The reactivation of the airline sector in Mexico has been led by the domestic segment and driven mainly from the States, but the history of the recovery in the European market is just beginning. Until a few days ago, non-resident travelers were denied access to countries such as Spain or France, but with the lifting of these restrictions – which facilitate the entry of people with certain vaccines applied – airlines such as Iberia are beginning to see potential in the region. Latin America, particularly in Mexico.
By July, the airline plans to go from the current 10 weekly frequencies to 12, which by September will be 14, operating with its A350-900 equipment. Similarly, it will increase its operations in Santiago, Lima and Sao Paulo with a daily flight, and other cities that, together, will add 90 weekly frequencies in 18 cities in 16 countries in the region.
Mexico has been a destination that has remained attractive for the airline even since the first weeks of the pandemic. Víctor Moneo, director for Latin America at Iberia, explains that although the occupancy of operations has not reached pre-pandemic levels, having a greater offer of flights helps build trust among travelers and the new post-pandemic travel environment.
“In Mexico we started with a timid operation very early [of the pandemic], with three weekly flights,” explains the manager in an interview. “The bet is big, firm. Everybody wants to travel. We have not been able to leave for a year, the demand is returning, the appetite to travel is very clearly perceived ”.
With more than half a million passengers a year, Iberia was the second largest European airline in Mexico before the pandemic, only behind the English company TUI Airways. However, the coronavirus led the company to suspend operations in Mexico during May, losing more than 70% of its users in 2020.
The return of the airline began in June with an operation that has grown gradually, maintaining practically a quarter of the levels prior to the pandemic.
Moneo explains that traffic between the two countries has a differentiated recovery, where the family and vacation market has begun to reactivate more quickly, while the business segment begins to show its first signs of return.
“From the corporate traffic there are the first glimpses. Although companies are further behind, when we speak with corporate clients there are already those who are beginning to plan their trips, ”he says.
The company is making “a very relevant rate effort” to stimulate demand by lowering costs, says Moneo, which, added to a greater commitment to air cargo, has been part of the strategy to mitigate the financial effects of the pandemic.
Despite the increase in operations, the European company still finds it difficult to recover the 21 weekly frequencies it had before the pandemic in an environment where travel restrictions from Spain, although more lax, still exist. “The signal given by the opening of the country for vaccinated people makes us think that as soon as these restrictions are lifted, there will be an important and solid traffic,” he says.
