Flight delay: Will Mexico’s lower FAA rating hurt tourism?

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Mexico’s civil aviation agency’s safety rating at a time when the Mexican tourism industry is hoping to rebound by taking advantage of pent-up demand.

As many newly vaccinated Americans make vacation plans after a year of staying home, Mexico remains one of the most popular international destinations — and the country’s beleaguered tourism industry is ready for the much-needed boost. About 10.5 million tourists from the United States visit Mexico in a typical year, and tourism accounts for 8.7 percent of Mexico’s economy, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. After the coronavirus pandemic took a major bite out of tourism revenue in 2020, Mexico is eager to welcome visitors again. But the skies between Mexico and the US could be a little quieter than anticipated in the coming months after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month downgraded Mexico’s aviation safety rating from category one to category two.