"Group says Mexico City airport runways are dangerous"

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Group says Mexico City airport runways are dangerous
EFE News


The organization representing the world's main airlines has told the
Mexican government that the runways at this capital's International
Airport are defective and pose a danger to passenger planes, and is
calling for a solution.

In a letter to Mexican Transportation Minister Pedro Cerisola,
International Air Transportation Association chief Giovanni Bisignani
laid out the details of the problems at Mexico City airport.

"IATA, in the name of its airline members, has notified the Civil
Aeronautics General Directorate and the Mexico City International
Airport many times of the problems deriving from the surface conditions
of the landing and takeoff runways at Benito Juarez International
Airport."

"So far, no solution to correct the problem has been implemented,"
Bisignani's letter noted.

The IATA official said that "this deficiency not only has an impact on
the safety of operations, but it also has a significant impact on the
operational efficiency of the airlines that fly out of or into Mexico
City."

Bisignani pointed to July 21, when 126 flights had to be delayed,
diverted or cancelled as a result of the problems cited in his missive.

"I am aware," the letter continued, "that there are inherent
difficulties in resolving the problem immediately, but, taking safety
into consideration, I urge you to take the necessary steps to resolve
this situation and restore international confidence in the integrity and
safety of flight operations in Mexico."

The communications and transportation ministry declined to respond to
questions from.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************