New Mexicana Set to Launch

A well-known name in Mexican aviation is set to re-launch this month.

Mexicana is the new incarnation of the original airline Mexicana de Aviación which existed for over a hundred years between 1921 and its closure in 2010.

This time around, the Mexican government has purchased the rights to the name, and plans to relaunch the carrier to provide domestic links around the country.

New Mexicana’s Fleet

¡REGRESA MEXICANA DE AVIACIÓN!💪🇲🇽
Iniciaron de inmediato los vuelos de certificación para esta aerolínea del Estado, el vuelo Mexicana MXA1200/FAM1200 con el Boeing 737-8MC, matrícula XA-ASM (FAM 3526), salió del AIFA al aeropuerto de Tijuana. pic.twitter.com/R3Qh2UpSP3

— *(M)(A)(T)(A)(D)(O)(R)* (@Matador08640286) December 18, 2023

The new airline had announced plans to operate a fleet of ten Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and the first of these has arrived.

The first aircraft is XA-ASM, which has flown since new for the Fuerza Aérea Mexicana (FAM, Mexican Air Force) as 3526. It has been painted in the new colours for the airline, which features a mostly white fuselage, with green cheatline along the lower fuselage, sweeping up the rear of the tail. Both 3527 and 3528 are set to follow.

In order to meet early operational requirements, a Boeing 737-300 has also been taken on, and at least one Embraer 145 is expected to be leased from TAR.

Mexicana’s Network

An Airbus A320 of the previous incarnation of Mexicana, which became bankrupt in 2010. Photo (c) Eddie Maloney

With flights expected to start on 26 December, Mexicana plans to connect its two bases – at Mexico City, and the new Tulum airport – with 20 destinations around the county.

These will cover business and leisure destinations, and the airline hopes to attract travellers with fares much cheaper than rivals, as well as perks like free baggage under 15kg.