OMA reports on the impact of the suspension of operations of Líneas Aéreas Azteca
Monterrey, Mexico, March 29, 2007—Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA, reported on the impact on its airports of the suspension of operations of Líneas Aéreas Azteca (Azteca), ordered by the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT).
The SCT, through the Bureau of Civil Aviation (DGAC), announced the suspension of Azteca, effective March 26, 2007. The DGAC determined that “the company does not meet the necessary requirements to continue operating.”
Azteca accounted for 3.7% of OMA’s total passengers and 3.6% of total aeronautical revenues during 2006. Azteca currently has no debts outstanding to OMA.
Azteca operated at six airports: Acapulco, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Culiacán, Monterrey, and Zacatecas. Monterrey and Ciudad Juarez reported the largest number of passengers transported by this airline. At the time of the suspension, Azteca operated seven domestic routes at these airports. Of these, the only segments not served by other airlines are Zacatecas-Ciudad Juarez and Aguascalientes-Culiacán. OMA anticipates that most of the air traffic previously handled by Azteca will be picked up by other airlines.
The DGAC announced that Azteca, which began operations in June 2001, has 90 calendar days to correct the operating deficiencies, which would allow it to resume operations.
Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA, operates 13 international airports in nine states of central and northern Mexico. OMA’s airports serve Monterrey, Mexico’s third largest metropolitan area, the tourist destinations of Acapulco, Mazatlán, and Zihuatanejo, and nine other regional centers and border cities. OMA employs over 900 persons in order to offer our passengers and clients airport and commercial services in facilities that comply with all applicable international safety, security standards and ISO 9001:2001. OMA’s strategic shareholder members are ICA, Mexico’s largest engineering, procurement, and construction company, and Aéroports de Paris, the second largest European airports operator. OMA is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (OMA) and on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (OMAB). Please visit our website, www.oma.aero.
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