Mexicana shuts down as it stops flying
By Julia Galiano-Rios |
August 30, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MEXICANA Airlines shut down all flights on Saturday, marking at least a temporary disappearance from the skies of one of the world's oldest air carriers.
Some airlines offered preferential deals to Mexicana passengers scrambling to find alternatives, but many were baffled by how to get home. The loss of Grupo Mexicana flights eliminated much of the air service to many Mexican cities.
"In the face of the serious deterioration of the company's finances and given the impossibility of reaching agreements to ensure the future viability of the company's operations, we have been forced to temporarily and indefinitely suspend operations," according to a recording played on the company's Mexico City contact number.
The company vowed to seek ways to resume operations at an indefinite time in the future.
Calls to the company's press office went unanswered, and its ticket counters at the Mexico City terminal - its main hub - were empty, except for occasional knots of travelers seeking advice about how to replace flights on Mexicana, Mexicana Click and Mexicana Link.
Erika Lejsek, who heads the complaints department for Mexico's consumer-protection agency, said about 60 or 70 people had approached the agency's booths at the airport to ask for help.
Lejsek said about 22 had been placed on other Mexican airlines, at least three of which "are offering preferential rates, for people to return to their homes."
But a few angry ticket holders remained at Mexico City's international airport on Saturday, looking for a way home.
Traveler Luis Ignacio Sorroza was attempting to return home to the southern city of Oaxaca, after a trip to Miami, Florida, originally booked with Mexicana.
"The truth is, they are not offering any solution, they are not giving any information," Sorroza said of the troubled airline.
While he got a flight from Miami to Mexico City on another airline, he was left without a flight to Oaxaca, 470 kilometers southeast of the capital.
"Essentially, you are left to find your own way home," said Sorroza.
Mexicana de Aviacion flew routes to more than 65 domestic and international destinations, including the United States, Canada, Central America, South America and Europe.
Some airlines offered preferential deals to Mexicana passengers scrambling to find alternatives, but many were baffled by how to get home. The loss of Grupo Mexicana flights eliminated much of the air service to many Mexican cities.
"In the face of the serious deterioration of the company's finances and given the impossibility of reaching agreements to ensure the future viability of the company's operations, we have been forced to temporarily and indefinitely suspend operations," according to a recording played on the company's Mexico City contact number.
The company vowed to seek ways to resume operations at an indefinite time in the future.
Calls to the company's press office went unanswered, and its ticket counters at the Mexico City terminal - its main hub - were empty, except for occasional knots of travelers seeking advice about how to replace flights on Mexicana, Mexicana Click and Mexicana Link.
Erika Lejsek, who heads the complaints department for Mexico's consumer-protection agency, said about 60 or 70 people had approached the agency's booths at the airport to ask for help.
Lejsek said about 22 had been placed on other Mexican airlines, at least three of which "are offering preferential rates, for people to return to their homes."
But a few angry ticket holders remained at Mexico City's international airport on Saturday, looking for a way home.
Traveler Luis Ignacio Sorroza was attempting to return home to the southern city of Oaxaca, after a trip to Miami, Florida, originally booked with Mexicana.
"The truth is, they are not offering any solution, they are not giving any information," Sorroza said of the troubled airline.
While he got a flight from Miami to Mexico City on another airline, he was left without a flight to Oaxaca, 470 kilometers southeast of the capital.
"Essentially, you are left to find your own way home," said Sorroza.
Mexicana de Aviacion flew routes to more than 65 domestic and international destinations, including the United States, Canada, Central America, South America and Europe.
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