets on Mexican
airline-operated flights.
The FAA initially lowered Mexico’s aviation safety rating in
May 2021 after officials determined the country did not meet the standards set
by the United Nation’s International Civil Aviation Organization.
The elevated safety rating came after safety, regulatory and
efficiency collaborations between the Secretariat of Infrastructure,
Communications and Transport (SICT), the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC),
the Congress of the Union and key stakeholders of Mexico’s airline industry.
“The connectivity between Mexico and the United States is
one of the most important in the world and contributes significantly to the
social and economic development of the country,” International Air Transport
Association (IATA) Regional Vice President Peter Cerda said.
“With the return of category 1, Mexican airlines will leave
behind the prior restrictions, which have considerably affected the
post-pandemic recovery and ability to grow their service in the Mexico – U.S.
market,” Cerda continued.
Earlier this week, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez
Obrador jumped
the gun and revealed that Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena had been informed
about the decision to elevate Mexico from Category 2 back to Category 1.
As for the impact of the return to the highest safety rating,
Diana Olivares, head of Mexico's air transportation chamber and LATAM Airlines'
(LTM.SN) country manager, said in June that the decision cost Mexican national
airlines more
than a billion dollars.
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