Aeromexico has added several domestic flights to help fill the void left by Mexicana, which suspended operations on 28 August.
In a statement issued over the weekend Aeromexico says it is immediately adding frequencies on six domestic routes. The SkyTeam carrier also says it will launch a new domestic route, Mexico City to Tuxtla Gutierrez, on 1 October.
According to Innovata, Mexico City-Tuxtla Gutierrez is currently only served twice daily by Interjet. It was previously served by Grupo Mexicana with seven daily frequencies.
The additional flights include six extra daily frequencies on the Mexico City-Monterrey route and two additional daily frequencies on the Mexico City-Cancun route. Aeromexico is also adding one daily flight on the Mexico City-Guadalajara, Mexico City-Tijuana, Mexico City-Veracruz and Guadalajara-Tijuana routes.
Grupo Aeromexico is the largest domestic carrier in Mexico, transporting 3.8 million passengers in the first half of 2010 based on Mexican DGAC data. That included 2.1 million passengers at Aeromexico mainline at 1.7 million passengers at Aeromexico Connect.
Grupo Mexicana carried 3.4 million passengers in the first half of 2010, giving it a 29% share of Mexico's domestic market compared to 32% for Grupo Aeromexico. The 3.4 million figure includes 1.1 million passengers at Mexicana mainline, 1.9 million passengers at its Click subsidiary and 400,000 passengers at its Link subsidiary.
All three Grupo Mexicana carriers have ceased operations although the group's new owners continue to work on a potential rescue plan which could lead to some or all of the carriers re-launching services.
Mexicana's problems could also provide opportunity for Aeromexico internationally. But Aeromexico is not yet commenting on its potential plans for assuming some of the international routes Mexicana operated.
Aeromexico carried only 900,000 international passengers in the first half of 2010 while Mexicana carried 2.3 million passengers on scheduled international routes. Aeromexico has a larger long-haul operation while Mexicana was a much bigger player in the transborder market.
Aeromexico is currently unable to add capacity on US routes because Mexico currently falls under Category 2 in the FAA's international aviation safety assessment programme. But there are opportunities for new services to Canada and Latin America.
Aeromexico dropped services to Toronto and Montreal earlier this year, leaving Mexicana as the only Mexican carrier in the Canadian market.
While it has cut capacity to the US and pulled out of Canada entirely, Aeromexico has been focusing recently on expanding its Latin American network to help fill the void in SkyTeam left by Panama's Copa, which exited the alliance along with Continental Airlines late last year. Aeromexico has already launched services this year to Bogota, San Jose and Havana - all of which were Mexicana markets.
Aeromexico CEO Andres Conesa told ATI in June the carrier is interested in serving Caracas in Venezuela but bilateral restrictions were blocking its entry. The Mexico-Venezuela bilateral only has single carrier designation, which is held by Mexicana. Mexicana's exit could now pave the way for Aeromexico's entrance in Venezuela.
Aeromexico has also introduced special fares through 20 September for passengers who had bookings on Grupo Mexicana flights to destinations that are already served by Aeromexico. This includes three long-haul destinations: Madrid, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.
Mexico's three low-cost carriers - Volaris, Interjet and VivaAerobus - are also offering special fares for Mexicana passengers. Volaris and Interjet each had 13% shares of the domestic market in the first half of 2010. VivaAerobus had an 8% share.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
