Flights cranked by AICM called off due to rain for second time within a week
Mexico City International Airport (AICM) has been hit hard by heavy rain, causing significant delays and cancellations for numerous airlines. AeroMéxico alone canceled 76 flights and suffered 79 delays, while its subsidiary Connect added nine cancellations and 20 delays, affecting thousands of travelers and disrupting routes to the US, Europe, and Latin America [1]. Other major airlines such as United, Air France, Delta, and VivaAerobus also faced cancellations and delays, further stranding passengers at the airport [1].
The ongoing inclement conditions have caused widespread travel disruptions for passengers flying to and from Mexico City. Flight tracking data for certain VivaAerobus routes on August 22 indicate ongoing operational adjustments but do not specify cancelations or delays in detail [2][4].
Passengers currently at AICM are advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates and possible rebooking options, as the severe weather continues to impact normal flight operations [1]. AeroMéxico issued a statement on social media, urging authorities to ensure airport infrastructure and implement preventive measures [1].
On Monday, thousands of passengers were left stranded at the airport, waiting in long lines for more than 20 hours [5]. The National Water Commission (Conagua) warned of heavy rains in the Valley of Mexico for the rest of the week [6]. The Naval Ministry reported that 16 flights were diverted, three were canceled, and 120 were delayed, affecting 19,500 passengers [7].
According to El Financiero, nearly 15,000 passengers were affected by the collapse of operations at Mexico City's airport [8]. The National Meteorological Service (SMN) forecast suggested Mexico City could see a cumulative 50 mm (2 inches) of rain on Monday and Tuesday, but heavier rains are expected on Wednesday and Thursday [9]. Mexico City authorities issued an Orange Alert in certain sections of the capital on Tuesday, warning of floods and dangerous puddling on roadways [10].
Of the 46 affected flights, 41 were AeroMéxico Airlines flights and three were AeroMéxico Connect [3]. Flight-tracking portal FlightAware recorded 29 cancellations and 17 delayed flights [11]. One runway at AICM has been reopened, but additional delays are expected [1]. Conditions for air travel are not expected to get any easier due to ongoing heavy rains.
Reports were obtained from La Jornada, Expansión, Proceso, and Milenio [12].
References: 1. ABC News 2. FlightAware 3. Aeromexico 4. VivaAerobus 5. El Financiero 6. Conagua 7. El Universal 8. El Financiero 9. SMN 10. El Financiero 11. FlightAware 12. La Jornada, Expansión, Proceso, Milenio
The severe weather and heavy rain in Mexico City have disrupted many travel itineraries, leading to numerous cancellations and delays for airlines such as AeroMéxico, United, Air France, Delta, VivaAerobus, and more [1,3,5,7,11]. In light of this, passengers are advised to follow weather forecasting developments and check directly with their airlines for updates and possible rebooking options [1].
