By David Shepardson, Frank Jack Daniel and Tracy Rucinski
WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, Could 21 (Reuters) – The U.S. authorities is making ready to downgrade Mexico’s aviation security score, a transfer that may bar Mexican carriers from including new U.S. flights and limits airways potential to hold out advertising and marketing agreements, 4 sources briefed on the matter stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) deliberate transfer is anticipated be introduced within the coming days and follows a prolonged evaluate of Mexico’s aviation oversight by the company.
Downgrading Mexico from Class 1 to Class 2 will imply present U.S. service by Mexican carriers is unaffected, however they can’t launch new flights and airline-to-airline advertising and marketing practices, like promoting seats on one another’s flights in code-share preparations, are restricted.
Mexico is by far the one largest U.S. worldwide air vacation spot throughout COVID-19 as journey restrictions have prevented Individuals from visiting a lot of Europe. In April, there have been almost 2.three million passengers on U.S-Mexico flights – greater than 3 times the subsequent highest nation.
An FAA spokesman declined to remark. Mexico’s Communications and Transport Ministry didn’t instantly remark.
Sources briefed on the matter stated the FAA has had prolonged talks with Mexican aviation regulators about its considerations they usually had not all been addressed. The sources added that Mexican authorities officers have been knowledgeable concerning the deliberate motion.
One airline trade supply talking on the situation of anonymity stated the FAA’s considerations didn’t handle “security of flight” points however slightly Mexico’s oversight of air carriers.
Delta Air Traces DAL.N, which has a codeshare association with Aeromexico AEROMEX.MX, must challenge new tickets for some passengers booked on Aeromexico flights on account of the downgrade, sources stated.
A Delta spokesman declined to remark.
This isn’t the primary time the FAA has downgraded Mexico’s air security score.
In July 2010, the FAA downgraded Mexico to Class 2 and restored its prime score about 4 months later.
The 2010 FAA downgrade was for suspected shortcomings inside its civil aviation authority. The usair regulator was not particular, however downgrades are often related to gaps in security experience or file holding or inspection procedures.
Mexican authorities stated in 2010 there was no deterioration of flight security and that the downgrade was on account of a scarcity of flight inspectors.
(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington, Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Frank Jack Daniel and Noe Torres in Mexico Cityl; Modifying by Stephen Coates)
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