Emirates airline is confident it will launch its new daily flights to Mexico City as scheduled on December 9, despite a court ruling blocking flights to the country.
The UAE government signed a bilateral air services agreement (MoU) with the Mexican Government in July to allow Emirates operate the route and is due to launch its first service, via Barcelona – a so-called fifth freedom flight – in two months’ time.
However, a legal challenge from Mexican carrier Aeromexico – which operates direct flights between Mexico and Barcelona – has been upheld by a judge in the country, who granted the company an ‘amparo’ to stop the air services agreement and effectively placing the future of the flights in limbo.
But an Emirates spokesperson told Arabian Business the ruling will be appealed, and said the flights will operate as planned.
“We firmly believe that the MoU is valid and the ruling of the court will be the subject of an appeal by the Government of Mexico. Pending the outcome of this appeal, all our rights remain valid and in force.”
Backing
The Mexican Government has long courted a deal with Emirates and it appeared as though an agreement had been reached last year, only for the airline to pull the plug after they were offered just three flights weekly to the country as opposed to the daily flights Emirates was looking for.
However, further discussions finally ended with a deal being struck, which received the backing of Mexican officials.
The head of the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation ( SCT ), Javier Jiménez Espriú said that there is no legal impediment for Emirates to operate the Mexico-Barcelona route.
“The permit for Emirates is in process, the route was authorised a long time ago in the past administration and raised in the bilateral agreement … In principle yes [we will authorise it], legally there is no impediment,” he said.
Mexico’s tourism minister, Miguel Torruco Marqués said in July, “Mexico supports the launch of the long-awaited flight…which responds to Mexico’s government tourism policy towards opening new markets and strengthening connectivity between the Middle East and Mexico. We are eager to receive tourists from this part of the world.”
The Mexican Civil Aviation Authority was similarly supportive of the planned flights.
“Emirates’ arrival will bring a significant contribution to our international connectivity network by adding up daily services to Dubai and beyond,” said Rodrigo Vasquez C, director general, Mexican Civil Aviation Authority.
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