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| Founded | 1934 (as Aeronaves de México) | |||
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| Hubs | Mexico City International Airport | |||
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| Frequent-flyer program | Club Premier | |||
| Airport lounge | Salón Premier | |||
| Alliance | SkyTeam | |||
| Fleet size | 102 (27 orders) | |||
| Destinations | 73 | |||
| Company slogan | Ayer, hoy y siempre contigo (Yesterday, today, and always with you) | |||
| Parent company | Grupo Financiero Banamex (A subsidiary of Citigroup) |
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| Headquarters | Mexico City, Mexico | |||
| Key people | Andrés Conesa Labastida (CEO) | |||
| Website | www.aeromexico.com | |||
Airways of Mexico, SA de CV[1] (Aerovías de México, S.A. de C.V.), operating as Aeroméxico, is the flag carrier airline of Mexico based in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City.[2] It operates scheduled domestic and international services to North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Its main base is Mexico City International Airport, with secondary hubs at General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, in Monterrey, Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport, in Guadalajara, and General Ignacio Pesqueira Garcia International Airport in Hermosillo.[3]
Aeroméxico operates a fleet of Boeing 737 narrow-body airliners on short and medium-haul routes, and Boeing 767, and Boeing 777 wide-bodies for long-haul destinations. It has orders for the Boeing 787-8. Aeroméxico subsidiary operates a fleet of Embraer EMB-145 and Embraer ERJ-190. The Aeroméxico Group includes Aeroméxico mainline and Aeroméxico Connect (regional subsidiary) which together hold the 41.7% of the domestic market share, becoming México's largest domestic airline group, and the 79.8% of the international market share, again in first place followed by Volaris. Aeroméxico and Aeroméxico Connect together operate a total of 553 daily flights to 70 destinations on 4 continents, with a global fleet of 102 airplanes.
Out of the 5-star ranking, Aeroméxico holds a 3-star ranking from Skytrax.[4]
The logo shows the head of an Aztec eagle warrior (cuāuhtli).
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The airline was established as Aeronaves de México on 15 September 1934,[3] 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 Aerovías 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.
During the late 1950s, the Douglas DC-4's were replaced by some pressurised Douglas DC-6 and two Bristol Britannias, the first turboprop passenger plane in the fleet and in 1958, services were inaugurated to Idlewild Airport (now JFK) using the Britannias. The Mexico City-New York route would prove profitable for "Aeronaves" and its North American competitors. The airline was nationalised in 1959.
In the early 1960s fleet of Aeronaves de México (Aeroméxico ) 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 México (Aeroméxico ) took over Aerovías Guest Mexico the second airline, and they were merged, under the name Aeronaves de México. Later in the 1960s more DC-8's were added and service to Europe was resumed, operated by two Comet-4C aircraft dry-leased by Aerovías Guest prior to the merger.
The 1970s brought dramatic changes for Aeroméxico. In 1970, under a government plan, Mexican domestic airlines were nationalized into an integrated air transport system under the control of Aeronaves de México. The system included eight smaller carriers, although these were later disbanded.[3] 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. Aeroméxico, 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 seven 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.
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 1984, N3878P later XA-RIY. Aeroméxico 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 31 August 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.The same year,the airline was acquired to the charter carrier GATSA and used it for their charter operations until decemder 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 the eight Douglas DC-8's (3 -62s and 5 -51s) along with the remaining ten DC-9-15 aircraft.
