en.Wedoany.com Reported - Mexicana de Aviación will resume operations at Guanajuato International Airport (BJX) on July 27, re-entering the Bajio regional market by adding a new route connecting the airport with Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA).
As the state-owned airline continues to expand its domestic network, it faces delays in its international expansion plans. Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo stated that the new route will operate six days a week from Sunday to Friday, providing additional connectivity between the Bajio region and the Mexico City metropolitan area via AIFA. She noted that current air service options between Guanajuato and Mexico City are limited, with scarce available frequencies and, in many cases, only a single route, resulting in expensive airfares.
The return to Guanajuato is part of Mexicana de Aviación's domestic expansion strategy centered on AIFA. Since the airline resumed operations under the Mexican Ministry of National Defense, it has focused its activities on this airport. The Guanajuato route is one of four new routes planned for launch in July, with other destinations including Hermosillo, Chihuahua, and Tuxtla Gutierrez. Previously, the airline inaugurated a route between AIFA and Acapulco on June 4, operating three weekly flights (Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays) using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft with a 135-seat configuration. According to company executives, the inaugural flight achieved a 95% load factor.
Mexicana de Aviación CEO Leobardo Ávila Bojórquez stated that following the launch of the Acapulco route, the July expansion plan will include Hermosillo, Chihuahua, Tuxtla Gutierrez, and the Bajio region, with Guanajuato becoming the latest destination. With the addition of this route, the number of domestic destinations served by Mexicana de Aviación will increase to 19.
Amid domestic growth, the airline's international expansion faces regulatory hurdles. Mexicana de Aviación recently confirmed that it will not operate charter flights between Mexico and the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as it failed to complete the certification process required by U.S. authorities before the start of the event. Previously, the airline had applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for authorization to operate international charter passenger, cargo, and mail services during the tournament from June 11 to July 19, 2026, planning to deploy five Embraer E195-E2 aircraft and Boeing 737-800 jets to connect Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey with U.S. destinations including Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York, with initial logistical operations originally scheduled to begin in May 2026.
At AIFA, Ávila stated that the certification process is still ongoing, and the company will continue to cooperate with U.S. authorities, understanding that the process has its own timeline and will treat it as a future opportunity while complying with all U.S. regulations. He denied that the delay is related to U.S. aviation measures imposed on Mexico in 2025, stating that the Department of Transportation has clearly outlined the international regulations it must follow, particularly those established by the Federal Aviation Administration. Despite the certification setback, Mexicana de Aviación is preparing for increased domestic demand related to the World Cup by adding frequencies on routes connecting host cities. Currently, the airline operates two daily flights to Guadalajara and two daily flights to Monterrey, and plans to maintain this schedule throughout the event. Mexicana de Aviación currently operates 637 flights per month, with Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey expected to account for most of the domestic passenger traffic generated by the tournament.
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