September 11. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador revealed that the United States Department of Transportation would elevate the country’s air safety rating.
According to Reuters.com, President Lopez Obrador made the announcement during a regular morning press conference, saying that Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena had been informed about the decision to elevate Mexico from Category 2 back to Category 1.
“This is good news,” President Lopez Obrador said. “All of the requirements have been met.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Mexico to Category 2 in 2021, but the U.S. agency has worked for more than two years with civil aviation authorities to improve the safety rating.
In response to President Lopez Obrador’s comments, an FAA spokesperson said the agency “expected to conclude the process in the near future,” but did not reveal an exact date. The announcement could come as early as this week.
In June, data from Diana Olivares, head of Mexico’s air transportation chamber and LATAM Airlines’ (LTM.SN) country manager, indicated that the decision by FAA authorities to downgrade Mexico’s air safety rating cost Mexican national airlines more than a billion dollars.
Source: Travel Pulse