The early 1990s were turbulent times, with the rise in fuel costs due to the 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 April 1991 the first two 767-200ERs were introduced to the fleet starting to replace DC-10's in services to Europe, New York and Tijuana, another two 767-300ER's joined the fleet later that year, all this was part of a renovation and expansion program to introduce 24 757's/767's, Direct service to Madrid and Paris from Mexico City with 767's was introduced as well services to Frankfurt via Paris and Rome via Madrid. In 1992 Grupo Aeroméxico was among other investors that failed to consummate the acquisition of Continental Airlines. After failing to invest in Continental, Aeroméxico acquired the bankrupt Aeroperú from the Peruvian government. They tried to use the same path that led Aeroméxico to the leadership in the domestic market with AeroPeru. In October 1992 2 767-300ER's were added to the feet (XA-RKI and XA-RKJ), replacing the former 2 -300ER (XA-RWW and XA-RWX). On 1993 Aeroméxico Group took over Mexicana the second largest airline in the Mexican market under the same management there was a great dispute in June 93 with the pilot union regarding Aeromonterrey. Between 1994 and 1995 the six DC-10 aircraft in the fleet were finally retired. Their last revenue flight was in Mid 1995. In December 1994 3 weeks after Carlos Salinas left the office the first of several devaluations in the next 18 months started, and there was a huge economic crisis in the country Aeroméxico had to cut capacity flights to Frankfurt and to Rome were canceled, 4 MD80's 4 767's returned to the lessors, early retirement for pilots and another staff was on their way, a new 767 was due on April 95 and was transferred to Lan Chile flights to Madrid and Paris were operated only by 2 767-300ER's. In 1996 Cintra was created in order to avoid the two main carriers went bankrupt some 757's of the original Aeroméxico renovation program ended up un Mexicana and AeroPeru. The market and the airline recovered between 1996 and 1998 8 Md-80's were leased back as well another 2 767-200's.
The sale of Grupo Cintra was scheduled after several delays in September 1999, and with the looming presidential elections in 2000, everything was delayed once again. The ruling party lost the election after 70 years in office and all the policies changed. Due to the recession in 2000 the new government put everything on hold waiting for better economic conditions to start the stock sell-off, and just when they were everything was about to start, the 11 September 2001 attacks occurred and nothing materialized since the two main carriers Mexicana and Aeroméxico (as most Legacy carriers) were losing large amounts of money.
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 Iraq War, it was forced to put in movement an ambitious fleet renovation program. In 2003, the airline acquired its first Boeing 737-700 instead of the Boeing 717 as a replacement for its aging DC-9 aircraft. On 29 March 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, making Aeroméxico the third airline in Latin America to fly regularly to Asia, after Varig and the now defunct VASP. However, because of Varig's redimention, Aeroméxico is currently the sole airline with this service until some other Latin American airline starts flying to Asia. Aeroméxico will resume its Mexico City-Tijuana-Shanghai route twice a week next 30 March., 2010.
On 29 June 2006, the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and Aeroméxico announced that the airline will operate three Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Aeroméxico will lease the five 787-8s from ILFC with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2012, another two planes on lease from ILFC will be in service by 2013, and two more in 2014. It was originally going to be delivered in 2010 and 2011, but it was delayed for 2 years. From 2006, Consorcio Aeroméxico S.A. de C.V., the parent company of Aeroméxico at the time, was facing large debts and could not make any profits to pay them off. This forced the company to offer Aeroméxico for sale in 2007. In early October of the same year, a week-long auction was held, with Grupo Financiero Banamex competing against the Saba family. Finally, in 17 October 2007, Banamex had put forward the highest bid, and the airline was sold to the bank for US$249.1 million. In October, 2010 Aeromexico's largest competitor Mexicana de Aviacion filed for bankruptcy and was placed into administration.
Delta Air Lines, a US airline, signed with Aeromexico for commercial alliances.[5]
In an attempt to gain more worldwide presence and strengthen its network to make connections easier and more frequent, Aeroméxico has started to develop new international markets. Beginning in 2006 the airline started operations to Tokyo from Mexico City via Tijuana. Service to Shanghai from Mexico City via Tijuana began in May 2008. However, starting from September 8, 2011 through January 7, 2012, the airline will instead fly from Shanghai to Mexico City via Los Cabos.
