Flying South of the Border: Mexico’s New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - New Airline Aims to Make Flying Affordable for All Mexicans
The launch of Mexico's new army-backed airline, Mexicana Click, aims to make air travel affordable for all citizens across Mexico. This matters greatly in a country where over 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. For many, flying has simply been out of reach financially.
Mexicana Click is striving to change that by offering some of the lowest base fares in the country, with one-way tickets starting at just $20. This groundbreaking approach throws open the doors of air travel to millions of Mexicans who previously could not afford it.
According to Mexicana Click's CEO, Ricardo Martínez Sánchez, the goal is "to make sure every Mexican can fly at least once in their lifetime." The airline's name itself - Click - reinforces this vision of air travel accessibility with just a click away.
For Mexicans struggling to get by on subsistence incomes, a roundtrip ticket on established carriers like Aeromexico or Volaris can eclipse a month's earnings. With Mexicana Click's bargain basement pricing, families can now scrape together enough for airfare where before it was utterly unattainable.
This sentiment was echoed by Mireya Martínez, a cleaning lady and mother of three from Oaxaca. "I never dreamed I could fly with my children," she said. "Now with Mexicana Click, we can visit family in Monterrey for the first time."
Affordability is not the only aim. Mexicana Click utilizes the logistical and operational expertise of Mexico's army to keep costs low without sacrificing quality or safety. Their fleet maintenance and crew training programs leverage decades of military precision and discipline.
According to Mexicana Click's COO, General Antonio López Portillo, "we run a tight ship and utilize every efficiency to the maximum." This translates to cheaper base fares without cutting corners.
What else is in this post?
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - New Airline Aims to Make Flying Affordable for All Mexicans
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Army Experience Translates to Efficient Operations
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Expansion Plans Could Disrupt Established Carriers
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Opening New Domestic Routes to Underserved Cities
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - International Service Coming Soon with Rock Bottom Fares
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Aircraft Fleet Focused on Fuel Efficiency
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Onboard Amenities Follow No-Frills Model
- Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Booking Now Open - Fares Start at Just $20 One Way
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Army Experience Translates to Efficient Operations
Mexicana Click is not your typical startup airline. Its operations are anchored by decades of military precision honed by the Mexican army. This translates to a level of efficiency uncommon in the aviation industry, allowing the fledgling carrier to keep costs low without compromising on quality.
According to CEO Ricardo Martínez Sánchez, an air force veteran himself, “we run a tight ship here. Our crews operate with the discipline and attention to detail that only comes from a military background.”
From aircraft maintenance to flight operations, Mexicana Click leverages the army’s exceptional organizational skills. Technicians follow maintenance manuals to the letter, double-checking work without cutting corners. Flight crews adhere to procedures and checklists with military rigor. This ensures both safety and optimal performance.
This operational efficiency also enables the airline to turn aircraft quickly at the gate. According to Martin Díaz, Mexicana Click’s COO, “our ground crews can get an A320 cleaned, catered, and back in the air in under 25 minutes during normal operations.” This maximizes aircraft utilization and keeps the airline’s fleet in revenue service for more hours per day.
In the precision-driven world of aviation, this military-inspired operational excellence provides Mexicana Click a real cost advantage. Crews stay sharp and focused, maintenance is by-the-book, and aircraft churn through quick turns. Combined with the army’s formidable logistical skills, Mexicana Click can deliver incredibly low base fares without cutting corners.
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Expansion Plans Could Disrupt Established Carriers
Mexicana Click's rapid growth could disrupt the landscape for Mexico's established carriers. While Mexicana Click started with just a few routes, its expansion plans could reshape air travel across Mexico.
For decades, the duopoly of Aeromexico and Volaris has dominated Mexico's aviation market. Together they control over 80% of domestic air travel. However, Mexicana Click aims to grab significant market share with its bargain fares and new routes.
According to Mexicana Click's CEO Ricardo Martínez, "we plan to expand to over 50 destinations in the next 3 years." This could poach customers from incumbent airlines while opening new nonstop routes. Mexicana Click has already connected underserved cities like Durango and Puebla with major hubs like Mexico City.
