MOVE THE CUSTOMS OPERATION FROM AICM TO AIFA
BENEFIT OR OBSTACLE?
For MDI Trade Solutions & e-SIIEX, our Customs Agency, it is important to be able to write about these topics, since they are of vital interest to the entire Foreign Trade and Customs community. Therefore, we invite you to join this discussion and share your opinion with us. Tell us what you think about moving the customs operation to AIFA.
The context of moving the customs operation from AICM to AIFA
For several years now, Customs at the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) has been experiencing saturation problems, which, among other things, causes delays in some operations. This is why the transfer of some of the cargo operations carried out at the AICM to the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) was recently announced, in approximately 90 days, as part of the strategy to deal with said “congestion” in the customs operation.
As data, in 2021 the AICM Customs had an operation of 472,400.7 tons of Transported Cargo (Source of the SCT), positioning it as one of the most important at the national level. This case is the perfect example to explain why it has been thought that reducing the number of operations carried out at the AIMC and transferring them to the AIFA can speed up the processes, in addition to granting more activities to this airport.
Move the customs operation from AICM to AIFA,
Is it really the best strategy?
The current head of the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), Horacio Duarte, has assured that the AIFA is ready to receive the traffic of foreign trade operations, indicating that it has a development capacity of more than 3 million tons per year as a cargo terminal. However, the AIFA still does not have the necessary infrastructure to achieve this goal.
It should be noted that, despite the fact that it has already been inaugurated and it has been said that it is ready to begin customs operations, the reality is that carrying out a clearance through this customs office would imply even more work, time and, of course, increased costs for operations that are currently carries out the AICM.
An example: if you wanted to dispatch alcoholic beverages, it would not be possible to take them through the AIFA Customs, since, as we already know, not all customs can import certain products —as established in Annex 21 of the RGCE— , then, how would the clearance be done if the goods arrive at the AIFA?
One option would be to make a land transit, that is, that the merchandise arrives at the AIFA Customs and is forwarded to the AICM to carry out its clearance there. This is a solution, but there would be an extra freight cost, who would end up paying for it? The transport company or the final importer? If in theory this "strategy" is to benefit the streamlining of processes, in fact it seems that it will not be so.
One option would be to make a land transit, that is, that the merchandise arrives at the AIFA Customs and is forwarded to the AICM to carry out its clearance there. This is a solution, but there would be an extra freight cost, who would end up paying for it? The transport company or the final importer? If in theory this "strategy" is to benefit the streamlining of processes, in fact it seems that it will not be so.
How are the industry and its representatives reacting?
Some air freight companies — Lufthansa among them — argue that this strategy of the Federal Government is neither sustainable nor ecological. Another argument is that, from their point of view, they would have to have one more warehouse, which would increase costs for the same movement of goods. This, without a doubt, is inefficient if what you want to achieve is to provide a benefit.
Both the Latin American Confederation of Customs Agents (CLAA) and the Mexican Association of Cargo Agents (AMACARGA), are asking the authority that the AIFA has the necessary technology to review the merchandise in an agile way. A faster flow of goods through a "direct dispatch" has been proposed, and in this way achieve greater competitiveness.
Having technological tools for the dispatch of goods would make the dispatch faster, more legible and the information more accessible. It is intended that the first step be the prior transmission of data in accordance with the regulations, so that customs can subsequently be notified, who, using this information, can issue a prior notification indicating whether the merchandise had to pass or not by customs recognition, even before you get off the plane.
The foregoing would reduce costs, since less personnel would be used, in addition to the fact that there would be a decrease in the intervention of the parties involved in various processes. The idea is to avoid more operating expenses by shortening times, since we know how expensive air freight is.
From our point of view, we consider that the Customs Authority, before imposing such a radical change, must carry out the following actions:
- Put into practice the regulatory changes, so that the dispatches, through the AIFA, are legal and that the merchandise can be imported without bureaucratic obstacles.
- Design and publicize the authorized fiscal routes, in case there is a need to dispatch the merchandise at the AICM Customs or at any other Customs.
- Complete the AIFA Customs infrastructure, so that it can receive the goods.
- Having technological tools for the clearance of goods would make it faster.
- Authorize the necessary customs patents for AIFA Customs.
- Let the market, and specifically individuals, decide which is the best customs office through which they wish to carry out their operations, without any type of imposition.
Despite the arguments that are given for or against, the reality is that the advantages and disadvantages will be noted in the cost of operations; however, it is important to point out that the advantages and disadvantages will be noticed in one of the most relevant points: the cost of operations. For this reason, it becomes necessary and prudent to carry out an eminently economic analysis of the pros and cons of carrying out your operation in the AICM or the AIFA.
At the moment, some commercial airlines have announced new routes in other airports (not in the AICM), so we can see that several companies are beginning to face the next change announced by the authorities.
What do you think?
Send us your comments!
And if you have doubts about how it will affect your operation or if you have operations in the AICM, contact us! At MDI Trade Solutions, we are here to help you!
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