The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation to provide technical and operational assistance for the construction of the Mexico City’s new airport.
Under the agreement, IATA will also provide its services as a technical and professional advisor for the efficient operations of the existing airport in Mexico City until the completion of the new airport by 2020.
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The current airport in the city has already reached its capacity and the MoU will also examine the possibility of slot management that can help in devising ways of expanding the available capacity at the airport.
Mexico’s General Directorate of Civil Aviation director general Gilberto López Meyer said: "The MOU will allow the Mexican government to understand and adopt global best practices in the design of large-scale hub airports, just what we are looking to achieve with the new Mexico City airport.
"Additionally, IATA’s experience analysing the management of slots will improve the process and align it with global best practices and be very helpful ahead of the increased air traffic in the country."
The plans for the new airport are expected to cost an estimated $9.2bn had been unveiled in 2014 by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto. The new airport aims at easing the congestion at the existing airport.
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By GlobalDataThe new airport will have two runways that can be used simultaneously doubling the runway capacity. The current airport has two runways but only one can be used at a time as they are very close to each other.
IATA’s director general Tony Tyler said: "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.
"The key to success is consultation, so that what is built meets the needs of the airlines at a cost they can afford."
Image: The new airport at Mexico City will have two runways that can be used simultaneously doubling the runway capacity. Photo: courtesy of Foster + Partners.
