Travel Agencies Seek the Return of Aviacsa and Mexicana

(Acapulco, NA 27 October) The Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) met in Acapulco last weekend, to consider the many challenges now facing the industry. The group unanimously approved a communiqué to the Secretary of Communication and Transport of Mexico (SCT), calling upon the government to bring about the return to the skies of Mexicana de Aviación and Aviacsa, a budget carrier. Additionally, they want to promote Aviacsa from "level two" to "level one," thus permitting the airline to enter into cooperation and code-sharing agreements with international carriers. The case of Mexicana is especially difficult, as it is beset by a heavy debt, aging fleet and labor disputes. Jorge Falcón Romero, the president of the Guerrero chapter of AMAV, said that the demand for air travel is much greater than the currently reduced supply. "The government needs to take measures to provide a means of helping airlines acquire the necessary permits and facilities to meet the increased demand levels." He added that this will help bring the cost of Mexican air travel down to a level more consistent with prices elsewhere in the world. Falcón Romero emphasized that an objective should be to have at least two airlines in operation in each national destination. “We must require [the government] to guarantee [credit] so that the airlines can operate. The financial failures of Aviacsa and Mexicana are affecting prices and services because, even though Aeromexico has been increasing passenger seat availability, the prices are rising to monopoly levels.” He added that there is a chance that Aviacsa could return by the end of the year, as its troubles were more related to government policy than operation. The airline faced considerable political opposition from Mexicana, and now that Mexicana is also on the sidelines, Aviacsa could conceivably return.