Aerolínea del Estado Mexicano

Mexicana de Aviación (legally Aerolínea del Estado Mexicano, S.A. de C.V.)[3] is a Mexican state owned airline established on 15 June 2023. It operates under the historical commercial name Mexicana de Aviación after the government acquired the former airline's brands and assets on 9 August 2023.

Mexicana de Aviación
IATA ICAO Call sign
XN MXA MEXICANA
Founded15 June 2023; 18 months ago (2023-06-15)[1]
Commenced operations26 December 2023; 11 months ago (2023-12-26)[2]
HubsFelipe Ángeles International Airport
Fleet size3
Destinations19
Parent companySEDENA
HeadquartersEx hacienda de Santa Lucía, Zumpango, Mexico
Key peopleSergio Montaño Méndez (General Director)
Websitewww.mexicana.gob.mx

The airline is managed by the Secretariat of National Defense and its headquarters is at Felipe Ángeles International Airport.

History

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On 18 May 2023,[4] the Official Journal of the Federation[5] listed the creation of the company Aerolínea del Estado Mexicano, S.A. de C.V, that will "promote, operate and provide the public service of national and international regular air transport of passengers, cargo, mail or a combination of these, on its own account or through public or private persons.”[6]

In August 2023, deals were finalized by the Mexican government, which introduced the airline during a press conference. After briefly launching ticket pre-sales in September, the airline planned to begin operations in December 2023.[7][8][9]

In October 2023, the airline was granted an Assignment Title by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency.[10][11]

The first aircraft was delivered on 17 December 2023, registered as "XA-ASM".[12] It made its maiden test flight from Santa Lucia to Tijuana.[13]

The inaugural flight was on 26 December 2023 from Felipe Ángeles International Airport to Tulum International Airport; though, the flight briefly diverted to Mérida due to weather before finally landing in Tulum.[1][14]

Operations

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A Mexicana Boeing 737-800 landing in Tijuana International Airport during a test flight in December 2023.
 
Mexicana's two Boeing 737-800 aircraft taxiing at Felipe Ángeles International Airport.

The airline intended to start operations on 1 December 2023, with a planned fleet of 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. However, it did not receive a valid air operator's certificate at the time and delivery was postponed.[15][16] The airline used an Embraer 145 aircraft for certification, wet leased from TAR Aerolíneas, and was registered as "XA-VGQ".[17][18] The airline initially reduced its destination count from 20 to 9.[19][20] The fleet was planned to consist of two Boeing 737-800 and one 737-300, all inherited from the Mexican Air Force.[12]

In March 2024, the airline announced plans to purchase 10 Embraer aircraft after Boeing's deal fell through, and deliveries were expected after 2025. It was suggested that they would operate the Embraer E175 and Embraer E195-E2 planes.[21][22] In June 2024, it was confirmed that Mexicana has ordered 20 Embraer E2 aircraft, consisting of 10 E190-E2 and 10 E195-E2 jets.[23]

Select flights are operated in partnership with TAR, using two of its 50-seated Embraer 145 planes.[1][24][25][26]

Lawsuit

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In March 2024, the airline was sued by Texas-based SAT Aero Holdings, seeking up to $841 million in damages due to issues such as failing to pay $5.5 million for aircraft leasing, contract breaching, and failure to obtain licenses for importing aircraft. SAT was recruited to provide services to the airline. A complaint was filed in Manhattan, and the Mexican military defense did not have any information regarding the case.[27][28][29]

Destinations

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As of October 2024, Mexicana de Aviación flies to a total of 19 domestic destinations, including 9 operated by TAR.[26][30]

City Airport Notes Refs
Acapulco Acapulco International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [26]
Campeche Campeche International Airport [31]
Chetumal Chetumal International Airport [26]
Ciudad Victoria Ciudad Victoria International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [32]
Guadalajara Guadalajara International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [26]
Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [33]
Ixtepec Ixtepec Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [34]
Mazatlán Mazatlán International Airport [35]
Mérida Mérida International Airport [26]
Mexico City Felipe Ángeles International Airport Hub [2]
Monterrey Monterrey International Airport [26]
Nuevo Laredo Nuevo Laredo International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [34]
Palenque Palenque International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [26]
Puerto Vallarta Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport [36]
San José del Cabo Los Cabos International Airport [37]
Tijuana Tijuana International Airport [38]
Tulum Tulum International Airport [2]
Uruapan Uruapan International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [39]
Villahermosa Villahermosa International Airport Operated by TAR Aerolíneas [26]

Fleet

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As of October 2024, Mexicana de Aviación operates the following aircraft:[40]

Mexicana fleet
Aircraft In
service
Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-800 3 180[9]
Embraer E190-E2 10 108 Deliveries begin Q2 2025.[41]
Embraer E195-E2 10 132
Total 3 20

