Mexicana Cancelled Flights?

[PlayaRocks!]

Greetings!

What's up with Mexicana Air? Anyone hearing anything out there?

I'm in Sacramento........the local news is reporting that Mexicana has suddenly cancelled flights to/from Mexico. (from Sacramento International)
Two flights from Guadalajara were cancelled today and four flights to Cabo are cancelled for tomorrow Monday.

The TV news crew interviewed stranded passengers. According to people still standing at the airport there was no warning the flights were cancelled, Mexicana did not book them on other flights, and they were told to wait three months for refunds. This according to a live interview at the gate.

Is this a local thing or has anyone else heard anything out there?


I hope this subject is not off topic.
Only posting here because many of us fly Mexicana to Playa/Vallarta other destinations and if there is a problem I sure would not want to be booking months in advance....know what I mean?

[Luv2Dance]

Could it have something to do with this?

The Associated Press: FAA downgrades Mexico's air safety rating

[ryberg]

I've been wondering when someone would bring that up here.

It is important to note, however, that the FAA is not saying that air travel to/from/within Mexico is less safe than before or that there are witnessed safety problems or whatever. The situation is instead geared at the government and the bureaucracy for not keeping up with certain pre-set international standards in terms of having sufficient safety supervisors and procedures in place and being covered and the like. And commentary says that it's unusual to see such downgrading take place when advances are being made by the country in question, as they are in Mexico. But rapid recent growth has been more than the system has been able to keep up with (at least as of yet) and so as one piece I read about it said, the FAA decided in this case to use more stick than carrot.

But yes, I expect that is the reason behind what you're describing, as part of the downgrading means that Mexican airlines are not allowed service and also face new code sharing restrictions and the like.

Steve

[Luv2Dance]

Originally Posted by ryberg

I've been wondering when someone would bring that up here.

It is important to note, however, that the FAA is not saying that air travel to/from/within Mexico is less safe than before or that there are witnessed safety problems or whatever. The situation is instead geared at the government and the bureaucracy for not keeping up with certain pre-set international standards in terms of having sufficient safety supervisors and procedures in place and being covered and the like. And commentary says that it's unusual to see such downgrading take place when advances are being made by the country in question, as they are in Mexico. But rapid recent growth has been more than the system has been able to keep up with (at least as of yet) and so as one piece I read about it said, the FAA decided in this case to use more stick than carrot.

But yes, I expect that is the reason behind what you're describing, as part of the downgrading means that Mexican airlines are not allowed service and also face new code sharing restrictions and the like.

Steve

Shall I pull quotes from the link? I figured people would see clarification within the article. Not exactly pleased with the tag on the link.

[CharlieBoy]

I don't think this has anything to do with the downgrade. Mexicana is in serious financial trouble. Air Canada (a lessor) just seized two jets for non-payment of fuel bills. Be careful and for sure only buy tickets with a credit (not debit) card.

More info here Mexicana Seeks to Resolve ‘Critical’ Financial Ills - BusinessWeek

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by CharlieBoy

I don't think this has anything to do with the downgrade. Mexicana is in serious financial trouble. Air Canada (a lessor) just seized two jets for non-payment of fuel bills. Be careful and for sure only buy tickets with a credit (not debit) card.

More info here Mexicana Seeks to Resolve ‘Critical’ Financial Ills - BusinessWeek

Ah, well, OK.

Originally Posted by Luv2Dance

Shall I pull quotes from the link? I figured people would see clarification within the article. Not exactly pleased with the tag on the link.

Knock yourself out.

Unfortunately I think this kind of news and the headlines and so forth are going to result in 2 words/ideas getting through: "Mexico" and "danger". But maybe I'm being too pessimistic about it.

[Brent & Kim]

I booked my November flights on American which is part of a co-op operating with Mexicana. I'm not sure American flys into Cancun or not? Oh well, with my American Airlines AA advantgage card, I'm not to worried. Still haven't booked a room.

[Luv2Dance]

Originally Posted by ryberg

Ah, well, OK.

Knock yourself out.

Unfortunately I think this kind of news and the headlines and so forth are going to result in 2 words/ideas getting through: "Mexico" and "danger". But maybe I'm being too pessimistic about it.

Maybe. From what I've seen on news reports as well as the article, they seem to be pretty specific and haven't indicated any danger that I can see.

[CharlieBoy]

Originally Posted by Brent & Kim

I booked my November flights on American which is part of a co-op operating with Mexicana. I'm not sure American flys into Cancun or not? Oh well, with my American Airlines AA advantgage card, I'm not to worried. Still haven't booked a room.

If one of your legs is on a Mexicana flight American will probably just re-ticket you for the same flight but on an American ticket. There shouldn't be a problem but I would give them a call to confirm.

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by Brent & Kim

I booked my November flights on American which is part of a co-op operating with Mexicana. I'm not sure American flys into Cancun or not? Oh well, with my American Airlines AA advantgage card, I'm not to worried. Still haven't booked a room.

American certainly does fly into Cancun.

American was flying into Cancun 3 times a day in the early days after Wilma, when other airlines were making excuses and cutting service and telling their customers it was not possible to do such and sending them elsewhere. We appreciated American for behaving better than that.

[Brent & Kim]

Originally Posted by ryberg

American certainly does fly into Cancun.

American was flying into Cancun 3 times a day in the early days after Wilma, when other airlines were making excuses and cutting service and telling their customers it was not possible to do such and sending them elsewhere. We appreciated American for behaving better than that.

Well this is good to know. I wasn't sure if they reffered the flights to Mexicana as part of the One World program.

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by Brent & Kim

Well this is good to know. I wasn't sure if they reffered the flights to Mexicana as part of the One World program.

Dunno about stuff like that, really, but it can't be all of 'em, because in fact I flew AA into Cancun from Miami with my son just about 6 weeks or so ago. And an alternate possible route was through DFW.

[ProfessorPibil]

Once it gets to seizing jets, bankruptcy must be days, if not hours away.

[mfl*s queen]

Originally Posted by Brent & Kim

I booked my November flights on American which is part of a co-op operating with Mexicana. I'm not sure American flys into Cancun or not? Oh well, with my American Airlines AA advantgage card, I'm not to worried. Still haven't booked a room.

In the past, we have always flown Chicago to Cancun on AA, but when I was checking prices on AA.com, Mexicana came up with a much better, hard to beat price, so I also booked Mexicana thourgh AA.com. Our tickets are for next February, so a lot can happen before then.

[Arnie]

American Airlines Current Travel Notices On AA.com