Global Courant
For several weeks, a series of deficiencies have been reported at La Aurora International Airport (Aila), mainly in the passenger terminal, which is a source of inconvenience for departing or incoming travelers, and a source of concern for representatives airlines and the tourism sector.
For example, there are constant power outages, air conditioning failures, escalators that don’t work, problems with the drinking water supply, and dirty sanitary services.
All this, in view of nationals and foreigners, who express their complaints, without real solutions being seen by the authorities of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) in charge of that infrastructure.
Prensa Libre consulted the presidential candidates who lead the voting intentions according to the Free Survey 2023 (with the exception of Carlos Pineda), who are aware of this situation and, a few days before the general elections to choose who will take the reins of the country in January 2024, they were asked the following:
What do you propose to solve the problems at La Aurora International Airport? What are the most immediate actions needed? What decisions would you make right now if you were the president of this country? Below is a summary of the responses by Sandra Torres (UNE), Edmond Mulet (Cabal), Zury Ríos (Valor-Unionista) and Amílcar Rivera (Victoria). The Vamos party candidate, Manuel Conde, did not respond to requests for information.
Sandra Torres, UNE
Sandra Torres, presidential candidate of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) assures that Guatemala is lagging behind with capacity and service in Aila; As far as cargo is concerned, it is reaching its maximum capacity, so it is necessary to carry out expansions in the operation because there will be problems in the future, if it is not decided now.
Regarding the aircraft and the passenger terminal, it is necessary to carry out works on the runway and infrastructure, so the Public-Private Partnerships Law (PPP) must be reinforced, building together with the private sector the necessary expansions and remodeling to have an airport first level, with greater security, greater load capacity and better services for users.
With this project, more than 4,500 jobs are generated during its construction and 1,500 for operation, and an investment of US$160 million would be necessary. “The studies have already been carried out, the financing is available, it is a matter of political will to make this a reality.”
Regarding immediate actions, it suggests greater efficiency in the cost of operation and maintenance of escalators, elevators, air conditioning and electrical fluid. “All of this as a whole has a direct and indirect impact on operations, they are key points that we would give priority to while promoting the PPP project.”
Finally, it proposes as immediate actions, to generate a short-term strategic work plan to solve these deficiencies, and to generate an APP with a view to a modernization, efficiency and security project for Aila, which generates employment, development and competitiveness.
For several weeks, a series of deficiencies have been reported at the La Aurora International Airport, mainly in the passenger terminal. (Free Press Photo: PL Newspaper Library)
Edmont Mulet, Cabal
Edmond Mulet, candidate of the Cabal party, exposed that the Aila can no longer continue under the DGAC, a dependency attached to the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (CIV). “The rules that govern this portfolio are not compatible with the management of a commercial airport operation.”
He exemplified that if the National Institute of Electrification (Inde) were a dependency of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), it would have enormous difficulties to collect rates, open bank accounts, operate plant maintenance, etc.
“It is necessary to separate the functions, on the one hand, of Civil Aeronautics as a regulator (similar to the National Electric Power Commission) and on the other hand, the company with its own assets or National Airport Company, with rules and mechanisms to manage rates, commercially exploit and provide logistics services with transparent subcontracts and leases. This airport company could make a PPP for the La Aurora or Mundo Maya airport in Petén, and could efficiently and quickly manage the passenger and cargo airport.”
In his opinion, the regulation of flights should be separated from the company that manages the service, creating a national airport company with a modern institutional design to subcontract, manage, collect and agility in operations, owner of the La Aurora airport and others.
Regarding the immediate actions to be implemented, he is emphatic in “removing the director of the DGAC and appointing a new person to execute a comprehensive maintenance plan with transparency. And hire a complete new logistical, financial and operational team, accompanied by international cooperation and with follow-up from the Presidency to prepare transparent tenders for the provision of integrated services”.
In addition, with detailed information from the National Agency for Alliances for the Development of Economic Infrastructure (Anadie), draw up a complete “turnkey” contract for the maintenance and management of airport facilities, with very strict performance indicators and a paid service.
The presidential candidates propose substantial changes in the current management of La Aurora International Airport. (Free Press Photo: PL Newspaper Library)
Zury Ríos, Valor-Unionist
Zury Ríos, from the Valor-Unionista coalition, indicates that the airport does not have the necessary conditions to receive larger cargo and passenger planes, the runway is not adequate and they are constantly resurfacing it, so the facilities are not adequate for a first world airport
“In the medium and long term, the problems would ideally be solved by building a new airport in a better location with international parameters so that it becomes a hub for air transport.”
In the short term, he points out that the problem is administrative and a lack of management on the part of the authorities, who do not have an annual maintenance plan with continuous actions that justify the execution of their budget in maintenance contracts for the track, stairs electrical, elevators, conveyor belts, air conditioning, electrical and water backup systems.
Regarding immediate actions, it proposes contracting technical services in accordance with the State Contracting Law, with companies specialized in each of the identified problems, for which the budget assigned to the DGAC must be used and if it is not enough , the CIV should make budgetary transfers because it is a matter of national interest.
Regarding the decisions to improve the current conditions, he says that he would sign a cooperation agreement with the private sector so that they, as an interested party, support solving administrative maintenance problems in the shortest time to raise the image of Guatemala; I would request non-reimbursable technical and financial support from international financial and air transport organizations, to carry out the immediate recovery of Aila’s administrative maintenance problems.
In addition, it would start the bidding process for maintenance services for five years, so that these problems do not reappear and finally it would declare the recovery of Aila of national strategic interest.
The expansion and modernization of the La Aurora International Airport is one of the bets of the candidates for the presidency. (Free Press Photo: PL Newspaper Library)
Amilcar Rivera, Victoria
Amílcar Rivera, from the Victoria party, points out that the first action is to name a person of integrity and capacity at the head of the DGAC. Then, start with a remodeling, maintenance and modernization appropriate to the international standards of the facilities, so that it is a worthy entrance for the entire tourism and national sector.
“Aila is already too small for the country’s needs, so it has to be fixed, modernized and we are going to start the construction of a new airport because it is urgent, so studies will need to be done.”
Remember that a few decades ago, the Guatemala airport was the leading facility in Central America, and that leadership was won by El Salvador, so that hub position must be recovered, but that will be with a new airport, “which we do not plan to do by APP but with public funds so that it belongs to the State and we want to show that the central government can manage when it is done with integrity”.
He insists that own funds would be used to finance maintenance and modernization because Aila has private funds, but they have been mismanaged. “In the first 18 months maintenance would have to be done and in the last year a new international airport would be inaugurating.”
He added that the current director of Civil Aeronautics “has already demonstrated his great incapacity because the problems that exist are not from now, but rather from a long time ago, so a person of integrity must make Aila work. And once we reach the government, the director will be removed and a person with integrity and capacity will be appointed who can recover the airport.
In his opinion, the current director has not even been able to keep the airport toilets clean “and that is embarrassing. I do not know what the interests of the president (Alejandro Giammattei) are because he does not dismiss that director ”.
Regarding the most immediate actions to be implemented, he mentions the maintenance, remodeling and adequate modernization of the airport.
