Mexicana de Aviacion, Mexico’s newly reinstated government-run carrier, has ordered 20 Embraer E2 regional jets.
In an announcement on June 3, 2024, the Brazilian manufacturer revealed that Mexicana had ordered ten E190-E2s and ten of the larger E195-E2 variant. Deliveries of the new aircraft will commence in the second quarter of 2025.
According to Embraer, Mexicana will configure its E190-E2s with 108 seats, while the increased capacity of the E195-E2s will accommodate 132 passengers, both in a single-class cabin layout.
“Seeing the success and rapid growth Mexicana has achieved since it restarted operations in December 2023 has been remarkable,” said Priscilla Doro Solymossy, Vice-president of Sales and Marketing and head of Latin America and the Caribbean for Embraer Commercial Aviation. “The airline is already flying to 18 destinations, and has transported more than 115,000 passengers, accumulating more than 3,280 flight hours in this short period, reflecting Mexicana’s commitment to operational excellence and customer service.”
“With this strategic decision, the Mexican state airline will grow and modernize its fleet, strengthening domestic and international connectivity to offer affordable and comfortable air travel, with the highest standards of safety and service,” Embraer added.
The previous incarnation of Mexicana ceased operations and closed down in August 2010, saddled with huge debts, ongoing losses, and other operational issues. However, in 2023, the Mexican government brought brand the brand and re-launched the carrier, using the expertise and operational capabilities of the Mexican Defence Ministry to assist it to do so.
After several delays to the project, the newly reinstated airline operated its first flight following its re-launch on December 26, 2023, between Mexico City Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU) and Tulum International Airport (TQO).
According to ch-aviation, the airline now operates three Boeing 737-800s, all of which are owned by the Mexican Air Force and are leased to Mexicana. Initially, the carrier had been intending to wet lease up to ten 737-800s from private leasing companies. However, the lack of suitable aircraft at an affordable price in the global leasing market has restricted the airline’s growth to date and has limited the carrier to using the three 737-800s leased from the Mexican Air Force.
Although the airline initially planned to fly to 20 domestic destinations from Mexico City, this lack of aircraft has restricted this number to 18 destinations, nine of which appear to be operated by a partner carrier, Link Connexion Aerea, using two leased Embraer EMB-145 regional jets.
Mexicana will be hoping that the arrival of the 20 E2 jets in 2025 will finally allow the airline to start rolling out its bold expansion plan that has so far been beset with issues.
Indeed, as recently as April 2024, SAT Aero Holdings, a US-based aviation advisory company, filed a lawsuit against Mexicana, seeking damages of $841 million plus another $2.4 million in other costs due to multiple breaches of the two companies’ exclusive contract to acquire the original ten Boeing 737s on the open market, plus crews to fly them.
The lawsuit, initiated in New York, alleges that between 2022 and 2023, the airline intentionally meddled with the proceedings, waiving its sovereign immunity and opening itself up to litigation under New York law. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, quantum meruit, and deliberate interference by Mexicana.
However, Mexico’s president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has publicly accused SAT Aero Holdings of instigating the breach and blaming the company for frustrating the contract between the parties. The litigation continues.