On the morning of yesterday, Monday (30), the Acapulco International Airport (ACA), Mexico, reopened for operations after suffering flooding due to the passing of Hurricane John. However, no airline has yet landed at the airport witch scheduled flights.
In a statement published on its official Twitter account, the administration of Acapulco airport expressed that “after intense days of cleaning and maintenance work, Acapulco airport is ready to operate commercial flights following the reopening of its facilities.”
Subsequently, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) indicated that humanitarian and official flights would first be received in support of the affected population, clarifying that the resumption of commercial flights would not occur yet.
But on the morning of this Tuesday, the airport confirmed that airlines will begin to operate regularly from today.
Viva Aerobus had announced yesterday that it had scheduled three special flights for this Tuesday, transporting humanitarian aid and stranded passengers.
“With the support of our crew and a great team working both on board and on the ground, Viva shows solidarity with the people of Guerrero, Acapulco, and its surrounding areas, connecting them with the hope and humanitarian aid that all Mexicans are ready to offer,” said Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of Viva Aerobus.
Volaris also announced the scheduling of a flight from Mexico City and another from Tijuana.
Second hurricane in less than a year and a slow recovery
This is the second blow Acapulco has suffered in less than a year. In October 2023, Hurricane Otis caused severe damage in Guerrero, also affecting the city’s airport. Although Hurricane John was less intense, it again flooded the city and the airport, impacting air operations and the region’s tourism.
An image that remained etched after John’s passage was that of a Boeing 737-800 from Aeroméxico stranded on a taxiway at the airport, showing the seriousness of the situation.
According to the platform Cirium, Acapulco airport is far from recovering its flight levels. For October 2024, 47.5% fewer flights have been scheduled compared to the same period in 2023. As of today, Aeroméxico, Viva Aerobus, United, and Volaris are the airlines connecting Acapulco with Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana, and Houston, respectively. However, the number of flights has decreased to 88 weekly, compared to the 162 that operated in 2023.