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Nueva Mexicana de Aviación, operada por el Ejército, arranca con un vuelo a Tulum". aldiadallas (in Spanish). The Dallas Morning News. 25 December 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Johnson, Kimberly (27 December 2023). "Mexican Army-Run Airline Makes First Flight to Resort Town". Flying Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Nace la Aerolínea del Estado Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. bajo el resguardo de Sedena". sdpnoticias. 18 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  4. ^ México, Juan Luis Ramos | El Sol de. "Nace aerolínea del Estado mexicano; estará bajo control de la Sedena". El Sol del Centro | Noticias Locales, Policiacas, sobre México, Aguascalientes y el Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ^ "DOF - Diario Oficial de la Federación". Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Ya es oficial la nueva aerolínea comercial del Ejército, también podrá ofrecer servicio de carga". infobae (in European Spanish). 18 May 2023. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  7. ^ "¿What will be the routes and planes that the new Mexicana de Aviación will operate?". Transponder1200 (in Spanish). July 2022. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Government of Mexico unveils its new airline Mexicana de Aviación announcing Tulum as secondary base". Riviera Maya News. Riviera Maya News. 11 August 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b Soto, Héctor (10 August 2023). "Introducing Mexicana de Aviación: Mexico's New Airline". Mexico Business News. Mexico Business. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación, la aerolínea que operará la Sedena, recibe título de asignación". Yahoo! Noticas (in Spanish). Yahoo. 7 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación Prepares for Liftoff with Assignment Title". Mexicanist. Mexicanist. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  12. ^ a b Meier, Ricardo (18 December 2023). "Mexicana de Aviación's first Boeing 737-800 emerges days before the start of revenue flights". Air Data News. Air Data News. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación inicia vuelos para obtener certificación". Expansión (in Spanish). Expansión. 18 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  14. ^ "The first official Mexicana de Aviación flight to Tulum ends up landing in Mérida". The Yucutan Times. The Yucatan Times. 26 December 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  15. ^ Soto, Héctor (1 November 2023). "Boeing Delays Aircraft Delivery to Mexicana de Aviación". Mexico Business News. Mexico Business. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  16. ^ Miriam, Paredes (26 October 2023). "Aerolíneas piden "piso parejo" con nueva Mexicana de Aviación" (in Spanish). Excélsior. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  17. ^ "La 4T se alista para conquistar los cielos: Ya está listo el primer avión de Mexicana de Aviación, será usado para obtener certificado de servicios aéreos (FOTOS)". Los Reporteros Mx (in Spanish). Los Reporteros Mx. 9 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  18. ^ Paredes, Miriam (10 November 2023). "Mexicana inicia con Embraer, no con Boeing; arrienda aviones a TAR". Excelsior. Imagen Digital. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  19. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación, a punto de despegar: Inicia la venta de boletos a 9 destinos". Yahoo! Noticas (in Spanish). Yahoo. 14 November 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  20. ^ Garmendia, Ximena (17 November 2023). "La nueva Mexicana: un avión y una ruta". sdpnoticias (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  21. ^ Woerner, Lukas (4 March 2024). "New Airline Mexicana Ditches Boeing for Faster Launch, Switches to Embraer". AeroXplorer. AeroXplorer. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  22. ^ Ferreira, Carlos (1 March 2024). "Adeus Boeing: Mexicana de Aviación encomenda dez jatos brasileiros Embraer E175 e E195-E2". Aeroin (in Portuguese). Aeroin. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación Orders 20 Embraer E2 Aircraft". Embraer. 3 June 2024.
  24. ^ Lerma, Reneé (18 December 2023). "Mexicana de Aviación Conducts Test Flights for AOC Approval". Mexico Business News. Mexico Business. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  25. ^ Carrillo, Emmanuel (25 December 2023). "Las otras 'alas' de Mexicana: Esta aerolínea estará detrás de sus operaciones regionales". Radio Fórmula. Grupo Fórmula. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mexicana begins ticket sales; TAR will operate 6 destinations". El Financiero (in Spanish). 22 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  27. ^ Stempel, Jonathan; Madry, Kylie (27 March 2024). "Mexico's state-owned airline faces $841 million lawsuit in contract dispute". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Conflicto en el aire: millonaria demanda en EU contra Mexicana de Aviación". Proceso (in Spanish). Comunicación e Información S.A. de C.V. 27 March 2024. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  29. ^ Dolmetsch, Chris (27 March 2024). "Mexico's New State Airline Sued in $800 Million Contract Dispute (subscription required)". Bloomerg. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Hay 14 mil reservaciones". sinembargo.mx (in Spanish). 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  31. ^ Jairo Magaña (28 December 2023). "Vuelo de Mexicana de Aviación llega a Campeche". Lajornadamaya.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación inaugura vuelo a Ciudad Victoria con Embraer 145". Transponder1200.com (in Spanish). 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación aterriza en Zihuatanejo desde el AIFA". Elsoldeacapulco.com.mx (in Spanish). 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  34. ^ a b "Mexicana de Aviación estrenará 3 rutas en febrero ¿cuáles son?". Nacion321.com (in Spanish). 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  35. ^ Joel Jiménez (27 December 2023). "Con más de una hora de retraso, llega a Mazatlán el primer vuelo de Mexicana de Aviación". Losnoticieristas.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  36. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación Resumes Flights to Puerto Vallarta, Expanding Air Travel Options". Vallartadaily.com. 29 December 2023. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  37. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación returns to Los Cabos!". Tribuna de México (in Spanish). March 2024. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  38. ^ "Aterrizó primer vuelo de Mexicana de Aviación en Tijuana". Lajornadamaya.mx (in Spanish). 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  39. ^ "Llega a Uruapan primer vuelo de Mexicana procedente de CDMX". mimorelia.com (in Spanish). 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  40. ^ "Mexicana Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  41. ^ "Mexicana de Aviación adquiere 20 aviones EMBRAER E2" (PDF). Mexicana (Press release). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
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