File image of an Aeromar aircraft in one of the airline’s hangars at Tercero Díaz (Cuartoscuro) in Mexico City
Aeromar failed to reach an agreement at the last minute and this Wednesday announced the final closure of its operations after more than 35 years of flight operations. In a statement, the company, which is plagued by millions of debts, said it was responding to a series of “financial problems” and “difficulties getting contracts on workable terms” when making the decision to go long-term. Company leaders confirm that despite the internal adjustments made by the adverse environment exacerbated by the pandemic, they have prevented the company from rebounding. The impending closure of the company has left more than 600 people – including 80 pilots – who worked on the routes on edge. According to industry sources, the airline’s accrued debt to the Mexican Treasury for labor, suppliers, fuel and services totals more than 4 billion pesos.
“As of February 15, 2013, Aeromar will operate flights to and from Mexico City, Acapulco, Aguascalientes, Cancun, Chetumal, Ciudad Victoria, Colima, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, Ixtepec, Mazatlán, Mérida, Monterrey, Piedras Negras, Puerto Escondido, Puebla, Puerto Vallarta, Tepic and Villahermosa in Mexico. Havana in Cuba, Laredo and McAllen in Texas, United States,” the statement read. The company said it will be informed as soon as it has information about the alternatives it can offer to travelers who still have tickets with Aeromar.
The announcement of the closure by company executives comes hours before the end of the ultimatum Mexico City International Airport (AICM) has given them to pay 522 million pesos in taxes and the use of hangars in the terminal. Since January 13, the capital’s airport had already intervened in its facilities, but allowed their operation. Since this Wednesday morning, however, the company’s flights have already appeared on the monitors as canceled.
José Alonso Torres, press and public relations secretary of Mexico’s Union Association of Aviation Pilots of Mexico (ASPA), announced that the union will declare a strike at Terminal 2 of the capital’s airport on Thursday afternoon. The union leader reported that although the company pays wages and bonuses, it still owes them about 100 million pesos in benefits and allowances.
After announcing the closure, the Labor Department said it will work with aviation unions as well as Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris to capitalize on the experience and talent of employees who want to continue working to integrate them into their models. “At the request of the workers, Aeromar’s assets were placed under a preservative order to ensure the priority payment of its debts,” the federal agency added in a statement.
Aeroméxico reported that, in support of passengers affected by the cessation of Aeromar operations, it has issued an exclusive protection policy for passengers booking with this airline for the cities of Colima, Tepic, Ciudad Victoria, Piedras Negras, McAllen and Ixtepec in the offers 20% discount on the purchase of return or one-way tickets at the nearest airports where Aeroméxico operates. In addition, this company has announced that it will anticipate the start of direct operations from Mexico City to Ciudad Victoria, Colima and Tepic from March 16.
Aeromar’s bankruptcy now arrives at Interjet, a Mexican airline that also ended its operations in 2020 due to financial problems and with the Mexican tax authorities. Founded in 1987 by Polish immigrant Marcos Katz, the company conquered the market in Mexico by offering short routes in planes with less fuel consumption. The businessman died in 2016 and his heirs, industry experts warn, have never been able to get the company back on its feet. The company, which serves a regional market with short routes and few passengers, had a fleet of 10 aircraft, but recently only two aircraft have experienced accounts payable and maintenance issues. As of this Wednesday, it will be lawyers, creditors and former employees who will determine the future of what remains on the land.
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Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
