Mexican Airlines Relish Passenger Increase in 2021

After the major crisis they suffered in 2020, Mexican airlines are starting to finally recover their passenger traffic as Mexico drastically increases its demand for flights, report government agencies.

According to official data from the Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT) and the Federal Agency of Civil Aviation (AFAC), “Mexican airlines flying locally saw a 57 percent increase in passengers from January-July 2021 compared to last year’s second semester.” The recent demand for flights has taken an immediate effect as vaccination campaigns advance, allowing more flights and entrance to different countries.

AFAC states that the number of passengers transported in 1H2021 represents 90 percent of the passengers flown in the first half of 2019, before the pandemic dragged the sector to unprecedented lows. During the period, US airlines showed the highest recovery, as they have transported an estimated 11.7 million passengers. Meanwhile, Mexican airlines transported about 4.9 million passengers, according to the SCT. Airlines from both countries are in a better position than those from Canada, the EU and Asia, as all of them been on the red since the beginning of the pandemic and during the first half of 2021 reported even worse numbers than in 2020.

July was an important month for Mexican airlines, as the SCT reported a “5.46 million passengers in the domestic and international segment. This number places the industry’s recovery at around 82 percent.” The most recent joint report from the AFAC and the SCT indicates that Volaris has taken the lead as the airline with most flights in 2021, recording a total of 64,770 in 1H2021, followed by Viva Aerobus’ 44,146 passengers.

Mexican airlines seem to be on an upward trend for the second semester of 2021, which represents an important recovery for the industry. However, airlines from other countries are still seeking for strategies to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.