Mexico City’s proposed $9 billion airport will get technical and operational assistance for the design and construction from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
IATA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mexico government’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation. The agreement will also see the association give technical and professional advice to the existing Mexico City International Airport to ensure it continues to operate efficiently until the new facility is completed around 2020.
The MoU was signed by representatives of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) of Mexico, the Mexico City Airport Group, and the present Mexico City International Airport at IATA’s 71st annual general meeting and world air transport summit in Miami (US) from 7-9 June.
IATA’s director general and chief executive officer, Tony Tyler, says: “IATA is pleased to be working with the Mexican authorities from the early stages on one of the region’s most significant air transport infrastructure projects. By working together we can ensure that the right decisions are made.”
DGAC director general, Gilberto López Meyer, says the MoU will allow the Mexican government to understand and adopt global best practices in the design of large scale hub airports, which it can then use in construction of the airport. The MoU also has a provision for the study of the slot management at Mexico City International Airport, where capacity is saturated. IATA will also continue its work with local authorities to ensure slots at Mexico City International are optimised.
