The federal government has confirmed its plans to turn the defunct Mexicana airlines brand into a new military-run commercial air carrier.
This week, the government said it has reached an agreement with unions representing Mexicana de Aviación employees to purchase the assets of the extinct airline for 816.8 million pesos ($US42 million).
Mexicana ceased operations after declaring bankruptcy in 2009. The rise in discount airlines over the past decade (Volaris, Viva Aerobus, Interjet) prohibited any chance of a resurgence, industry insiders say.
As well as the brand name, the sale includes a training center, properties in Mexico City and Guadalajara and two flight simulators. The maintenance center was not included in the purchase, reports said.
The bulk of the resources derived from the sale will be dispersed among Mexican employees as decided by representatives of the various unions involved in the talks.
Mexicana is Mexico’s first carrier and the world’s fourth oldest airline, starting operations in 1921. Aeromexico, Mexico’s second full-service carrier, was founded 13 years later in 1934.
However, Aeromexico won out when it became apparent the beginning of this century that having two flagship carriers was unsustainable in Mexico.
According to reports, the Mexican government is already taking to Boeing about renting planes for the new airline.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the military-run airline will service parts of the country that current have few of no air links, either domestically or internationally.