More than half a hundred flights have been canceled in the last hours as a result of a protest by Aeromexico pilots for the dismissal of one of their colleagues, the airline said today.
So far, 51 domestic and international flights have been canceled and two more are delayed because a group of pilots led by captain José Manuel Fernández did not show up for work, the company said in a statement.
Pilots protest the dismissal of a colleague “after a long history of misconduct, following the procedures set forth in the collective agreement between the company and the Trade Union Association of Pilots of Aviators of Mexico (ASPA),” he said.
The airline added that this group of pilots “dissidents of ASPA decided to be absent and ignore the call made by the union leadership to avoid affecting passengers.”
For his part, Fernandez explained to the media that the pilots demand the restitution of his partner José Manuel Orduño, who has been absent from work due to health problems, specifically a tumor.
“It is not our intention to affect the public user, but it is in the interest of all that the pilots and crews do not fly ill,” he said from terminal two of the International Airport in Mexico City, where chaos and anger of stranded passengers reigns .
The secretary of Interior of ASPA, Carlos Smith, asked the pilots to normalize the flights, after ensuring that they will defend Orduño “by institutional means”.
Meanwhile, the general director of Civil Aeronautics, Miguel Peláez, demanded that Aeromexico resume operations “immediately” and threatened with sanctions, including “the suspension of pilots’ licenses.”
Aeromexico said it was “working at its maximum capacity to normalize operations as soon as possible” and regretted the inconvenience caused to customers.
