Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) is considering entering the international market, primarily in Latin America, to participate in airport operations, consulting, and fuel supply.

“We seek to boost Mexico’s institutional presence internationally, consolidating ASA’s leadership in Latin America. We also seek to participate in bidding processes for airport operations in Central and South America, which makes it a potential benchmark,” emphasized Humberto Antonio Suárez Castillo, ASA’s Business Unit Coordinator.

Suárez Castillo said that there are examples worldwide of government-owned companies that carry out these types of operations , as well as fuel consulting and services.

During his participation in the ASA conference as a driver of the country’s airport development and connectivity , organized by the College of Civil Engineers of Mexico (CICM) , he explained that they will also seek to participate in the generation of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), maintenance, and regional aviation.

In this regard, he noted that the agency is working on a project to implement a green flight by the end of this year , and is therefore investing in storage for this type of fuel.

“The goal is to have a biorefinery by the end of this administration. We have many studies on what technology or raw materials we can begin using, such as sugarcane and used cooking oils. It’s an important project and is gaining international presence. It’s currently present in Latin America, and we’ve established a roadmap to set goals for 2030 and 2050,” Suárez Castillo noted.

Regarding maintenance (MRO), he commented that they are looking to invest in a hangar for nine aircraft , where qualified personnel with the necessary certifications are already available.

“We want Mexico to be a pioneer in this regard. There is already an MRO in Mexico City providing this service, but we believe the country has the capacity to have not just one, not necessarily on a large scale, but capable of servicing smaller aircraft,” he emphasized.

He also explained that in regional aviation, where there are around 1,500 airfields in Mexico, several of which are underutilized and others with infrastructure in need of development, the goal is to work on connectivity through joint participation.

He pointed out that they are promoting the Mexican University of Civil Aviation (UMAC) project , and are already in talks with the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) to finalize it in 2026.

“ASA has a very important service offering, and we make it available to any airport group, and now we want to take it international. We’ve already participated in Nicaragua and El Dorado (Colombia), and that gives us the opportunity to continue moving forward,” he said.

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Vallín assured that this will give industry participants greater certainty regarding the maintenance of their equipment.

“If we look at the platform we have, that hub at Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA)  where all the air cargo is concentrated, which is the largest we have in Mexico and Latin America, the construction of other MROs is planned there, which are the largest maintenance bases, there is participation from the private sector and from the Ministry of National Defense (Defense) ,” he explained.

In an interview following his participation in the 60th anniversary celebrations of Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA) , he mentioned that they have already received applications for the construction of this type of facility at AIFA.

He noted that in 2021, freight transportation in Mexico surpassed the volume recorded in 2019, achieving annual growth of nearly 4% , making 2024 “the best year for this important sector in the country.”

Regarding the possibility of further increasing operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) , Vallín indicated that this will depend on the terminal’s infrastructure.

“If airport infrastructure isn’t improved, how can passenger service be guaranteed? Passenger safety, convenience, and comfort; all airlines and airports take into account the user experience on the flight and at the airport,” he emphasized.

He asserted that the limitation on operations at the AICM is due to the fact that airlines are using larger aircraft and spending more time on the runway and taxiways, despite the fact that the infrastructure is inadequate.

It’s worth remembering that in early May, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT)  authorized the AICM to increase its number of operations per hour from 43 to 44. This decision was made following an analysis conducted by the  Mexican Air Navigation Services (Seneam)  and the airport itself.

“A maximum of 44 landing and takeoff operations can be handled per hour at the AICM, in accordance with the airspace limitations determined by Seneam. This measure will be temporary and will remain in place as long as the indicated conditions prevail,” he stated.

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Safran Aircraft Engines, aircraft engine manufacturer, will invest $80 million in the construction of its second maintenance shop (MRO) that will begin operating in 2026 and the expansion of its production plant in Querétaro, both dedicated to the CFM LEAP engine .

“With the implementation of these two plants, Mexico will position itself among the few countries capable of covering the entire life cycle of the engine, from the manufacture of parts, modules and final assembly, repair and maintenance, to the testing of the engines,” said Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of the company.

He mentioned that since the opening of their first plant in Querétaro they have developed operational “excellence” in production and maintenance that contributes to providing their clients with the best quality standards.

The MRO will have 14 thousand square meters of surface and will add significant capabilities to the global network to support the increase in service activities.

With this, Safran Aircraft Engine Services Americas will increase its annual capacity by 150 engines, reaching 350 engines by 2030, with the creation of nearly 500 direct jobs. The facility will be located next to the new test bed currently being built.

The new workshop is also designed to meet the best environmental standards, as part of the company’s low carbon strategy.

Regarding the expansion of its Safran Aircraft Engines México (SAEM) engine production plant, it will be for the new LEAP fan and turbine modules , as well as final assembly lines to support the increase in production of the new generation CFM engine, creating 150 jobs. The LEAP engine has more than 7,500 units already in operation, accumulating more than 50 million flight hours, and an order book that exceeds 10,600 units.

“As a global company, we will continue to invest in countries where we benefit from a comprehensive aerospace ecosystem, including skills, training, academic partnerships and low-carbon infrastructure. We have found these assets in Querétaro, paving the way for more industrial successes in the future,” said Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran.

The company has operated in Mexico for more than 30 years and now has 18 facilities and almost 14,000 employees in the country . The Group is currently the number one employer in the country’s aerospace industry. In Querétaro, more than 3,300 employees currently work for Safran Aircraft Engines and Safran Landing Systems.

“This reflects Safran’s confidence in our region and our ability to support innovation and excellence,” added Mauricio Kuri, governor of Querétaro.

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