Mexico’s airlines are actively growing at the moment. Volaris and Viva Aerobus, the two ultra-low-cost companies in the country, have recently announced new orders with Airbus, adding to their standing unfilled orders. Let’s take a look at the country’s current and future fleet.

What does Mexico’s fleet currently look like?

Mexico currently has seven active commercial airlines. There are the big three, composed of Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris, and there are four smaller regional companies called Aéreo Calafia, Aerus, Magnicharters, and Transportes Aéreos Regionales. The first three have nearly 99% of the market share in terms of carried passengers, which is why they get all the headlines. There are also three cargo-only carriers. These are mas, Estafeta, and Aerounión.

Photo: Guillermo Quiroz Martínez via @gquimar

Aeromexico

Aeromexico is an airline based in Mexico City International Airport (MEX), operating with a fleet of Boeing narrowbodies and widebodies and Embraer E1 aircraft. According to data from ch-aviation, Aeromexico currently has a fleet of 154 aircraft, the largest in the country. This includes five Boeing 737-700s, 36 B737-800s, 33 B737 MAX 8s, 18 B737 MAX 9s, eight B787-8 Dreamliners, 12 B787-9 Dreamliners, and 42 Embraer E190s.

Volaris

The ultra-low-cost carrier, founded in 2005, is currently the country’s largest company by passengers carried. Last year, it surpassed the 30 million passenger mark. Volaris also has branches in Costa Rica and El Salvador.

As of July 2023, Volaris has a fleet of 116 aircraft, all Airbus A320-family-based planes. The airline operates two Airbus A319s, 39 A320ceos, 46 A320neos, ten A321ceos, and 19 A321neos.

Viva Aerobus

This company is the smallest of Mexico’s big three. Nonetheless, it also has a substantial reach in terms of routes and destinations. It has recently announced a new Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus, which we will discuss in a moment. Viva Aerobus’ fleet is currently composed of 74 aircraft. Similarly to Volaris, they are all Airbus A320-family-based planes. It has 22 A320ceos, 22 A320neos, nine A321ceos, and 21 A321neos.

The other carriers

In terms of fleet size, the cargo carrier mas had the next largest fleet at the end of 2023’s first quarter. The company operated seven planes, followed by Estafeta with six, Magnicharters and Transportes Aéreos Regionales with five each, Aerounión with four, and Aéreo Calafia with one. Aerus, the regional startup which began operations in April, has a fleet of three Cessna planes.

Which airlines are expecting more planes in the future?

As of July 2023, Volaris, Viva Aerobus, Aerus, and Aeromexico expect to receive 295 new aircraft manufactured by Airbus, Boeing, and Eviation.

Volaris has the largest unfilled order, expecting to receive 142 new narrowbody jets from Airbus. During the Paris Air Show celebrated last month, Volaris and Airbus announced an agreement to increase the airline’s order. Right now, the airline expects to receive 26 A320neos and 116 A321neos, although some of the A320neos could be upgraded to A321neos.

Photo: Aerus

Viva Aerobus has the second-largest unfilled order in the country. The airline currently expects to receive 115 additional planes. This week, the airline and Airbus announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire 90 Airbus A321neos powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines. All of Viva Aerobus’ unfilled orders are for the 240-seat A321neo.

The third-largest unfilled order is not from Aeromexico (at least not now). It comes instead from Mexico’s newcomer Aerus. Earlier this year, the airline announced the signing of a Letter of Intent with Eviation to acquire 30 commuter all-electric Alice aircraft. Finally, Aeromexico no longer has an unfilled order with Boeing. Still, the company has deals with leasing companies to receive eight new planes in the future, including six Boeing 737 MAX 9s and two 787-9 Dreamliners.

What do you think about Mexico's commercial fleet's size and potential growth? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: ch-aviation.