Aeronaves de México was born on the 15th of September 1934, by Antonio Díaz Lombardo, in Mexico’s capital, Mexico City.
With the help of Pan Am, which owned 25% of it, Aeronaves de Mexico continued growing during the World War II.
During the early 1950s, the airline took over various local competitors, and in the late 1950s, it started using its furst turboprop passenger plane.
The company was nationalised in 1959.
Starting in 1961, Aeromexico began replacing its older aircraft with jets.
In 1970, all Mexican domestic airlines were nationalized, but Aeromexico remained afloat, because the integrated air transport system that resulted was placed under its control.
In late 1970s, Aeromexico aircraft started flying to Canada.
In early 1980s, the company continued expanding, but the state owned company ended in bankruptcy 8 years later.
After being grounded for three months, the company entered a privatization program and retired a part of its fleet.
From 1990 to 1998, Aeromexico introduced new routes and started using Boeing 767-200 and Boeing 767-300 jets.
Between 2000 and 2005, Aeromexico continued its fleet renovation program, purchasing its first Boeing 737-700 in 2003, and started to fly regularly to Japan, thanks to the purchase of two Boeing 777-200ER planes.
Grupo Financiero Banamex bought the airline in October, 2007, for USD249.1 million.
In 2008, China became the latest Aeromexico destination, with two weekly flights on the Mexico City-Tijuana-Shanghai route.
Until 2012, the Aeromexico network was further expanded with the addition of flights to Italy, San Jose, Costa Rica, Bogota, London and Washington-Dulles.
In January 2012, Aeromexico has been named “Best Airline in South/Latin America 2011” by Business Traveler Magazine and “Best Airline in Mexico” by Global Traveler’s 8th Annual Reader Survey. Over 31,000 readers participated in the Global Traveler’s Reader Survey, which included travel agents and providers of services related to tourism, as well as frequent travelers.
In June 2012, Aeromexico moved to Miami International Airport’s South Terminal, Concourse H, with a more spacious and updated check-in area and modern boarding gates, within a SkyTeam design terminal. With this move, Aeromexico introduced new self-service check-in kiosks to facilitate and expedite the check-in process for passengers. Aeromexico passengers also had access to Delta’s VIP lounge, with amenities such as complimentary snacks and a business center. In Concourse H, passengers awaiting their flights have more dining options and stores.
In March 2013, Aeromexico made several announcements at 2013 Tianguis Turistico travel trade show, like additional frequencies on its international routes and new service to key destinations in Mexico: two additional frequencies between Mexico City and Sao Paulo (Brazil) for a total of nine weekly flights on the route, plus a second flight on the Mexico City – Bogota (Colombia) route in response to strong demand in both Latin American capitals, along with three new frequencies on the Mexico City – Madrid route for a total of ten flights per week. Aeromexico also announced new seasonal service from Cancun and Huatulco to Los Angeles – California, to leverage summer travel in both destinations.
In May 2013, Aeromexico announced the addition of three Embraer 175 aircraft to its fleet, making it the first Mexican airline to operate this modern aircraft. Following the plan of the renovation of its fleet, the Embraer 175 aircraft, with 86 seats in one single class, gradually replaced the Embraer 145 planes with 50 seats. The Embraer 175 shares its design and cabin structure with the Embraer 190, allowing passengers to have the same travel experience and more comfortable seats and more space for storing carry-on baggage in compartments that are overhead or underneath seats. With a 2 x 2 seating configuration with space in the aisle., Embraer aircraft are recognized as the most comfortable family of aircraft in their category.
In August 2013, Aeromexico, presented its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner at its new Maintenance Hangar located at the International Mexico City Airport (AICM). This makes Aeromexico the only Mexican airline and one of the first carriers worldwide to serve its passengers with the airline industry’s most current and equipped aircraft. The B-787 Dreamliner showcases unique structural and technological advances. The cabin layout features 211 next generation seats with extra legroom in the Economy Class cabin and 32 seats with an 180° tilt “Full-flat bed” in the Clase Premier Business Class cabin. The new jet airliner is also equipped with Sky Interiors LED lighting and windows that are considerably larger than other aircraft of its type. The cabin pressurization reduces flying fatigue.
In May 2014, at the 2014 edition of the Tianguis Turistico travel trade show, Aeromexico announced the growth of its domestic and international connectivity network, thanks to the development of its main hubs and its fleet renewal plan in recent years. The airline strengthens its presence in the main hubs it operates in Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Hermosillo by increasing the number of flights it offers at peak times to make sure its clients are able to connect to the largest number of routes and destinations possible.
