Travelers from both sides of the border who use Tijuana's International Airport may have a tougher time flying out as airlines cut services. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.
A significant number of flights out of Tijuana's International Airport have been cancelled due to high oil prices.
Enrique Valle directs Tijuana's Airport. He says the sky rocketing price of fuel has meant airline's operating costs have shot up.
Enrique Valle:
And its also increased the price for the tickets. So that's why the airlines are trying to reconvert their strategies in order to reduce their costs.
Valle approximates 90 flights used to depart from Tijuana everyday. He says that's down to about 60.
Valle says one airline that's been particularly hard hit is Aviasca. He says its fleet is old and consumes 50-percent more fuel that new planes. Valles says that means Avisaca has had to cut ten daily flights out of Tijuana down to one.
Industry studies say fuel represents about 40-percent of airline's expenses. And a 3-percent daily rise in oil prices is enough to wipe out one year's profit.
About 60-percent of travelers at Tijuana's airport are from the United States.
Amy Isackson, KPBS news.
