Aero Cal Alert

Sirena · Apr-02-2006, 06:31 PM

Hola Amigos,
Just got a call from Jonathan Roldan (Keone on the boards here, and owner of Tailhunter International) in La Paz. All the Aero Cal flights coming and going were cancelled this afternoon. I called the Aero Cal 800 number stateside and they told me it is system wide and will last for the next two days due to "inspections". As we get more info, we will post up. Aero Cal told me they would be calling everyone for re-booking tomorrow?? The good news for our clients down there right now is that the Yellowtail are coming out to play ........

Jill
(Jonathan's fiancee)

ChumBucket · Apr-02-2006, 08:53 PM

Know of someone who got stuck at Mexico City due to a cancelled Aero California flight. They were told that all ticket holders today were on their own, and that the airline was going under. Not sure if this is the case but something is amiss.

pargon · Apr-03-2006, 10:05 AM

As far as we can tell down here, the closure is based on inspections that the Mexican equivalent of the FAA has been doing the last two weeks in Guadalajara, causing many delays and some cancellations. There are many rumours here that there are politics and takeover efforts behind this chain of events, and that Fox has stepped in to rectify the discontinuation of service in the very short run (all sources both official and not are saying tues or wed this week). Whatever game is behind these actions will probably unfold over the next 6 months, but it is my opinion that service will be restored very quickly.

Sirena · Apr-03-2006, 10:47 AM

Hey Dave,
Just got this from Jonathan. (Excerpt from an email this a.m.) Latest word on street as he is hearing it. Either way, it looks like at least service of some sort will be restored soon....
Jill

"....there was never a safety problem. The owner of Aero Cal apparently refused to pay fees to the government over the weekend that were due. So, the government called in a bogus "inspeccion" to force Aero Cal's hand on a Sunday during the busiest time of the year. Also, because Aero Cal's execs back the opposing political party, they had no qualms about doing this. I got this from one of the corporate execs just a few minutes ago who personally called me. This is the equivalent of shutting down the trucks in the U.S. Whole country is affected. It's all over the news here. Have been up for 2 days as you can imagine. E-mails flying in. Phones going off the hook. Trying to get people out've town and others into town. The latest is also that Aero Mex is going to honor the tickets. They were optimistic that things will be righted by later this evening with retractions in the news."

pargon · Apr-03-2006, 12:50 PM

J,
Yep, that's possible as well... or maybe it's something completely different, it's Mexico. But all concerned seem to say that they'll be back on the air shortly, that's the good news. on to the next cluster job.
D

Sirena · Apr-03-2006, 02:24 PM

Aero Mexico via Aero Litoral is honoring the Aero Cal tickets. Waiting to hear details...
We have gotten flights for about 3/4 of the people there now.

Jill

Keone · Apr-08-2006, 10:53 AM

Amigos:

Some developments over the last few days and this morning...

1. Yesterday several independent sources (unrelated to each other) were informed that Aero Cal will be closed but something was going to be happening between the 10th and 12th of April (Monday/Tuesday)

2. This morning, I was informed that Aero Cal has been given the clear for four of their planes to get back up in the sky.

3. It seems that Aero Mexico will have its inaugural flight LA Paz to LA tomorrow 9th April.
They will be flying Wednesday, Thursday and Sundays: Flight 442 leaves Lax 3:35 p.m. & arrives La Paz at 6:40 p.m., return flight No 443 departs La Paz 7:40 p.m. and arrives LAX 8:55 p.m. Aero Cal tickets will be accepted until 15th may with an additional cost of US$150
4. Got an e-mail from an Alaska Exec who nicely took the time to write to me about flyfishing and how much Alaska is trying to fill the gap. He said they're working on it, but it might take about 6 months and it will most likely be done through their partners Horizon Air.

Latest as I hear it....I have people camped at the Aero Cal office, the La Paz Airport and have several phone lines connected to various sources and agents.

To me...still politics and money. Notice our own FAA never said the planes were unsafe. Old, but not unsafe. It was the Mex government that said they were "unsafe." Hmmmmm...Just my bit of speculation. I'd say more, but I've already been threatened with a lawsuit if I didn't shut up...because I live down here...

Jonathan Roldan
Tailhunter International La Paz