Mexico – United States continues to be the most important international market for Latin America and the Caribbean. According to data obtained through Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), during the first nine months of 2023, a total of 40,693,590 international passengers has been registered in Mexico. Of this flow, 45% corresponds to travel between Mexico and the United States, with a movement of 27,941,990 travelers, maintaining an average load factor of 85%.
Over the past two years, this market has experienced a significant growth, reaching an increment of 6.76% compared with the same period between 2019 and 2023.
Regarding the distribution of the seat offer, Mexican airlines have a 29% share, within this segment, Volaris leads with 15%, followed by Aeromexico with 9%, and VivaAerobus with 5%. However, US airlines continue to dominate the overall market. American Airlines tops the list with a 25% market share, followed by United with 15% and Delta Air Lines with 10%. Southwest Airlines, one of the main low-cost companies in the United States, only covers 6% of the market.
Regarding the most traveled routes, the American cities of Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Los Angeles have the highest flow of travelers to Mexican cities, representing 14.5%, 13.5%, and 13.2%, respectively.
The supremacy of US airlines is due to their wide fleet and the number of companies operating, all of which was accentuated during the period when Mexico was under Category 2 in terms of air safety. Despite this advantage, airport infrastructure and time slots at Mexican airports are limiting factors.
Nevertheless, Mexico’s Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Rogelio Jiménez Pons, has announced plans to improve the infrastructure. Four or five projects are underway for the construction of new airport facilities in Mexico, with mixed investments in public-private partnerships.
This improvement in infrastructure, combined with Mexico’s reclassification, promises continued growth for Aeromexico, Volaris, and VivaAerobus. The three companies have announced the opening of 30 new routes in 2024, mainly from Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, to serve the Mexican diaspora in the United States.
The high and constant flow of passengers is reflected in the 20 most traveled routes between Mexico and the United States. Vacation destinations such as Cancun and San José del Cabo stand out, while Guadalajara and Mexico City connect with cities that have a larger presence of nationals, such as Texas and California.
