NY. Mexicana de Aviación was sued yesterday for at least $841 million by a Texas company that accused the new Mexican state airline of several breaches of contract.
According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan, the Mexican government last year hired the company SAT Aero Holdings to provide a series of services to Mexicana, including obtaining aircraft and the corresponding insurance, and contracting and training of pilots and crew members.
However, according to Aero Holdings, Mexicana breached its obligations almost from the beginning by failing to pay a $5.5 million deposit for the aircraft lease, refusing to sign documents, hiring its pilots and crews outside the agreed process, and failing to obtain the necessary licenses to import and operate the aircraft.
Los Mexicana’s material breaches and its unwillingness to work with Aero Holdings to resolve the problems caused
they didn’t let another option
to sue, the complaint states.
The Ministry of National Defense, which operates Mexicana, responded that it did not have any information about the case.
SAT Aero Holdings, a company based in San Antonio, claims 838.5 million dollars, which represents the complete total
of the contract, plus expenses pocket-size
, which so far exceeds 2.4 million dollars. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador launched Mexicana last year, resurrecting the brand of a bankrupt airline.
The government has presented Mexicana as a less expensive alternative for travelers. However, at first Mexicana had difficulties acquiring aircraft and began operating with three Boeing aircraft from the Army and two leased Embraers.
In March, López Obrador assured that Mexicana would buy 20 planes before October.
Aero Holdings said it agreed with Mexicana that contractual disputes could be addressed in New York courts.