Aviation workers say if
an agreement with the United States is reached without proper
regulations, it will lead to the disappearance of the national airlines.
Thousands of workers from
Mexico's aviation trade unions and students of aviation schools took to
the streets and terminal 2 of Mexico City's International Airport to
demand the government stop the negotiations of a bilateral agreement
with the United States that will allow U.S. carriers to operate without
restrictions in Mexico's airspace.
According to the
Federation of Air Sector (FEDSSA), if the agreement is reached without
proper regulations, it will lead to the disappearance of the national
airlines. More than 10 domestic carriers have disappeared in Mexico in
the past decade, including the country's oldest airline Mexicana de
Aviacion in 2010.
The negotiations are
scheduled to take place this week, however protesters demanded they be
delayed until "there is an aviation policy capable of ensuring equal
competition and anti-monopoly immunity granted by the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) to the Mexican airlines."
Demonstrators also signed
a letter in which they demanded the Ministry of Communications and
Transport guarantee - during the negotiations with the United States-
the “fundamental principles of a state public policy.” They also asked
for a “gradual and reciprocal policy” that will allow Mexican airlines
to gradually liberalize their air routes to other countries.
DOT has statutory authority to approve and immunize alliances between airlines to fly on international routes.
“The anti-monopoly
immunity will allow Mexican airlines in alliance with the U.S, Europe or
other countries, to coordinate their schedules and aircraft to operate
on the same network and have the same operation at airports. They would
also be able to advertise and market their products and services
jointly, but only as soon as they have obtained the approval of the
competition authorities in the countries where they operate,” the letter
said.
The organizers of the
protest will present the letter to the Senate, together with a joint
document by the two main opposition parties, Party of the Democratic
Revolution (PRD) and the National Action Party. They urge the government
of Enrique Peña Nieto reconsider the adoption of a policy that opens up
Mexican airspace.
- Source: http://www.telesurtv.net
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