U.S. cancellation of air route with Mexico "unilateral", unjustified: Mexican president

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday described as "unilateral" and unjustified the decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to cancel 13 air routes to Mexico and cargo flights to the capital's new Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA).

"We disagree with this decision by the Department of Transportation. From our perspective, these actions, which are being taken unilaterally, have no basis. Let's hope there isn't some other interest at play," Sheinbaum said at her daily press conference.

Sheinbaum said she has instructed Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente to request an urgent meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. transportation officials to review the grounds for the decision, which she said may involve a "political interest" or even an interest in "supporting some companies over others."

The president also ordered the National Antitrust Commission to analyze the U.S. government's claim that Mexico allegedly violates "the competition of U.S. companies."

"From our perspective, there is no impact on airlines, and we say that with complete certainty. Mexico is not anyone's pinata. Mexico deserves respect," she added.

The USDOT announced its decision on Tuesday, citing "continuous abuse" of the 2015 bilateral Air Transport Agreement. The department accused Mexico of anti-competitive behavior, pointing in particular to a presidential decree that transferred air cargo operations from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to AIFA and to Mexico's allocation of landing and takeoff slots at AICM.

Sheinbaum said she will meet on Friday with representatives of Mexican airlines Aeromexico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus to define a joint strategy to address the restrictions, noting that they disrupt ongoing operations.

She said transferring cargo flights to AIFA was a necessary measure, as AICM is operating at capacity, and added that U.S. companies have been "very satisfied" with the change. ■