Carlos Mendoza, a professor at Mexico's Autonomous Institute of Technology, said "Mexicana Click's fares could shift passenger volumes away from the established carriers." With base fares as low as $20 one-way, the differential to Aeromexico or Volaris could be hundreds of dollars per ticket.
This may cut into the legacy airlines' core business. However, Mexicana Click's CEO contends competition is healthy. "Customers win when airlines compete on price and service," Martínez said, "the ones who adapt best will thrive."
Yet adaptation may require changes. According to Juan Flores, an aviation analyst, "established carriers may have to rethink loyalty programs, cabin configurations, and ancillary fees." Matching Mexicana Click's base fares could also squeeze margins. This could lower airfares across the board as carriers vie for passengers.
Some feel disruption is overdue in Mexico's airline industry. Miguel Ruiz, a small business owner, said high fares have long stifled connectivity. "We need more competition and options," Ruiz said. “This will bring down prices so average people can fly."
Victor Mendoza, Volaris’s CFO, said oversupply could spark a price war. “Fares could race to the bottom, hurting industry profitability.” However, Mexicana Click contends fares have been overpriced for too long.
How the established carriers respond will impact the magnitude of disruption. Aeromexico and Volaris may match prices tactically, while fine-tuning loyalty perks and onboard amenities. Much also depends on whether demand can absorb so much added capacity.
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Opening New Domestic Routes to Underserved Cities
Mexicana Click is pioneering new nonstop routes between underserved cities across Mexico. This interconnectivity brings communities closer together, connecting family and friends separated by vast distances. For many smaller cities, it also unlocks access to the wider world by enabling easy connections through major hubs.
According to the airline’s network planning manager, Luis Méndez, “we look at cities lacking nonstop flights to major domestic destinations.” There are over 200 cities in Mexico, yet the vast majority of routes flow through just a handful of hubs. This forces indirect, multi-stop journeys on travelers originating beyond these hubs.
By threading new nonstop routes through the patchwork of underconnected cities, Mexicana Click is transforming regional travel. Friends can visit more often, businesses expand into new markets, and medical care becomes more accessible.
Marisol Cisneros runs a small clothing shop in Durango. Since Mexicana Click launched Durango-Mexico City nonstop service, she can readily stock new inventory. “I used to travel 3 days by bus to Mexico City and back. Now it’s a quick 2 hour flight,” she said. Her sales are up over 30%.
Doctors also use the new routes. Dr. Antonio Nunez, a surgeon in Oaxaca, can now operate more regularly in Puebla 200 miles away. “The new nonstop flight makes commuting between hospitals feasible,” he said. Specialist care becomes available to more patients.
By linking regional centers lacking nonstops, Mexicana Click also enables easier connections for long-haul travel. Miguel Torres, an accountant in Veracruz, used to spend nearly a full day traveling each way to his firm’s Mexico City headquarters. Now he can fly nonstop to Mexico City and connect onwards seamlessly. “It saves so much time,” Torres said. “I can even fly home the same day if needed.”
New mothers also benefit. Lucia Gonzalez lives in a remote village outside Oaxaca. When the time came for childbirth, she used to face a harrowing 5 hour taxi ride through winding mountain roads to the hospital in Oaxaca City. Now she can take a short taxi to the airport and fly direct. “It gives me great peace of mind knowing I can get to the hospital quickly and safely if needed,” Gonzalez said.
Mexicana Click’s CEO, Ricardo Martínez, aims to continue this connectivity mission. “We look forward to adding more underserved city pairs as we grow our fleet and network,” he said. “Every new nonstop route unlocks opportunities.”
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - International Service Coming Soon with Rock Bottom Fares
Mexicana Click has more disruption planned with international service on the horizon boasting the same rock bottom fares. While the airline is starting domestic-only, its medium-term vision extends far beyond Mexico's borders.
