Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will fly commercially to the United States on Tuesday for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. That means the president of the tenth most populous country in the world will hope his flight is not delayed, put any items in overhead and pray for consistent cabin temperatures, all while dreaming of wider legroom. You know, like all of us.
The president, who said the private presidential plane was a trap of the “neoliberal elite,” even had to make a stopover. There are no direct flights from Mexico City to Washington, “López Obrador said last week during his daily press conference.” But we can make connections and arrive in Washington one day before the meeting we have. “
A Foreign Ministry spokesman would not confirm the president’s travel schedule, citing security concerns. But we have more questions than just what flight he is.
We have some insight into how the President flew commercially because this is not the first time he has done it. He did it many times on domestic flights in Mexico.
Videos and news reports show he began his journey at Mexico City’s old airport, surrounded by travelers looking for selfies, surprised to see a president passing by.
He then headed for security and walked towards the gate. CNN could not be sure if he had been tempted to buy unnecessary magnets in tourist shops or buy expensive coffee.
When he had been on a plane in the past, he sat on the coach, chatting with other passengers all the time. The spectacle has become a kind of signature for old politicians.
This week’s flight will be a little different, though – it will be Lopez Obrador’s first international visit since taking office in December 2018. It is unclear how exactly it can turn what, at least domestically, into a fairly standard operating procedure.
In the US, he has to go through customs and immigration, although his diplomatic passport must at least give him access to a faster route. This will create an unusual day at the office for any Customs and Border Protection officer assigned to stamp the passport.
Is this safe?
If you subscribe to the idea that the president is a target, then the answer is no – traveling through several public airports and being stuck on a plane with strangers increases López Obrador’s exposure to potential threats. But he might not agree.
The president has avoided armed guards since taking office, dismissing the security details of the previous president. He instead toured with several aides and escorts that routinely allowed the public direct access to the President.
His office did not publish details of his trip and he often appeared at the airport without prior notice.
But for this trip to the White House, the President has publicly said he will fly on Tuesday.
A simple online search shows there aren’t many flights to choose from, especially during a demand-draining pandemic. Mexican officials can certainly order a series of one-way flights, making the ability to map potential flights more difficult.
But anyone who wants to meet directly with the President can make a reasonable estimate of the flight that will depart from Mexico City.
There is also the risk of collateral damage that could be caused by an attack on the president against the public traveling with him: Earlier this year, a passenger who found López Obrador was on his flight to the Mexican city of Villahermosa who was asked to be released from the plane. In a
the video is widely shared online, the man was heard saying it was not safe for his family to get on a plane.
There is also the fact that the President chose to fly in the middle of a pandemic. The risk of flying infection can be reduced when best health practices are practiced, such as wearing a mask. But López Obrador never wore a mask in public and it was unclear whether he would do it on this trip.
Mask or not, commercial flying is certainly more risky than staying at home or flying privately. And López Obrador does have its own plane. He just chose not to use it.
Wait, he has his own plane !? Why doesn’t he just use it?
Officially, the Mexican government bought the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 to be used as president in 2012. The price of the aircraft is $ 218.7 million.
López Obrador, a leftist who is known for his populist position and strong base among low-income people, has long criticized the plane as a famous example of excess government and vowed never to use it.
Plane has been
for sale for more than a year (asking price: $ 130 million), but López Obrador has struggled to find a buyer. The government keeps it at an airport in Los Angeles, California, and still pays for its maintenance and storage.
López Obrador said earlier this year that he would sell tickets and resign from the plane to the winner. But what, exactly, would the lucky draw winner do with a wide body jet engine passenger plane? He then changed his proposition, saying that he would still sell tickets to cover the cost of the plane but, instead of giving the plane a prize to the winner, would instead give a cash prize of 20 million Mexican pesos to 100 winners, equivalent to around $ 900,000.
Meanwhile, efforts to sell or lease aircraft will continue.
Critics say López Obrador’s unwillingness to use the plane, or other planes from the Mexican Air Force, is a cheap political action designed to attract many Mexican voters who will never be able to buy plane tickets.
Supporters have supported his attitude, saying a plane with a wide leather seat, a double bed and a spacious bathroom with a shower would be meaningless with so many Mexicans struggling with poverty.
No matter which side you fall in, commercial flying is definitely the cheapest option. The Kayak.com search over the weekend for a one-way round trip ticket to Mexico City – Washington, DC, departs Tuesday and returns Thursday, a little over $ 1,100 USD per person.
