Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) began operations last year with a concept of gradual, gradual growth, and we are on that path, so it is expected that the financial break-even point will be reached at some point in its third year of operations (which starts on March 21, 2024) with 200 daily operations and five million passengers, said its director, retired Brigadier General Isidoro Pastor.
For now, the new terminal now serves 14 national routes (operated by Aeroméxico, Volaris and VivaAerobus) and four international (Arajet, Copa, Conviasa, VivaAerobus and Magnicharters).
In an interview, he said that in the short term they will add two routes: one national (to Ciudad Juárez) and one international (to Houston). In addition, a national airline has already completed the procedures (such as a request for counters) to triple operations in the second half of the year. Progress is not fast.
The General works on a day-to-day basis to attend to the words of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on February 28, which put pressure: “It is an airport that has a great future, so much so that we barely inaugurated it last year and already By December of this year, it will reach its break-even point in terms of income and operating expenses, that is, it will be self-sufficient as of December of this year and it will begin to make profits as of January 2024.
That is to say, the bet of the head of the Executive points to the financial balance before the foreseen by the direction of the AIFA.
-At the arrival ceremony of the first DHL flight to AIFA, the president said that the break-even point would be reached in December. How did you receive that?
Good. Very happy. I repeat: In the plans that are being made externally, that suddenly one does not have timely access to what it is about, it could be that there is a need for a major repair of the entire Mexico City International Airport (AICM ) and that can cause them to come in a cascade (to AIFA, passengers and airlines). I have the work team prepared so that we can receive that number of operations and achieve the break-even point.
For now, their projections are made from the analysis of the airline industry. By the end of the first year of operation (in March 2023) it was estimated to have 120 operations per day, but the figure had to be adjusted due to the lack of delivery of aircraft and spare parts to the airlines (as a consequence of the pandemic), so in the end there were 60 registered.
For the second year, the AIFA management foresees a closure of 100 daily operations and 2.5 million passengers transported, while throughout the third year (which begins in March 2024 and ends in March 2025), it estimates reaching 200 operations, with five million transported users.
A mixed airport
In the serenity of his office, from where he has a partial view of the main AIFA runway, the General reiterated that there is derogation and lack of information about the operation of the airport.
For example, it was born and will continue to be mixed (with operations by low-cost and full-service companies) and between 60 and 70% of its income will come from airport and complementary services, while the rest will be commercial, so it is a functional terminal, contrary to other tourist destinations, such as Cancun.
And it is clear that the transition will not be sudden and will be gradual because the airlines themselves have to generate a business model that allows them to operate efficiently in both terminals and “that also implies economic resources”, despite the fact that, based on In their data, most of AIFA’s operations are already profitable for companies.
-What is the work that the administration of this airport does to have more activity?
Maintain the level of quality of service that we have now, so that the airlines naturally come here with more flights and more frequencies. The level of satisfaction is very high, unlike other airports. We bet on it. If you have a competition in front of you, the user must look for better conditions, that is what we are looking for… the 1.3 million passengers is the best word of mouth publicity.
Another lock that it has in its operation is that as long as the financial equilibrium point is not exceeded, resources cannot be allocated to the promotion of the terminal and only what is done by the airlines and some tourist destinations, such as Hidalgo and the City from Mexico.
-What certainty does a passenger have today who wants to use the AIFA?
It is the fear that they have instilled in our passengers. There are people who have told me: I don’t go to the airport that you manage because I’m afraid that when I arrive the plane won’t be there or I’m going to get lost, even businessmen, but once it comes it won’t let go. Any airport in the world is some distance from the city. The reason for choosing this airport is its proximity and from Polanco there are better conditions to get here than to the AICM. 65% of passengers say: I choose this one because of its proximity and they come from Las Lomas, Santa Fe, Satelite or Valle Dorado.
The passage of General Isidoro Pastor in the academy and in aviation
A CV of Retired Brigadier General Isidoro Pastor, released by the IPN, where he is a Doctor of Administrative Sciences, refers to: auditor, inspector and instructor in aviation security, certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
A CV of Retired Brigadier General Isidoro Pastor, released by the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), where he is a Doctor of Administrative Sciences, refers to: auditor, inspector and instructor in aviation security, certified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ), has various Diplomas and Seminars on issues of operational safety and aviation security, location and neutralization of explosive devices.
His work as an expert in risk management, aviation regulations, finance, human resources, training, socioeconomics, public auditing, quality management, negotiation strategies and leadership is also highlighted.
And out loud, said background is summarized in 27 years of experience and ties to the airline industry and two decades as a teacher in administration of public companies and business administration, for which some of his students have passed through the ranks of Coca Cola, Siemens, Bimbo or Cemex.
“My job before this commission (directing the AIFA) was to take care of the security, from the aviation point of view, of the Presidents of our country and of the Heads of State and Government who visited us from various parts of the world in the different airports in Cancún, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Los Cabos, Vallarta or Acapulco, where the summits normally took place”, he detailed.
This work, he said from his spacious office where recognition of his career is posted, allowed him to learn in detail how airspace is administered, how an airport, customs, migration, general administration, how and to be able to make commercial operations compatible with the generals.
Now, when a concern arises about his work, he has the confidence to call personnel from another airport to be certain.
With this vision, every morning he has meetings with his team linked to the commercial areas. This is how it prepares for the eventual arrival of passengers at the new terminal that now has a gradual, gradual growth.
