Mexicana de Aviación Hits 100,000 Passengers 2024

Mexicana de Aviación, the state-owned airline under the management of the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), has reached a significant milestone by surpassing 100,000 passengers in its initial six months of operation. According to the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), the airline transported 119,534 passengers, capturing 0.4% of the national market share. 

From January to June 2024, Mexicana de Aviación experienced a 70% increase in passenger traffic. The number of passengers rose from 12,504 in January to 21,518 in June, with March recording the highest volume at 24,240 passengers.

The airline operates flights to numerous major domestic destinations, including Acapulco, Campeche, Chetumal, Ciudad Victoria, Guadalajara, Ixtepec, Mazatlan, Merida, Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Palenque, Puerto Vallarta, Tijuana, Tulum, Uruapan, San Jose del Cabo, Villahermosa, and Zihuatanejo. In the first six months of the year, Mexicana de Aviación conducted 1,475 flights, with May having the highest number of operations at 284 flights, though this was below the forecasted 448 monthly flights.

Despite this growth, the airline faces several challenges, such as increasing flight capacity, with many flights operating at only 50% capacity. The company has yet to achieve profitability and has struggled to cover its operational and administrative expenses during its inaugural year.

"Mexicana has not been able to cover all its operational and administrative costs. This makes the project costly and unsuccessful,” said Pablo Casas Lías, Director, National Institute of Aeronautical Legal Research.

SEDENA recently announced the purchase of 20 additional aircraft aimed at improving operational capacity. The average ticket price has been MX$860 (US$44.25), generating total revenues of MX$121 million  since operations began.

Mexicana de Aviación is expected to reach profitability by 2033. The airline is also set to receive 10 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, which will increase capacity, expand routes, and potentially lessen reliance on aircraft from the Mexican Air Force (FAM).