Mexico

Mexican LCCs Interjet, Volaris and VivaAerobus plan more rapid growth for 2012

Mexico’s three low-cost carriers are planning another year of rapid growth as they continue to benefit from the 2010 collapse of Grupo Mexicana. Interjet, Volaris and VivaAerobus saw their combined domestic passenger traffic grow by 41% in 2011 to 13.8 million passengers. Their international operations expanded even faster last year albeit on a very small base, recording 91% growth to 1.2 million passengers. More rapid growth is expected across both the domestic and international networks as the Mexico’s LCC trio plans to take delivery of 17 additional aircraft in 2012, representing 20% growth and resulting in a combined LCC fleet of 101 aircraft.

The LCC penetration rate in Mexico’s dynamic domestic market reached 54% in 2011, compared to 50% in 2010. The total domestic market grew by 4% in 2011 to 25.455 million passengers, which is still 8% below the peak of 2008 when Mexican carriers transported 27.649 million domestic passengers. But the fact Mexico has been able to grow at all the last two years (in 2010 growth was under 1%) is quite an achievement given the sudden collapse in Aug-2010 of Mexicana, which had about a 28% share of the domestic market.

Aeromexico plans further capacity expansion following profitable 3Q2011

Aeromexico has recorded another strong quarter of profits and expects continuing favourable market conditions in Mexico despite the challenging global economic environment. As a result, Mexico’s only remaining legacy airline is planning to increase capacity by another 12% to 13% in 2012, driven partially by the launch of several new routes within Mexico and to the US.

The expected expansion of Aeromexico’s US network is made possible by its expanded partnership with Aeromexico, which will be formalised over the next few weeks and will result in Delta taking a 4% stake in its SkyTeam partner.

US carriers continue to dominate Latin America's international market

Although financially weaker than their competitors to the south, US carriers continue to dominate Latin America’s international market. As a result, US airlines are well positioned to exploit the anticipated growth in the region. Complacency, however, is not an option. US carriers should seriously consider making strategic investments in Latin America’s leading airline groups to ensure their place in this important emerging market.

Latin America is a natural playground for US carriers given the geographic proximity and economic ties between the two regions. US carriers have traditionally accounted for a large majority of capacity between the US and Latin America. This has always been a sore topic for Latin American airlines, who over the years have repeatedly complained about an uneven playing field and how difficult it is to compete against their larger and aggressive competitors to the north.

In conversation with Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza

Spirit Airlines has proven there is room in the mature US market for a new model and unusual network strategy.

A year after Mexicana's exit, Aeromexico, Mexican LCCs and US carriers are main beneficiaries

One year after the suspension of services at Grupo Mexicana, which became the largest airline casualty since the onset of the global financial crisis, it appears the Mexican market has fully recovered. Mexico’s remaining carriers have been able to quickly absorb Mexicana’s approximately 27% of the domestic market. US carriers have so far been the largest beneficiaries of Mexicana’s demise in the international market but Mexico’s remaining carriers are eager to start narrowing the very wide gap with their foreign competitors.