Summary

  • In 2023, travel to Mexico surged but didn’t last. Airlines bet on improvement in 2024 despite falling figures.
  • Asia sees increased travel demand with no restrictions. Traffic expected to pre-pandemic levels soon.
  • Four airlines connect Asia and Mexico. Cirium’s data highlights key players and their operations in August 2024.

In 2023, bookings to Mexico increased following heavy demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that did not last. Nevertheless, the likelihood of improving in the year 2024 still remains. Coupled with this notion, some airlines are hanging onto it at all costs even though there have been falling figures through years.

In contrast, Asia is experiencing increased travel demand due to open borders and no travel restrictions. Traffic volumes are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels as services to new and existing destinations increase.

Four airlines operate routes connecting Asia and Mexico. In August 2024, data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, highlights the major players in this market and their operational statistics.

Aeroméxico

Aeroméxico, the national airline of Mexico and the oldest active airline in the country, with a fleet of over 100 aircraft, recently successfully emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aeroméxico (Data from Cirium)

Flights

122

Seats

31,041

Available Seat Miles (ASMs)

219,876,004

Last February, Aeromexico announced it would restart a triangular route connecting Mexico City, Monterrey, and Seoul, responding to demand for corporate and social travel.

The economic sustainability of this route is supported by the presence of major South Korean companies in Monterrey, while the large Korean community in the region also contributes to demand.

In addition, the Mexican airline will resume flights to South Korea starting August 1, making it the only Latin American airline to offer daily flights to Seoul. This route will represent the longest flight in Aeromexico’s network, with a route of more than 7,500 miles from Seoul to Mexico City.

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The Evolution Of Aeromexico’s Fleet

Aeroméxico’s fleet has evolved from Stinson SR planes to a fleet of Boeing- and Embraer-built planes.

All Nippon Airways

All Nippon Airways (ANA) achieved record revenue and profitability in FY2023. International passenger revenue ($4.6 billion) surpassed domestic revenue for the first time, with a 69.4% increase in international passengers.

All Nippon Airways (Data from Cirium)

Flights

62

Seats

11,408

Available Seat Miles (ASMs)

79,901,632

The Japanese airline currently has only one direct flight to Mexico, departing from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Mexico City (MEX). The Japanese carrier had operated this daily non-stop flight with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner since 2020 when it was the only Asian operator flying non-stop to Mexico.

Last May, the first direct flight from China (CZ 8031) since the start of the pandemic arrived in 2020, operated by China Southern Airlines when flights had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The airline has a monopoly on all routes except Istanbul.

Hainan Airlines

Although Hainan Airlines’ parent company, the HNA Group, went bankrupt in 2021, the Chinese airline continued to operate.

Hainan Airlines (Data from Cirium)

Flights

18

Seats

5,013

Available Seat Miles (ASMs)

31,972,914

On July 12th of this year, Hainan Airlines resumed its Beijing Capital-Tijuana-Mexico City route after a four-year break, operating with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners twice a week. Flights leave Beijing on Mondays and Fridays, reaching Tijuana and then Mexico City around midnight.

Return flights depart Mexico City early on Tuesdays and Saturdays, stopping in Tijuana before arriving in Beijing the next day. Additionally, Hainan will start a Shenzhen-Budapest route on August 2nd.

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines is currently one of the airlines, along with China Eastern Airlines and Air China, dominating the Chinese domestic market.

China Southern Airlines (Data from Cirium)

Flights

9

Seats

1,620

Available Seat Miles (ASMs)

14,220,360

China Southern Airlines launched in May China’s longest flight: Shenzhen to Mexico City, spanning 7,639 nautical miles (14,147 kilometers). The airline operates the Shenzhen—Mexico City—Tijuana (with a layover)—Shenzhen route. The first flight left China on May 11 and runs twice weekly, with a 314-seat Airbus A350-900.

The decision to operate from Shenzhen was influenced by the city’s role as the headquarters of BYD, China’s largest electric vehicle company, which is considering building a new factory in Jalisco, Mexico.

The decision to operate from Shenzhen was influenced by China’s electric vehicle market’s interest in Mexico as a springboard for North America.

Air traffic between Asia and Mexico shows signs of recovery. However, the question remains: will these routes return to pre-COVID levels? Global economic recovery, new travel habits, and potential future restrictions will be crucial.

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