Mexico Regulator Says Airport Slots Anti-competitive

February 29, 2016

The way that take-off and landing slots at Mexico City's airport are assigned is anti-competitive and negatively affects the cost of services, Mexico's federal competition commission said.

The investigative arm of the commission, known as Cofece, proposed that a reserve fund be created for slots that had not been assigned correctly, which could then be distributed to help smaller airlines and new entrants.

Carlos Mena, head of the investigative arm, told a news conference that in 2014, two airlines - which he did not name - had 65 percent of the landing and take-off slots.

The investigative arm's recommendations will now be presented to the Cofece board, and time given for interested parties, airlines such as Aeromexico, Interjet and Volaris, as well as the airport authority, to respond.

The Cofece board can then publish final measures.

(Reuters)