Chris Jasper/LONDON Roberto Mena/MEXICO CITY
Mexicana Airlines has become the tenth airline to sign with the Star Alliance, while the country's second major carrier, Aeromexico, is set to become a founder member of the Delta Air Lines/Air France global alliance, likely to be launched later this year.
Mexicana will join Star next year, with sources close to the alliance continuing to insist that it will be afforded only second-tier, "Starlet" status. Sources in Mexico add that the carrier will effectively be on probation during its first year.
Aeromexico's likely membership of the new grouping forming around Delta/Air France was revealed to Flight International by the latter's chairman, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, during a recent visit to Mexico City for the renewal of a codeshare deal with the Mexican airline. The new alliance is expected to "go global" later this year, with further members to be announced.
Both Mexican carriers are controlled by the Cintra state holding company, so they may have to compete as alliance rivals while remaining "'sister" airlines. Cintra hopes that such competition will deflect claims that it enjoys a monopoly position in Mexico, as well as aiding its own bid to be privatised.
While Mexicana has joined Star, question marks remain over the recruitment of Singapore Airlines (SIA) and British Midland (BM), which had been expected to commit soon. SIA should have joined Star earlier this year, but its entrance was delayed by a clash with Air New Zealand over its attempts to invest in Ansett, and by hitches in concluding the necessary bilateral agreements. Unconfirmed reports suggest SIA and BM may have had recent contacts with the Delta/Air France group.
BM says it expects its alliance strategy to be "wrapped up" by the fourth quarter. The airline is 40%-owned by Star member SAS, and has been close to committing to that alliance for some time.
Source: Flight International
