Aeroméxico
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| AeroMéxico | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| IATA AM |
ICAO AMX |
Callsign AEROMEXICO |
| Founded | 1934 (as Aeronaves de México) | |
| Hubs | ||
| Focus cities | ||
| Member lounge | Salón Premier | |
| Alliance | SkyTeam | |
| Fleet size | 64 + 16 orders (Does not include Aeroméxico Connect) | |
| Destinations | 52 (Does not include Aeroméxico Connect) | |
| Parent company | Grupo Financiero Banamex | |
| Company slogan | Vamos por el mundo | |
| Headquarters | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Key people | Andrés Conesa Labastida (CEO) | |
| Website: http://www.aeromexico.com | ||
Aerovías de México, S.A. de C.V., operating as AeroMéxico, is an airline based in Mexico City, Mexico. It is the largest airline in Mexico. It operates scheduled domestic services and international services to Asia, Europe, Central America, South America and USA. Its main base is Mexico City International Airport, with secondary hubs at General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, Monterrey and General Ignacio Pesqueira Garcia International Airport in Hermosillo.[1] AeroMéxico is the only Latin American airline that flies to Asia, and the only airline in Mexico with scheduled services to Europe. Aeromexico was one of the founding members of Sky Team.
The airline together with its feeder Aeroméxico Connect holds the 24.8% of the domestic market share, becoming the Mexican airline with the highest participation on the market. Internationally, Aeroméxico holds the 12.8% of the global market share becoming the second Mexican airline after Mexicana. Aeroméxico and Aeroméxico Connect together operate a total of 650 daily flights to 67 destinations in 3 continents, with a global fleet of 105 airplanes.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1934
The airline was established as Aeronaves de México on 15 September 1934,[1] by Antonio Díaz Lombardo. The first plane was a Stinson SR and Julio Zinser piloted it. He inaugurated the maiden flight on the Mexico City - Acapulco route on 14 September 1934.
When World War II began, the airline continued to grow with the help of Pan Am, which owned 25% of the new Mexican airline. Aeroméxico saw few changes for the next two decades. However, during the 1950s, renovation began, and the airline took over various small competitor companies across the country, including Aerovias Guest (the second airline of the country at that time) that held the routes to Madrid and Paris. Aeroméxico added aircraft including the legendary Douglas DC-3 and its successor, the Douglas DC-4.
[edit] 1950s
During the late 1950s, the Douglas DC-4's were replaced by some Douglas DC-6 and 3 Bristol Britannia the first turboprop passenger plane in the fleet and in 1958, services were inaugurated to Idlewild Airport (now JFK) using the same Bristol Britannia. The Mexico City-New York route would prove profitable for "Aeronaves" and its North American competitors. The airline was nationalised in 1959.
[edit] 1960s
In the early 1960s fleet of Aeronaves de Mexico (Aeromexico) included Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-6, and Bristol Britannia aircraft. Starting in 1961, "Aeronaves" began replacing its piston-engined planes with new jets. The first jet-engined aircraft were a pair of Douglas DC-8's. The planes were used on routes within Mexico and to New York City. Between 1962 and 1963, Aeronaves de Mexico (Aeromexico) took over Aerovias Guest Mexico the second airline, and they were merged, under the name Aeronaves de Mexico. Later in the 1960s more DC-8's were added and service to Europe was resumed, the service was operated by two Mexicana's, Comet IVC those planes were dry leased by Aerovias Guest Before the merger.
