Two more Mexico City airport contracts face legal challenges

Two groups have filed separate lawsuits against the awarding of two contracts related to the construction of the new 250bn-peso (US$12.3bn) international airport for Mexico City.

The contracts were both awarded to groups led by Mexican-US joint venture ICA Fluor, local paper Reforma reported.

One of the suits was filed by Spanish company Elecnor against the contract awarded in April for the construction of two central utility plants that will house the airport's control and supply systems for lighting, AC and ventilation, natural gas and fire alarms.

Although an administrative judge agreed to review the legality of the award, he refused to suspend the contract, according to the report.

Elecnor's bid was lower than the one posted by ICA Fluor and local firm Industria del Hierro, but was dismissed because it failed to meet some of the requirements, according to the evaluation conducted by future airport operator GACM.

The second measure was filed by the LF del Centro electricians' cooperative against the awarding of the contract to build the 23kW medium voltage distribution network that will supply power to the airport.

That legal action is in the process of being reviewed by an administration judge, who also refused to issue a temporary halt to the contract.

The two contracts have a total value oif some 9bn pesos, according to the report. ICA Fluor is a subsidiary of local group Empresas ICA, which has experienced financial problems over the past few years and emerged from insolvency in March, and Fluor Daniel of the US.

Portuguese firm Mota-Engil previously filed a claim before the country's anti-graft ministry over the voiding of a tender for construction of the airport's intermodal ground transport center (CITT).