Mexicana halts ticket sales; Mexico Court intiaties insolvency petition process
Mexicana halted (04-Aug-2010) ticket sales as of 18:00 on 04-Aug-2010, although the carrier maintained it would continue to operate international services as per normal. The decision affects only Companía Mexicana de Aviación (CMA) ticket sales, adding that MexicanaClick and MexicanaLink are independent carriers and will therefore continue to sell and operate domestic services as normal. Mexicana CEO, Manuel Borja Chico, stated the carrier suspended ticket sales after IATA stopped clearing the transactions (Radio Formula, 05-Aug-2010). ARC has (05-Aug-2010) stopped processing the carrier's transactions as a result of the suspension of ticket sales and has reopened processing for credit card refunds. [more - ARC] [more - Mexicana halting ticket sales]
A District Judge of Mexico City published (05-Aug-2010) the admission decree to the Concurso Mercantil petition filed by CMA on 02-Aug-2010, legally initiating the insolvency petition process aimed to restore CMA's viability. The carrier stated: "In order for CMA to continue operations and to protect the company, passengers and its creditors, a series of temporary injunction relief measures have been granted to prevent creditors from exercising their rights over the CMA's outstanding debt obligations. Such measures are subject to negotiations with CMA's creditors and unions." [more - Mexicana District Judge of Mexico City]
Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition (OCCC) stated (05-Aug-2010) it "stands ready to assist (pilots' union) ASPA in defending its members against any opportunistic attack on their collective bargaining agreement" related to Mexicana's bankruptcy protection filing and reports that the airline is seeking to significantly reduce its pilots' salaries. Meanwhile, Flight Attendants Union of Mexican Aviation expressed concerns about its negotiations with the carrier, stating: "There's the possibility of losing our jobs" (Bloomberg, 05-Aug-2010). [more - Oneworld Cockpit Crew Coalition]
OCCC: "Mexicana is a respected international airline and a key member of the oneworld alliance. To safeguard Mexicana's future and protect its employees' livelihoods, we urge management to focus on working together with the unions representing Mexicana's loyal employees ─ including the Asociacion Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores de Mexico (ASPA) ─ to resolve the airline's difficulties. Success cannot be achieved by blaming pilots and other employee groups. The OCCC believes the best solution is one that is collaboratively achieved by the affected parties. The OCCC stands ready to assist ASPA in defending its members against any opportunistic attack on their collective bargaining agreement," Company Statement, 05-Aug-2010.