Mexican airline Aeromar ceases operations

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Small Mexican airline Aeromar said Wednesday it is closing down due to financial problems after failing to recover from a pandemic downturn.

The regional carrier operated 21 routes in Mexico and flew to McAllen and Laredo in Texas and Havana. It specialized in flying routes between Mexico City and beach resorts.

Aeromar said in a statement that it had not been able to recover from financial difficulties stemming from the global downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 pandemic starting in 2020.

Mexico City International Airport said in a statement that Aeromar owed about $27.5 million in fees, services and other debts.

The airline did not say what options would be available to travelers who already purchased tickets. It was also unclear what would happen to the company’s nearly 700 employees.

The airline was founded in 1987 with a fleet of about ten ATR turboprop airplanes. It was the second Mexican carrier to go broke as a result of pandemic. In December 2020, low-cost carrier Interjet ceased operations.

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Aeromar’s announcement left Mexico with three main domestic carriers: Aeromexico and low-cost airlines Volaris and Viva Aerobus.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has proposed creating a state-run airline operated by the armed forces. He has also angered airline executives with proposals to allow foreign airlines to operate domestic routes in Mexico.

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