Between 2010 and 2014, Aeromexico increased its 66 destinations in 14 countries to 80 destinations connecting 19 countries to and from Mexico, in addition of more than 1,000 destinations on its global route map, thanks to its alliances. In this period, the airline increased its connectivity 10 % and is expected to continue this trend at year end.
In March 2015, Aeromexico and Delta Airlines made the first step in the creation of a joint cooperation agreement (JCA) when filing applications for antitrust immunity. The JCA will allow the two airlines to jointly sell and share costs and profits on all Mexico – US routes.
In May 2015, the JCA was approved by the Mexican regulator, and the Mexican Senate approved Open Skies between Mexico and the US.
In September 2016, Aeromexico launched Aerobot, becoming the first airline in the Americas to introduce a chatbot, thus enabling customers to search, track and book flights interacting with a virtual assistant on Facebook Messenger. In April 2017, Aeromexico launched the ability to ask any question, using artificial intelligence and natural language processing techniques to match the questions with answers and also the Chat Extension function, allowing users to pull up Aerobot during a group chat.
In October 2016, Aeromexico took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft named Quetzalcoatl has a two-cabin configuration that includes, among other comforts, a redesigned Clase Premier, ergonomic seats in Economy Class, individual touchscreens, and WiFi, and is the first of ten of this model the airline ordered.
In May 2017, Aeromexico and Delta, after completing the required steps to launch the JCA, begin their joint cooperation agreement to operate transborder flights between Mexico and the US. With this first immunized transborder alliance between Mexico and the United States, the two airlines are writing a new chapter in the history of aviation in the Americas. This partnership will allow both carriers to expand competition and serve new destinations, while additional service and more convenient schedules will benefit customers of both airlines.
In February 2018, Aeromexico introduced new fares, including a new Basic Fare that does not include a checked luggage allowance nor allows for seat assignments, changes, or upgrades. The airline also took delivery of its first Boeing B737 MAX 8 aircraft.
In 2018, Aeromexico operated around 600 passenger flights daily to 43 domestic and 50 international destinations and transported 21.9 million passengers with a modern fleet of 130 Boeing and Embraer aircraft with an average age of 8.6 years.
In March 2019, Aeromexico grounded its Boeing B737 MAX 8 aircraft following two fatal accidents. The Boeing B737 MAX 8 fleet returned to service in December 2020, Aeromexico being the world’s second airline to resume Boeing B737 MAX operations.
In 2019, Aeromexico transported 20.6 million passengers and, according to Agencia Federal de Aviacion Civil, a 24.3% share in the Mexican domestic market and 15.8% in the international market. The airline recorded a net loss of US$123 million.
In 2020, the global aviation industry was deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Aeromexico’s stock dropped during the first half of the year. On June 30, Aeromexico voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. However, this legal process to implement a financial restructuring does not affect the airline’s day-to-day operations. Aeromexico continued to operate with a focus on the health and safety of employees and passengers.
In February 2021, Aeromexico was awarded the platinum level for health measures after the APEX Health Safety audit powered by SimpliFlying. As a Platinum-certified health safety airline, Aeromexico became the highest-rated airline in Latin America.
In 2021, Aeromexico announced the addition of 40 new aircraft to its fleet, 36 Boeing B737 MAX 8 and B737 MAX 9, and 4 Boeing B787-9, with delivery starting from May 2021 and during 2022. Aeromexico continues its strategy of having the safest, state-of-the-art, efficient, and least polluting fleet.
In March 2022, Grupo Aeromexico emerged from Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Act. Throughout the 21-month restructuring process, the airline worked to sustainably expand its operations, restarting service on more than 30 routes, adding six new routes, and increasing its total seat offering by more than 320% compared to June 2020. Aeromexico announced that it continues to expand its network and fleet to take advantage of the current situation in Mexico, which is currently one of the most profitable markets with the highest growth prospects globally post-pandemic.
In September 2022, after a 30-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aeromexico resumed services between Monterrey and Detroit. With this reopening, as of September, Aeromexico increased its network to 93 routes, 51 of which are in the domestic market.
The only accident involving a plane belonging to Aeromexico happened on August 31, 1986, when Aeroméxico’s Flight 498 was hit by a small Piper aircraft while approaching Los Angeles International Airport. 82 people lost their lives – the 64 passengers and crew from the DC-9 Aeromexico aircraft, 3 from the Piper, as well as 15 on the ground.
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