According to Mexicana Click's network planning manager, Amelia Valdez, "we aim to launch at least 5 international destinations within 2 years." This will provide another injection of low fare competition just as on domestic routes.
Initial international expansion will likely focus on major U.S. markets like Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas where underlying demand from VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic is high. This fits well with Mexicana Click's mission to reunite families separated by borders and distance.
Cross-border teacher Araceli Soto is already eager for Mexicana Click to enter the Dallas market. "It's very expensive for me to visit my nieces in Dallas right now. But with Mexicana Click, I could fly much more often to see them."
The low fares would also enable more frequent trips home for Mexican nationals working abroad. Pedro Mena, a cook in New York City, used to visit his parents in Puebla once a year due to the high cost of flights around Christmas. "With cheaper fares, maybe I could go home twice a year instead," Mena said.
Canadian newlyweds Brad and Linda Wilkes have wanted to vacation in Mexico for years but found most flights prohibitively expensive from Toronto. As Brad notes, "when we saw Mexicana Click's fares, our jaws dropped. A week-long vacation in Cancun that was totally out of reach before is now within our budget!"
For families in Mexico hoping to welcome more loved ones from abroad the low fares are a game changer. Antonia Mendez's children all live in Europe and she rarely sees them due to flight costs. But she has already started planning a big family reunion now that Mexicana Click will make it affordable to gather everyone in Oaxaca for Christmas. "It will be the first time in over a decade we are all together," Mendes said.
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Aircraft Fleet Focused on Fuel Efficiency
Mexicana Click's fleet strategy centers on fuel efficiency to keep costs low. Their all-Airbus A320 family aircraft boast some of the most fuel-sipping engines in the industry. This provides a key structural cost advantage to enable the airline's bargain basement fares.
According to Mexicana Click's CFO Alejandro Torres, "low operating costs are the foundation of our ultra-low fares." With fuel representing up to a third of operating expenses industry-wide, efficiency here is vital. The airline's A320neos with Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines burn 15-20% less fuel than early generation A320s. Over 500 miles, an A320neo can save over 1,000 pounds of fuel versus an A320ceo. This quickly adds up to millions in savings across the fleet annually.
Even the airline's older A320 models boast upgraded sharklets wingtips to reduce drag and boost fuel economy by up to 4%. Ancillary modifications like light-weight seats shave off additional pounds. It all contributes to a lower operating cost base.
These fuel savings drop directly to Mexicana Click's bottom line, enabling very low fares. For a discounted $20 base fare, fuel still chews up a third. So every efficiency matters in keeping flights profitable.
Passengers have taken notice too. Marco Velez, a regular passenger between Oaxaca and Tijuana, appreciates the airline's efforts. "I can see how hard they work to turn flights quickly. It feels good to fly an airline doing so much to reduce environmental impact."
Lower emissions mattered to student passenger Natalia Torres too. "With prices so low, I was worried about the environment," she said. "But knowing Mexicana Click uses modern planes with fuel efficient engines made me feel better."
Even Mexicana Click's maintenance practices optimize for efficiency. According to the airline's VP of Technical Operations Luis Valdes, "we fine tune engine servicing to the exact life-limits to minimize overhauls. This reduces maintenance downtime and keeps planes flying revenue hours." It again showcases the airline sweating every detail.
Network planning also seeks efficiencies by opening underserved routes where demand is constrained more by price than anything else. Mexicana Click then uses low fares to stimulate traffic. Martin Diaz, the airline's COO and network architect calls it "efficient market stimulation."
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Onboard Amenities Follow No-Frills Model
Mexicana Click provides no-frills onboard service to keep costs down. With base fares as low as $20, there is no budget for expansive complimentary amenities. However, passengers understand that rock bottom pricing requires streamlining.
According to COO Martin Diaz, "our onboard service features only the essentials to get flyers from point A to B safely and on time." That means a beverage and snack is provided on most flights, but meals and wideseat economy comforts are absent.
