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What's Up With Aero California?

Monday April 3rd we all woke up to what we thought would be just another day in Paradise. Spring was in full bloom as the weather was heating up nicely and the Sea of Cortez was preparing us for another season of some of the best water sports in the world.

Tourist providers where busy arranging once in a life time adventures for people from all over the world. Restaurants were remolding while new restaurants where opening. The Malecon was being perfectly prepared and extended to reach a new length of 4 kilometer. Yes, life was good here in La Paz and we were looking forward to another great year.

Walking into the office around 8 in the morning the phone was already ringing, ah yes, more people interested in booking a trip. The first conversation was very short and as the secretary hung up the phone it was easy to see something not to good was up. Word was spreading fast of Aero California's grounding for what we were told were safety issues.

Now, to most, this would not seem to be such a big issue as you may be used to LAX where it seems like there must be two or three hundred different airlines flying in and out like clock work. One stops flying, get on another and go. On the contrary for us here in La Paz. Aero California is a low cost airline "based" here in La Paz with approximately 3,500 La Paz residents employed and of those approximately 550 couples work for the airline. Not only were "all" employees put on "unpaid" leave but Aero California also provided between 80/90% of all flights coming to La Paz from the US.

By noon on Monday the airport was full of ticket holders looking for a way home. The options were few. You could take a bus to San Jose and pay 3 to 4 times the amount you had originally paid Air-Cal for a round trip or you could take a bus to Tijuana and make your way back over the border. That was it for most.

Now the months have passed, we are approaching the 3 month mark as I write this and the devastation to La Paz is growing each day. Remember above where I mentioned 550 couples worked for Air-Cal? That equals 550 households with "no" income. Presently the working people are loosing their homes, cars and the such with no way to pay. The newly remodeled restaurants are filled with silence instead of people. The perfectly prepared Malecon is almost empty. Tourist providers sit all day waiting for the phone to ring. Whole sportfishing fleets sit idle while the Captains and deckhands wonder how their going to make rent while all of us constantly have one ear focused on hearing a jet take off.

With all this said what is most alarming to most is not only the lack of information we receive but the inaccuracies of the little we do get. First it was a safety issue then it was a political issue then it was a business issue and on and on as the days pass. Each day brings a new rumor or promise of when they will be flying again and all this time the working man gets deeper and deeper into debt.

The general consensus's I get is that most would like to see Aero Cal fly again but more importantly the people feel let down by the Government that is supposed to help them. It would seem, if this was important to them they would resolve this issue by either helping Aero Cal to fly again or lobby for new airline companies to take over the routes Aero Cal now has. It's obvious that La Paz and its people need help in resolving this issue as without a good viable airline servicing La Paz, the growth will stall and cause hard times for all that live here.

All we can do now is wait for those in power to finish playing their game and keep that one ear pointed towards the sky.

Russ Schnieber
6/01/2006

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