Mexicana Airlines' Future Brighter But Still Uncertain

Mexican flag carrier has new investors but its flight remains bumpy

Weather-casters occasion forecast "partly sunny with a chance of rain." And this pretty much the forecast for Mexicana Airlines, which along with Aeromexico is one of the two flag carriers of our neighbor to the south. I haven't written posts about all of its complicated problems that hit the boiling point over the last few months, though my Mexico City-based travel writer colleague Jimm Budd has done so im increasingly dispiriting posts. His latest Mexicogram report is finally somewhat more optimistic, so I share it here in  its entirety:

"A group of Mexican investors organized under the name Tendora K has acquired 95 percent of Nuevo Grupo Aeronautica, the heavily-indebted holding company controlling bankrupt Mexicana Airlines and its two affiliates, Click and Link. The pilots union acquired the rest. Purchase price is reported to have been a “token amount.” Previously, the airline had been owned by the Posadas de México (Fiesta Americana and other hotels) plus some other investors.

"If the airline is to survive, debts must be paid, additional investments made and operating costs substantially reduced. In recent weeks, Mexicana has been obliged to reduce its frequencies of service to the United States from 50 each week to 38. Under current conditions, these Mexicana can restore these, but only if it uses the same equipment. The FAA will allow no other Mexican airline to take over these routes until Mexico improves air safety inspections."

Future Gringo James took the photo (above left) during an unplanned layover which he describes as "some sort of unnamed security issue causing us to deplane on the tarmac at MEX far far from the terminal and get bused around the airport. (Fun adventure)." I have no crystal ball as to wether Mexicana will succumb or rise Phoenix-like from the ashes of hard times, crushing debt, mismanagement and lesser problems, any one of which alone could kill any airline. Until Mexico solves its safety and other aviation issues to the satisfaction of US and Canadian regulators, good sense might dictate flying an American carrier. Stay tuned.