SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Of the 5 million passengers who flew throughout Mexico in 2024, Mexicana Airlines transported 23,300 of them, less than half a percentage point of the market share, according to Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency.
Mexicana also closed out the year by eliminating eight of its routes, about half of its flights.
It was created by former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and began flying in December 2023.
The original Mexicana seized operations in 2010, but Lopez Obrador reincarnated the airline as a more economical option for travelers in Mexico.
He gave control of its operations to the Mexican Army.
El Financiero, Mexico’s most respected financial publication, is reporting the airline sustained $50 million in losses for 2024.
Members of the PRI and PAN political parties are calling Mexicana a “colossal failure.”
“They just canceled eight routes in less than a year, Morena (ruling party) promised a high-class airline, but the only thing it has delivered is a white elephant that will end up costing us 19 billion pesos ($950 million),” said Héctor Saúl Téllez, economic coordinator for PAN’s representatives in Mexico City.
During a news conference earlier this week, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum denied the airline is in trouble, promising a bright future for Mexicana.
“It’s in it for the long haul,” said Sheinbaum. “It’s being evaluated to see what new routes can be added. It’s trying to acquire more aircraft that will be delivered this year.”
She also said Mexico’s National Defense Secretary is drafting a new operation plan for the struggling airline.
Fernando Gómez Suárez, an airline industry executive, said it’s too early to call Mexicana a failure, but added that cancelling eight routes in its first year is not a good image.
“They started without a market strategy, financial plan and without provisions to secure airplanes,” he said. “They realized right away that it’s hard to fly without aircraft, it’s not that easy to go out and get them. When your plan includes routes that require 10 planes, but you only have five, it’s hard to be efficient.”
Gómez Suárez said Mexicana has yet to follow through on its promise to fly routes that are being ignored by other carriers.
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