Government of Mexico reaches a “historic agreement” to revive Mexicana de Aviación

The Mexican government announced this Thursday a “historic deal” with the 7,407 workers of the extinct Mexican Aviationto whom it will pay 815 million pesos (almost US$48 million) for the Army to use the brand for its new commercial airline.

The operation, formalized on Wednesday, will include three properties and a flight simulator, and the money will be distributed among all the former employees who have been fighting for 13 years, when the then most important airline in Mexico went bankrupt, said Luisa María Alcalde, secretary of Governorate.

“Today a historic agreement is reached to achieve justice for 7,407 workers of Mexicanas de Aviación. Pilots, flight attendants, ground personnel, trusted workers and retirees, reached a consensus to sell the Mexicana de Aviación brand to the Government of Mexico, thereby allowing the airline to resume flight, which will belong to all Mexicans.”said.

The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had expressed since May 2021 his intention to revive Mexicana de Aviación, an airline with government participation that was the second oldest in America, after Avianca, but which left in August 2010. to commercial bankruptcy

In the morning government conference, the Mayor accused President Vicente Fox (2000-2006) of privatizing the airline in 2005 to sell it to Grupo Posadas, which in five years “dismantled and bankrupted”.

“Despite the injustices of the past caused by the irresponsibility of the company and the complicity of previous governments, today we can celebrate that thanks to the struggle of the workers and their union organizations, progress has been made in the recognition of their rights”, maintained mayor.

Fausto Guerrero Díaz, president of the Association of Retirees, Workers and former Workers of the Mexican Aviation (Ajteam), thanked López Obrador for “crystallize” your support with this deal.

“This purchase and sale of these assets will bring as a consequence, first, that the name of Mexicana de Aviación will once again cross the air of Mexico and hopefully of the world, Mr. President. And second, a benefit for the more than 7,000 families who, after 13 years of fighting, will receive some of this benefit.”he stated.

While Miguel Ángel Yúdico, general secretary of the National Union of Transport, Transformation, Aviation, Services and Similar Workers (SNTTTASS) asserted that “The workers of Mexicana de Aviación are the group of workers that has suffered the most in Mexico in recent years.”

Following the agreement, the Army will use the brand for the new state commercial airline that will sell tickets starting in September, explained Luis Cresencio Sandoval, Secretary of National Defense.

With an initial investment of US$4 billion, the new company will receive three Boeing 737-800 aircraft on September 30 and another seven on October 30 with which it will fly to 20 destinations from the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), a priority project. of López Obrador for the Mexican capital.

The initial destinations will be Cancun, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Campeche, Chetumal, Mérida, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Cozumel, Los Cabos, Hermosillo, Ciudad Juárez, Villahermosa, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Acapulco, Mazatlán, La Paz and León.

Source: EFE