[edit] 1970s
The 1970s brought dramatic changes for Aeroméxico. In 1970, under a government plan, Mexican domestic airlines were rationalized into an integrated air transport system under the control of Aeronaves de Mexico. The system included eight smaller carriers, although these were later disbanded.[1] During the early-1970s, the remaining DC-6 and Bristol Britannia aircraft were retired. A new color scheme (orange and black) was introduced and the airline changed its name from "Aeronaves de México" to its current, shortened version of Aeroméxico in February 1972. Aeromexico, as one of the launch customers of the Douglas DC-10-30s program, received the first two planes in 1974, registered as XA-DUG and XA-DUH. That same year the airline also took delivery the first four Douglas DC-9-32s. During this period the airline's popularity and visibility grew dramatically. This was due in part to Aeroméxico's involvement in Mexican movies. Basically, every time a character in any movie produced in Mexico had to fly somewhere, they supposedly flew on Aeroméxico. Service to Canada was initiated and in late-1970s, two more DC-9-15s were added to the fleet.[citation needed]
[edit] 1980s
The early 1980s brought times of expansion. A new color scheme was introduced (orange paint and silver), two DC-10-15 and a DC-10-30 planes were added in 1981, N10038 and N1003N, and in 1982, N3878P later XA-RIY. Aeromexico as one of the launch customers of the McDonnell Douglas MD-82, a stretch version of the DC-9, received the first two planes in late 1981. During the period between 1980 and 1981, eight more DC-9-32 aircraft were added. The late 1980s were tough times for Aeroméxico. On August 31, 1986, the company suffered the only fatal accident outside of Mexico when Aeroméxico Flight 498, a Douglas DC-9, approaching Los Angeles International Airport was struck by a small Piper aircraft. Both aircraft then fell to earth in the Los Angeles suburb of Cerritos, California. All 64 passengers and crew on board the DC-9-32 were killed, as were three on the Piper. Fifteen victims on the ground were also killed. After three years and a long trial, the plane crew and the airline were found not to blame. This was because the pilot of the Piper had strayed into an air traffic control zone reserved for commercial flights. This accident cost 82 people their lives. In April 1988, the state owned company was declared bankrupt. The main reasons were lack of organization, a fleet with an average of 20 years without a renovation plan and a depredating administration by the Mexican Government. The company was grounded for three months. In August, a privatization program was underway. This involved retiring ten Douglas DC-8 along with five DC-9-15 aircraft.
[edit] 1990s
The early 1990s were turbulent times, with the rise in fuel costs due to the first Gulf War, and a domestic fare war caused by start up airlines like TAESA, Saro, Aviacsa, among others, as well as constant labor problems. In late 1992, Grupo AeroMexico was among other investors that failed to consummate the acquisition of Continental Airlines. Later that year, AeroMexico acquired the bankrupt Aeroperú from the Peruvian government. They tried to use the same path that led AeroMexico to the leadership in the domestic market with AeroPeru. In 1992, AeroMéxico introduced direct flights to Madrid and Paris from Mexico City and started services to Frankfurt via Paris and Rome via Madrid. On 1993 Aeromexico Group took over Mexicana the second largest airline in the Mexican market. Between 1994 and 1995 the six DC-10 aircraft in the fleet were retired. Their last revenue flight was in February 1995. The sale of Grupo Cintra was announced after several delays in September 1999. With the looming presidential elections in 2000, everything was delayed once again. The ruling party for 70 years lost the election and all the policies changed. The new government put everything on hold until better economic conditions arrived to start the stock sell-off. Just when they were about to start the process, the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred and nothing materialized since the two main carriers Mexicana and AeroMexico (as all the carriers in the world) were losing large amounts of money.
[edit] 2000s
In the period between 2000-2005 AeroMéxico had an average fleet of 60 aircraft in main line, plus 20 in Aerolitoral, as well as five CEO's during this time. After 9/11 and the Gulf War, it was forced to put in movement an ambitious fleet renovation program. On March 29, 2006 AeroMéxico CEO, Andrés Conesa announced the inauguration of direct flights between Japan and Mexico City via Tijuana. This was after the purchase of two Boeing 777-200ER. This makes Aeroméxico the third airline in Latin America to fly to Asia, after Varig and the now defunct airline TAESA. However, because of Varig's current financial situation, Aeroméxico is currently the sole airline with this service until Varig restarts flights to Asia. On June 29, 2006, the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and AeroMéxico announced that the airline will operate three Boeing 787 airplanes. Aeromexico will lease the three 787-8s from ILFC with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2010, another two planes on lease from ILFC will be in service by 2011.
