Mexicana Airlines Cuts 8 Routes: What’s Next for the Airline?

Mexicana de Aviación, the government-owned airline, has announced a significant reduction in its operations. Starting from January 6, the airline will cease operations on eight of its 18 existing routes. The impacted routes include flights from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) to key destinations such as Acapulco, Campeche, Guadalajara, Ixtapa, Nuevo Laredo, Puerto Vallarta, Uruapan, and Villahermosa.

The airline released a brief statement on its website https://mexicanalink.mx/, offering passengers affected by this change the option of refunds or a switch to other available routes. However, this announcement has done little to alleviate concerns about the airline’s future. Mexicana currently holds a marginal share of the national market, representing less than one percent of air traffic in Mexico. In the first half of the previous year, the airline transported a mere 119,536 passengers, accounting for just 0.20 percent of total travelers on regular and charter domestic flights.

This announcement of route cancellations is in stark contrast to the optimistic message Mexicana de Aviación conveyed on December 26th, marking its first anniversary as a state airline. The airline had highlighted its achievement of operating more than 7,200 flights to 18 destinations, with Tulum, Tijuana, Mérida, Ciudad Ixtepec, and Ciudad Victoria being the most frequented. The airline also announced plans to add an EMBRAER E2 aircraft to its fleet in May, the first of 20 units planned for 2027, to modernize its fleet and enhance its service.

Despite these plans, industry experts predict a challenging outlook for Mexicana in 2025. Administrative and operational issues have cast doubt on the viability of the airline as a state-run project. The cancellation of key routes may be an indication of a challenging year ahead, necessitating clear communication and effective strategies to regain passenger trust. “It remains a bottomless barrel that has not taken off, since it is flying on average at 49 percent of its capacity per plane. In addition, it is being subsidized compared to the other airlines it competes with”, stated Pablo Casas, general director of the National Institute of Legal-Aeronautical Research (Inija) in December.