This has to be one of the strangest attempts to revive an airline brand that I’ve ever seen (and that’s saying a lot, because reviving an airline brand is rarely a successful endeavor). Nonetheless, this is really happening, and tickets are now on sale…
Continue reading: Mexicana Making Comeback As Military-Run Airline
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
As far as driving traffic at the new Mexico City airport, I think you are definitely correct there. Will it spur competition there? Doubtful. I mean, how many airlines have flocked from RSW to Punta Gorda to compete against Allegiant or even half the places Ryanair fly to across Europe? There's very much such a thing as creating your own market and having it to yourself because nobody else wants it.
If only it'd step back into Star Alliance soon, for the nightmares of awful Aeromexico!
It would be great to have a new airline launch this quickly in the U.S. I'd like to see competition in the market. Not entirely tax-payer funded though and certainly not lead by a general.
Why is the military involved with an airline ? The military has another purpose.
"What’s the real motivation here?"
It's yet another ego project for Mexico's president.
Mexicana was in oneworld, Aeromexico in Skyteam. No Mexican carrier was in StarAlliance
Correct. Also, for the guy who's built his political brand on "helping the poor" (by stealing from the non-poor, defunding basic services, etc), it looks great given that his party wants to stay in power at next year's election.
The military is involved in everything now. Even the police departments are now run by the military.
Mexicana was in star alliance from 2000-2004. And left when it decided not to renew a codeshare agreement with United. Then in 2009 it was sponsored by Iberia to join one world until it ceased operations in 2010.
This kind of follows what some South American countries do.
Example, LADE in Argentina (now defunct I believe), but those were established by the military to provide air service to small communities that do not have air service and to some military outposts.
Why Mexicana is concentrating on main routes in competition with other airlines is very interesting but as one guest stated maybe it is to provide more routes and business at the new airport.
AIFA could be a good connecting airport, and there certainly a lot of people in EdoMex that are nearer to AIFA than AICM. For a purely domestic airline, it might make sense, but AIFA isn't a good option if you actually want to go to Mexico City. For going places like Chetumal, Villahermosa, Tapachula where you need a domestic connection anyway, I'd definitely consider the new MX out of CJS.
Pakistan international airlines did the same thing with mixed results. Most recently not working although the macroeconomics are the main driver behind that.
There is no convenient ground link between Mexico City and the new airport. Just very low class buses and ONE better bus frequency per day. A rail link is announced but ground has apparently not been broken. Mexicana might as well provide better transportation and they might even make money on it.
Great article, it is weird to know that the military is behind a business like the airport, but the military has proven themselves as being organized and to execute very great things already in Mexico, so I think they're going to do an awesome job. PGS