Mexico still has 'differences' with US on air safety rating, president says

The US and Mexico still have "differences" of opinion regarding Mexico's recovery of a coveted air safety rating, Mexico's president said on Thursday. The US FAA downgraded Mexico to the Category 2 air safety rating more than two years ago, citing safety concerns. The decision means Mexican airlines cannot open new routes to the US. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Mexico on Wednesday, where Mexican officials said the rating change would be discussed, but two sources with knowledge of the matter cautioned that the rating recovery would not coincide with his trip. The US wants to make clear any decision to restore Mexico's safety rating would be based on technical merits, not politics, the sources said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said at a press conference on Thursday that the U.S. was "bargaining" with Mexico over the rating and that a change to cargo flights was another sticking point between the countries. Lopez Obrador wants cargo flights to land at the new Felipe Angeles airport in Mexico City rather than the more centrally located Benito Juarez airport to free up space, but said some US companies are reluctant to move. "Yesterday, we met with the transportation secretary," said Lopez Obrador. "There are differences. But these are important matters, and we must come to an agreement."<br/>