Strike Thins Aeromexico’s Passenger Load

A dispute between Aerovias de Mexico and its flight attendants cut deeply into the seat occupancy rate of Mexico’s largest carrier. The occupancy rate during the last two days on the airline known as Aeromexico fell to 53% from an average 62% in June 1997, said Juan Jose Domene, a government official who is temporarily running the airline. Domene was appointed this week after the government assumed management control of Aeromexico to ensure that a strike by the flight attendants union would not disrupt operations. The flight attendants went on strike at midnight Sunday after failing to reach agreement with company officials on benefits, wages and crew sizes. Aeromexico is a unit of Cintra.