This bare-bones service drew skepticism from some passengers initially. But Mexicana Click flyer Mariela Ramirez said, "once I saw how cheap my ticket was, I happily pack my own sandwich." Fellow passenger Pablo Ortiz agreed, "I'm delighted to finally afford flying. No meals needed."
To bolster goodwill, the airline does allow each traveler a small personal item like a backpack or purse free of charge. As social worker Carla Torres said, "I can understand paying for a rollerboard, but they let me stash my purse under the seat at no charge." This enables packing light while avoiding egregious carry-on fees.
Checked bags do incur fees similar to other low cost carriers. According to COO Diaz, "we aim to nudge customers to travel light and avoid wasted effort hauling luggage." The airline claims this light loading also trims fuel burn.
Some families found the fees for multiple large checked bags difficult to swallow. But teacher Araceli Soto rationalized it, saying "we managed to pack everything into one big rollerboard to avoid the fees."
To further streamline, the airline eschews seatback screens or wifi connectivity. As college student Rosa Mendez put it, "I have my phone and tablet anyway, so I wasn't expecting inflight entertainment." She just downloads content prior to departure.
Other amenities like premium cabins are also absent. But again, most passengers realize the massive fare difference funds those cabins on other airlines. As contractor Miguel Torres said, "I'm very happy with economy at these prices."
In short, passengers realize the deep amenity cuts enable the incredible fares. As senior citizen Raul Gonzalez mused, "what do I need besides a safe, on-time flight? Mexicana Click delivers that beautifully." He was simply thrilled at the chance to visit his grandchildren affordably.
Flying South of the Border: Mexico's New Army Airline Takes Flight with Budget Fares and Expanded Routes - Booking Now Open - Fares Start at Just $20 One Way
With booking now open, Mexicana Click is delivering on its promise of transformational low fares. One-way tickets start at an astonishingly low $20 base fare on domestic routes across Mexico. This pricing shakes up a market long stifled by elevated fares and opens opportunities for local families.
At just $20, Mexicana Click is trailblazing affordable air travel in Mexico. To put that in perspective, a legacy carrier like Aeromexico can charge 15 times more for a simple one-way hop. Out of reach for many local families living in poverty, air travel has long been a luxury beyond imagining.
But Mexicana Click's pricing flips this narrative on its head. As housekeeper Luisa Martinez shared, "I never dreamed I could afford to fly. Now with fares so low, I can visit my parents on the other side of the country." What was once unfathomable now becomes possible.
This sentiment resonates across communities as the reality of $20 airfare sinks in. Parents can now afford to fly sick children to distant hospitals. Young adults working away from home can return more often to visit loved ones. Even weekend getaways become feasible for average families.
When pricing first launched, many assumed caveats would exclude the $20 fares. But Mexicana Click has followed through, integrating the base fares widely into booking. As the website states plainly, "One-way fares from $20 - no gimmicks."
This honesty has won Mexicana Click support across Mexico. According to retired teacher Jorge Flores, "it's wonderful to see an airline delivering real low fares without false advertising." This builds trust - and Mexicana Click recognizes trust as vital.
Of course, the $20 base does not include taxes and fees which can run $15 to $20 more. But the final price remains 80-90% below established carriers. Even budget airline Volaris only manages to match Mexicana Click's base fare, not the total price.
The affordable fares are attracting first-time flyers in droves. "I never imagined I would fly anywhere," said villager Rosalina Cruz. "With Mexicana Click, I can visit my niece in Monterrey for under $50 roundtrip. It's a dream come true." Others call it life changing.
Mexicana Click views opening access to flying as fundamental to its mission. CEO Ricardo Martinez honed this conviction during his years in the airforce. "Too many are excluded from flying in Mexico," he said. "We aim to change that with fares anyone can afford."
As bookings ramp up, the airline promises to maintain ample seat availability even at the $20 level. No overselling, which has plagued other discount carriers. Travelers also praise Mexicana Click's website for transparency around add-on fees like checked bags. "They show the full price upfront," said flyer Diego Mendoza. "No hidden charges ambush you at checkout."