Grupo Aeromexico, operating as Aeromexico, has reported strong operational results for May 2023, where the airline transported 1.9 million passengers, an increase of 5.6% compared to last year.
Domestic operations improved, with domestic passengers increasing by 8.3%; however, the number of international passengers decreased by 1.0%. This was compounded by an increase in the airline's capacity of 5.6% for global operations and 3.5% for its domestic route map.
Load factors also improved in May 2023, as the airline reported an increase of 1.1%, with load factors reaching 83.9%.
Post-pandemic growth
Aeromexico has been quick to capitalize on the significant travel increase post-pandemic. Ahead of a busy summer season, the airline has stepped up flights it had once axed, such as its daily service between Mexico City (MEX) to Tokyo Narita (NRT), which it resumed after a three-year hiatus in March.
The carrier was also quick to increase its frequencies from three times a week to daily flights from Guadalajara (GDL) and Monterrey (MTY) to Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD). Additionally, the airline will increase its frequencies between Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Mexico City from five weekly flights to daily flights by the end of June.
By June, Aeromexico will connect Mexico and Spain with 28 weekly flights. With the additional frequencies, the number of flights Aeromexico will operate to Europe will increase by more than 20% compared with last summer's schedule. Aeromexico will offer 54 Mexico-Europe frequencies each week, a record for the carrier.
Aircraft deliveries have also helped with the airline's growth post-pandemic, as last year Aeromexico received 20 new aircraft (12 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, seven MAX 9s, and one 787-9). This expanded the fleet to 154 aircraft, the largest fleet the airline has operated in its almost 90-year history.
Through this fleet investment, Aeromexico has become one of the most fuel-efficient airlines in the world, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The arrival of the new planes has made Aeromexico 40% more efficient than in previous years, and the average age of Aeromexico's fleet is 7.97 years.
SkyTeam developments
Aeromexico, a founding carrier of the SkyTeam alliance (along with Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air), established the partnership in June 2000. Virgin Atlantic, which is 49% owned by Delta, became the newest airline to join the alliance when it officially joined on March 2nd, 2023. The SkyTeam alliance comprises 20 airlines across the globe, such as Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, China Airlines, China Eastern, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, ITA Airways, and more.
Last week at the IATA General Meeting in Istanbul, SkyTeam announced changes in its management. One of these changes included appointing a new chairman: Andrés Conesa, Aeromexico's CEO. After receiving the news, Conesa said,
"I am honoured to take on this new challenge. As a founding airline, Aeromexico is proud of SkyTeam's growth over its 23-year history. Our industry shares a common goal, and we must do our part to adhere and implement best practices to bring the SkyTeam alliance to new heights, always customer-centric, technology-driven, and with a sustainable mindset."
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