The winds of change are sweeping by means of the skies over Mexico, as three new airports, a relaunched airline and revised FAA security scores promise to convey new choices for vacationers and journey advisors.
In some circumstances, elevated competitors may very well be particularly excellent news for vacationers, based on some observers.
Listed here are a number of the largest adjustments in Mexico’s air journey panorama.
Mexico’s FAA Air Security Score Improve
In September 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upgraded Mexico’s air security ranking, which opens the door for Mexican airways to extend service to the US. Mexico had been downgraded in Could 2021 when the FAA claimed the nation didn’t meet the administration’s security requirements.
This improve is “excellent for Mexico’s aviation business,” based on Richard Zarkin, a public relations specialist who’s labored with a number of airways and tourism organizations round Mexico. “Delta and Aeromexico can have extra codeshare flights, and Viva Aerobus and Volaris will proceed to develop, too.”
Ray Kanevsky, founder and CEO of TwoTravel, a luxurious concierge company specializing in group journey in Mexico and Colombia, says the improved ranking can even have a constructive impact on traveler perceptions about Mexico. “It will assist any cautious vacationers from the U.S. really feel extra comfy with Mexico journey in 2024 and past,” he mentioned, noting the outcomes from his firm’s 2024 group journey survey report. “Except for proximity of the vacation spot, security issues additionally topped the checklist of vacation spot group journey worries amongst TwoTravel survey respondents.”
Mexico’s Three New Airports
Air connectivity is rising in some components of Mexico, due to the event of three new airports: Felipe Angeles Worldwide Airport, which opened outdoors of Mexico Metropolis in 2022; Felipe Carrillo Puerto Worldwide Airport, which opened in Tulum in December 2023; and Chalacatepec Worldwide Airport, which is scheduled to debut within the Costalegre area, south of Puerto Vallarta, in mid-2024.
It was obligatory as a result of Cancun was already a really saturated airport. And in the event you fly into Cancun and also you’re staying in Tulum or the Riviera Maya, it’s actually far-off.
Kanevsky mentioned that the opening of the brand new airport in Tulum is very excellent news.
“Respondents to our 2024 TwoTravel group journey survey report cite journey distance and ease of journey as their high issues in planning worldwide group journey, so with the ability to fly instantly into Tulum and slicing down on journey time will definitely make it a extra interesting possibility for teams like bachelor/bachelorette events, vacation spot weddings, company retreats and incentive journeys,” he mentioned.
Zarkin known as the brand new Tulum airport a much-needed funding. “It was obligatory as a result of Cancun was already a really saturated airport,” he mentioned. “And in the event you fly into Cancun and also you’re staying in Tulum or the Riviera Maya, it’s actually far-off.”
Credit score: 2023 State of Jalisco
Karen Wild, CEO of Lagniappe Journey Providers, a Travelsavers affiliate in New Orleans, predicts that extra of her shoppers might be focused on Tulum on account of the brand new airport.
“The opening of the Tulum Worldwide Airport could be very thrilling information,” she mentioned. “It’ll open that market additional as a vacation spot location. Tulum continues to be much less found … however rising as a vacation spot.”
The brand new airport serving Costalegre, in the meantime, will make it simpler to go to an more and more fashionable Pacific coast area, based on Vanessa Perez Lamas, Minister of Tourism for the State of Jalisco.
“The Chalacatepec Worldwide Airport is ready to develop into a complementary hub to the worldwide airports in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, permitting for higher accessibility to the various tourism choices within the State of Jalisco,” she mentioned. “Nevertheless, the Costalegre area is globally acknowledged as a frontrunner in sustainable tourism, and we is not going to lose sight of that mission. Whereas it’s our aim to achieve a million annual passengers inside ten years, we additionally need the airport to function at a manageable degree.”
RELATED: Costalegre: A Trip in Mexico Away From the Crowds
The response to the brand new airport serving Mexico Metropolis, nonetheless, is decidedly blended. Felipe Angeles Worldwide Airport (sometimes called AIFA, primarily based on its initials in Spanish, and typically as Santa Lucia, due to the navy base the place it was constructed), is about 30 miles outdoors the Mexico’s capital and was championed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, after he discontinued the development of one other, a lot nearer new airport that had been began by his predecessor and was about one-third of the best way full.
“I don’t agree with the AIFA airport,” Zarkin mentioned. “I’m on the staff that believed that the brand new airport that was being constructed with the previous president ought to have been completed. It might have been an excellent airport.”
Wild stories that her shoppers aren’t enthusiastic in regards to the new, military-run AIFA facility, both. “The airport is additional away from town and more durable to get to city,” she mentioned. “That is the suggestions from my shoppers that fly to Mexico often. They’re positively not feeling the brand new location in Mexico Metropolis. The brand new airport has potential to be an excellent addition … relying on the expansion of providers within the space, [but it] might want to supply quick, economical transit to downtown Mexico Metropolis for it for use by vacationers.”
Aeromexico wants a little bit competitors. New competitors will certainly open up extra flights in Mexico, which is desperately wanted.
The Relaunch of Mexicana Airways
Initially based in 1921, Mexicana Airways was one of many world’s oldest carriers when it shut down in 2010. Now, the Mexican authorities — underneath the management of President Lopez Obrador — has bought the model title and, as of press time, was about to relaunch Mexicana as a government-owned, military-run airline with a home route community served by a fleet of Boeing 737 plane.
Zarkin welcomes the competitors however is taking a “wait and see” perspective in regards to the rebirth. “I hope the president does accomplish what he promised, as a result of it’s going to convey one other selection for vacationers at a low price,” he mentioned.
Wild is hopeful about one other service withdrawing. “I really like that Mexicana could return to {the marketplace},” she mentioned. “Aeromexico wants a little bit competitors. New competitors will certainly open up extra flights in Mexico, which is desperately wanted.”
Offering her Mexico-bound shoppers with extra choices, the truth is, is essential for Wild.
“The most important problem within the Mexico air journey market is the overwhelming monopoly of 1 airline that provides and subtracts service with no rhyme or motive,” she mentioned. “This causes vacationers difficulties in attending to locations on time due to the weird cutbacks. I’d like to see extra competitors, to have the ability to give higher service to shoppers touring in Mexico.”