City Council Backs Mexican Airline

By Keith Benman, The Times, Munster, Ind.

Apr. 23–The Hammond City Council has adopted a resolution supporting the Gary/Chicago International Airport’s effort to land VivaAerobus, an airline that plans to fly daily between Gary and Monterey, Mexico.

The resolution, sponsored by Councilman Homero Hinojosa, D-6, and approved last week, also urges Indiana’s two U.S. senators and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., to support the effort.

VivaAerobus applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation in March to start direct flights from Mexico to Gary and two other U.S. cities. The airport must build a Customs and Border Protection facility if it wants VivaAerobus to land there.

The airport is seeking the backing of the region’s congressional delegation in landing Customs and Border Protection approval for a facility. It also may ask the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority for funding to build the facility.

“VivaAerobus and this resolution shows we are not just here to serve Gary, but to benefit the entire region,” said Gary airport director Chris Curry.

The Hammond council resolution states there is a need for regularly scheduled airline service between this area and Mexico because so many region residents have family there.

It also cites the fact the last daily flights to Mexico from Midway ended when ATA Airlines went out of business earlier this month.

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