The airline has recently applied to serve Washington Dulles International Airport. If approved by the FAA, it would use a 737-800 on the route. New flights to San Jose, Costa Rica are set tp begin in Spring 2010. Nonstop Tokyo-Mexico City scheduled flights began on 13 January 2010, and will be increased to three by March. In early February, 2010, Aeromexico announced a realignment of its North American network, as it said it would resume service to Atlanta in May 2010, but would delay plans to launch service to Washington, DC, which it received approval to fly to in January 2010. Additionally, despite that the airline had obtained approval to launch service on six new North American routes, none of those authorities would be used, leaving Atlanta as the only new North American destination in 2010.[6] However, the airline has cancelled its plan to resume service to Atlanta. AeroMexico started services to Bogotá, Colombia on 5 July 2010, with daily flights operated by Boeing 737 aircraft. Aeromexico resumed service to Ontario, CA on November 20, 2010. It also resumed operations to Montreal, Canada on December 15, 2010. On March 3, 2011, the company announced it will serve Fresno, California on April 1. It used to be its partner/competitor's destination. Aeromexico will take over bankrupt-Mexicana's destinations. For example, it will serve Sacramento International Airport on July 17, La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, Guatemala on July 4, Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, on September 15 and Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela) in Caracas on October 10.
In addition to SkyTeam member airlines (including future members), Aeroméxico also has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[7]
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The All-Boeing Mainline Aeroméxico and Aeroméxico Connect fleets consist of the following aircraft. The Boeing customer code for Aeroméxico is -x52. (e.g. A 737–800 that was manufactured for Aeroméxico is a 737–852), with an average age of 8.5 years. :[8]
| Aircraft | In fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | W | Y | Total | ||||
| Boeing 737-700 | 30 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 112 | 124 | Equipped with powerports in Clase Premier 28 B737-700 with winglets 12 B737-800 with winglets |
| 12 | 100 | ||||||
| Boeing 737-800 | 15 | 20 | 16 | 0 | 144 | 160 | |
| 12 | 132 | ||||||
| Boeing 767-200ER | 6 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 116 | 156 | Features new Clase Premier seats To be replaced by B787-8 1 B767-200ER painted in SkyTeam livery |
| 36 | 130 | 166 | |||||
| Boeing 767-300ER | 2 | 0 | 150 | 186 | |||
| Boeing 777-200ER | 4 | 1 | 49 | 0 | 219 | 268 | Features new Clase Premier seats |
| 228 | 277 | ||||||
| Boeing 787-8 | 0 | 8 | 40 | 0 | 185 | 225 | EIS: 2013, replacing B767 |
| Embraer ERJ-145 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 50 | Operated by Aeroméxico Connect |
| Embraer ERJ-145ER | 5 | ||||||
| Embraer ERJ-145LR | 28 | ||||||
| Embraer E-190LR | 11 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 88 | 99 | |
| Total | 106 | 46 | Last updated: December 2011 | ||||
Aeroméxico offers Clase Premier in all of its flights (does not include Aeroméxico Connect's Embraer 145 ircraft). Clase Premier is Aeroméxico 's Business/First Class, where customers will find exclusive Business/First service. All Clase Premier passengers have access to the domestic and international network of Salón Premier Lounges. Besides the services provided in Economy Class, passengers flying in Clase Premier are benefitted with the following services:
Aeroméxico economy class offers snacks and soft drinks on every flight, including Aeroméxico Connect flights. On flights longer than 1.5 hours and on-board any international flight, the airline offers full meals (hot or cold), a vast array of beverages including alcoholic drinks, juices, coffee, tea, wine, beer, and soft drinks. Champagne, canapés, among other snacks are offered in Clase Premier at any flight. International flights on-board Clase Premier include exclusive catering provided by recognized Mexican chefs under the name of Soles y Especias menu.
Club Premier is a program created to reward a passenger's loyalty. Aeromexico rewarda the loyalty with a frequent flyer plan where you can accumulate kilometers to get new flights.
Salones Premier are located throughout major airports in Mexico and are exclusively open for passengers traveling in Premier Class. The lounges open one hour before the departure of the first flight and close when the last flight departs. Aeroméxico has been remodeling some of its lounges to provide more exclusive services. In the recently-opened lounges in Mexico City, the airline offers services such as showers, a spa, a wine and tobacco room, among other amenities for passengers with departing or arriving flights, all together with a new architectural style that provides more light, open spaces, and a modern appareance. The new lounges in Torreón and Monterrey will also include the former features, and some other lounges as the ones in Tijuana and Guadalajara will soon be remodeled to meet the new quality standards.