Mexican Army-Run Airline Makes First Flight to Resort Town

The military's role in the revival of state-run Mexicana airlines is to ‘rescue’ it from corruption, according to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico.

Kimberly Johnson

Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 12:26 PM ET

Verified

A Mexicana Boeing 737-800 makes the inaugural flight of the military-run state airline on Tuesday. [Courtesy: Mexicana]

Key Takeaways:

Mexico's military has relaunched the former state-operated Mexicana Airlines, with its inaugural flight from Mexico City to Tulum International Airport recently taking place.
The airline aims to offer significantly cheaper fares—tickets for the first flight were about one-third less than commercial offerings—and will initially serve 14 destinations, including tourist spots and underserved communities.
President López Obrador stated that the military's involvement is to protect the airline from corruption and reverse the "great fraud" of past privatizations, viewing public companies as "people's companies."

See a mistake? Contact us.

Mexico’s military has revived the country’s former state-operated Mexicana airlines, launching service from Mexico City to a new international airport in the Caribbean.

A Mexicana de Aviación Boeing 737-800—operating as MXA 1788—made the inaugural flight Tuesday morning, departing Felipe Ángeles International Airport (MMSM) near Mexico City and landing at Tulum International Airport (MMTU) around 1:30 p.m. local time.