[edit] Subsidiaries
Aeroméxico Connect formerly Aerolitoral is a regional airline based at General Mariano Escobedo International Airport in Monterrey.- Aeromexpress it´s a cargo handler based at Mexico City International Airport in Mexico City.
- Aeroméxico Travel It's an airline for charter service, it has operations with 2 McDonnell Douglas MD-83 and 1 McDonnell Douglas MD-87.
[edit] Former subsidiaries
Aeroperu was an airline based at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru.
[edit] Destinations
[edit] Fleet
Aeroméxico operates an all-Boeing fleet (including McDonnell Douglas) and consists of the following aircraft as of June 2008:
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (First/Economy) |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-700 | 33 (10 orders) |
124 (12/112) | Domestic/International short-long haul Mexico and USA |
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| Boeing 737-800 | 6 | 150 (24/126) | Domestic/International short-medium haul Mexico, Peru and USA |
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| Boeing 767-200ER | 3 | 181 (21/160) | International long haul Europe, Monterrey, New York and South America |
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| Boeing 767-300ER | 1 (1 order) |
209 (21/188) | Domestic/International long haul Europe, Monterrey, New York and South America |
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| Boeing 777-200ER | 4 | 277 (49/228) | Domestic/International long haul Europe, São Paulo, Tokyo, Shanghai |
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| Boeing 787-8 | (5 orders) | International long haul | Entry into service: 2010 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | 3(being retired) | 142 (12/130) | Domestic/International short-medium haul Mexico and USA |
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| McDonnell Douglas MD-87 | 9(being retired) | 109 (12/97) | Domestic/International short-medium haul Mexico, Central America and USA |
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| McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | 2(being retired) | 142 (12/130) | Domestic/International short-medium haul Mexico and USA |
The average age of Aeroméxico fleet is 8.8 years as of October 2007.[2]
[edit] Retired
- Stinson SR Reliant
- Travel Air
- Bellanca Pacemaker
- Beechcraft 17 Staggerwing
- Avro Anson
- Boeing 247D
- Lockheed Constellation
- Bristol Britannia
- Convair 340
- Douglas DC-3
- Douglas DC-4
- Douglas DC-6
- Douglas DC-8-21/51/62/63CF
- McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15
- McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31/32
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10-15
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
- Boeing 757-200
[edit] Cabin
[edit] Economy
Aeroméxico economy class offers snacks on flights lasting more than 1.5 hours.
[edit] Clase Premier
Aeromexico offers Clase Premier on all its flights. Clase Premier is Aeromexico's Business/First section, where you will find regular Business/First service. Aeromexico gives snacks in all its flights.
Also Clase Premier offers:
- Wider, More comfortable seats
- The best rates
- Use of Salon Premier Lounges
- Exclusive Menu
[edit] Salón Premier
Salones Premier are located throughout major airports in Mexico. The lounges open one hour before the departure of the first flight and close when the last flight departs.
[edit] Locations
- Cancún (Terminal 2 Main Building)
- Chihuahua (Terminal)
- Ciudad Juárez (Terminal)
- Guadalajara (Terminal 1 Wing C)
- Mérida (Pier A)
- Mexico City (Terminal 1 Concourse A1) Still operating for flight in Mexicana
- Mexico City (Terminal 1 Concourse F) Still operating for flight in Mexicana, Air France, or KLM
- Mexico City (Terminal 2 Concourse L1)
- Mexico City (Terminal 2 Concourse L2)
- Monterrey (Terminal A North Concourse) Will close when Aeromexico moves into terminal B
- Monterrey (Terminal B) Coming Soon
- Tijuana (Concourse A)
[edit] Codeshare agreements
As of December, 2007, Aeroméxico has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-03-27, p. 49.
- ^ Aeroméxico Fleet Age
- ^ Aeroméxico
[edit] External links
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