Summary
- Aeromexico inaugurates three new US routes, increasing connectivity between Mexico City and North Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Washington, DC.
- The new routes are part of Aeromexico’s Joint Cooperation Agreement with Delta Air Lines, offering over 90 flights per day between Mexico and the US.
- Aeromexico faces direct competition on the new routes from United Airlines and offers daily flights with Boeing 737 and Embraer E-190 aircraft.
Mexican flag carrier Aeromexico has inaugurated three new routes to the US today, building on its joint venture with home carrier Delta Air Lines. The latest additions will operate daily, increasing connectivity between Mexico City International Airport, North Carolina’s Research Triangle, Tampa Bay, and Washington, DC.
Thrice as nice
The flights are part of Aeromeixco’s Joint Cooperation Agreement with Delta Air Lines, which has inaugurated more than ten routes between the two countries so far this year, including the new additions. This month, the Aeromexico-Delta alliance will offer more than 90 flights per day between Mexico and the United States across nearly 60 routes, with 24 destinations in the US seeing direct flights to 13 cities in Mexico.
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Notably, the new routes launch as the joint venture continues to face uncertainty. The US government indicated earlier this year that it would not renew the antitrust immunity agreement necessary for the venture to continue, based in part on tightening restrictions to Mexico City’s primary international airport that it says violate Open Skies policies.
Photo: TamasV | Shutterstock
However, all three routes took too much fanfare, with customers on each link being greeted with a welcome message and commemorative gifts as a thank-you for choosing these inaugural flights.
Where can you go?
The SkyTeam Alliance carrier officially inaugurated its service from Mexico City International Airport (MEX) to Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport (IAD). Aeromexico’s fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft operates the route, which was previously served by the carrier between May 2012 and January 2019.
The flight departs Mexico City International Airport at 08:25 and arrives in the US capital at 15:06. The return flight leaves Dulles at 17:00 and arrives back in Mexico at 19:45. Aeromexico faces direct competition on the route from United Airlines, which offers a daily Airbus A320 flight with similar timings.
Photo: Aeromexico
The state capital of North Carolina also saw its first flight with Aeromexico today. The carrier linked the Research Triangle region to the capital of Mexico for the first time today when its first flight to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) took off. The 2,118-mile link was one of the most requested destinations and is offered daily with a 99-seat Embraer E-190, which seats 11 passengers in Premier Class and 88 in the main cabin.
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Mexico City follows Cancun as the second nonstop route to Mexico from RDU, becoming the airport’s 10th international destination. The launch follows the debut of international services to RDU from Panama’s COPA Airlines and Lufthansa last month, setting a record for the most overseas connections at the North Carolina Airport. Speaking on the launch, Jose Zapata, Aeromexico’s Vice President of Sales for the United States, Canada, and Latin America, noted how important the link is for business travel:
“For Aeromexico and our partner Delta Air Lines, the commitment to reinforce the connectivity network between the United States and Mexico City is crucial.
“That’s why today we begin our direct flight between Mexico City and Raleigh-Durham, a key region for Mexico in the business, agricultural, automotive sectors, and with significant universities.”
Raleigh Durham was previously cited as one of the routes at risk of termination should Delta and Aeromexico’s joint venture not continue following the summer season. Flights depart Mexico City at 08:55 and land at RDU at 15:15. Southbound, the flights depart North Carolina at 16:36, arriving in MEX at 19:00.
The third new destination was one of the airline’s most highly anticipated launches. With the inauguration of flights to Tampa International Airport (TPA), Aeromexico now connects directly to its largest unserved market in the United States and third destination in Florida, behind Orlando and Miami.
First announced in February, the route is also operated by an Embraer E-190 and is timed much like the carrier’s other new services. Departing from Mexico City at 09:55, the aircraft arrives in Florida at 15:15. The return leg leaves Tampa Bay at 16:36 and lands at MEX at 18:15. The route will cater to both personal and buisness travel as the Tampa Bay area is home to over 80,000 people from Mexico, which is one of the state’s most important trading partners. Tampa Airport CEO Joe Lopano noted how significant this new flight is for the community:
“Tampa International Airport celebrates a major milestone in connecting our region to the world today by welcoming our new airline partner Aeromexico and this daily, nonstop service to Mexico City.
“I’d like to thank our community partners across Tampa Bay for working tirelessly to help make this relationship possible and for strengthening ties to encourage the continued success of our thriving region.”
Photo: Tampa Airport
In addition to snacks and Aguas Frescas, passengers on the first Tampa flight were greeted by a Mariachi band and the Tampa City Ballet with a piece from its show “If I Cry,” inspired by the life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.