ALTA APPLAUDS MEXICO RECOVERY OF CATEGORY 1

MIAMI, Florida (December 2, 2010) -ALTA, the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association, applauds Mexico’s recovery of its Category 1 rating following a review by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  According to the FAA, Mexico has made significant progress and is now upgraded from the Category 2 safety rating the country received in July to Category 1.

“ALTA recognizes the hard work and commitment of Secretary Juan Molinar, Director General Hector Gonzalez along with Mexico’s aviation industry in achieving this recovery in just a few short months,” said Alex de Gunten, ALTA’s Executive Director. “We call on local governments and authorities in the region to learn from this crisis and be more proactive, reinvest in the industry and work towards reducing risks and improving safety, which is ALTA’s number one priority.”

“Although accident rates in the region have greatly diminished,” said de Gunten.  “We need to ensure that the right infrastructure and oversight is in place to allow for continued improvement, and that requires investment.”

Last month, at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City, Panama, ALTA’s airline members emphasized safety as a key priority and shared a common commitment to the following resolution:

Call on Governments to reinvest in the industry (infrastructure, civil aviation authorities, ATC) the funds collected through taxes, levies and fees from passengers and the industry;

Strongly support the recommendation of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC) and the paths demonstrated by Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico, requiring IOSA certification for the operation of airlines in the region;

Implement changes in legislation and regulations to protect information without the imposition of penalties to airlines and crew members, in order to provide better investigation and flow of information for accident prevention;

Reiterate support to a coordinated global approach under ICAO’sRegional Aviation Safety Program – Pan America, RASG – PA, a group dedicated to lowering the accident rate in the region.

About ALTA:

ALTA (Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association) is a private, non-profit organization, whose member airlines represent more than 90 percent of the region’s commercial air traffic. ALTA coordinates the collaborative efforts of its members in order to facilitate the development of safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly air transport in the Latin America and Caribbean region for the mutual benefit of the association’s members, their customers and the industry. Founded in 1980, ALTA is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. Visit ALTA at www.alta.aero.

Member Airlines: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Aerosur, Air Jamaica, Avianca, Bahamas Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, COPA Airlines, COPA Airlines Colombia, Cubana, GOL, LAN, LAN Ecuador, LAN Peru, LIAT, Mexicana, Mexicana Click, PLUNA, TACA, TACA Peru, TAM, TAM Mercosur, TAME, Volaris, VRG Linhas Aéreas -GOL Group. Associate Members: Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Iberia, United Airlines, UPS, WestJet. Affiliate Members: Airbus, Airline Business Magazine, Amadeus, AON, ARINC, ATR, AvGroup, Bain, Boeing, Bombardier, CFM, Chevron Aviation, Embraer, Hahn Air, HEICO, Lufthansa Consulting, Lufthansa Systems, MARSH Aviation, Mercator, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, OAG, Petrobras, Pratt & Whitney, ROUTES, SABRE Air Solutions, SH&E, SHELL Aviation, SITA, SNECMA, Spencer Stuart, Superjet International, Travelport, UATP, Wencor, Willis Aerospace.