The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it would launch a “broad public inquiry” into the state of competition in air travel — the government’s second inquiry into the airline industry in just the past two months.
24.10.2024 - 16:57 / thepointsguy.com / Kate Gallego
Mexico's flag carrier is returning to Arizona's capital city for the first time in more than a decade.
Next spring, Aeromexico will launch nonstop service from its Mexico City International Airport (MEX) hub to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
The new flights kick off March 30, marking the start of daily service between Phoenix and Mexico's capital.
The move will bolster Aeromexico's U.S. footprint, which has grown at a fast pace in 2024.
But that broader growth, owed in part to a deep partnership with Delta Air Lines, is in a bit of limbo amid a spat with the Biden administration that's left the two airlines' tie-up in jeopardy.
Aeromexico plans to operate its daily Phoenix route with a Boeing 737 MAX jet. The schedule features a late-morning flight north to Arizona and an afternoon jaunt to Mexico City.
Here's how the itinerary shakes out, with all times local:
Aeromexico will have some competition on the route. American Airlines currently flies between the two cities.
Still, the flights seem likely to draw strong demand.
Overall demand for flights between Phoenix and Mexico has grown 155% compared to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said this week.
"We are excited to welcome Aeromexico back to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to serve this crucial market," Gallego said in a statement.
To Gallego's point about welcoming Aeromexico "back" to the city, Aeromexico isn't a total newcomer to Phoenix, but it's been a while. The carrier last flew to the Valley of the Sun in 2014, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?
Aeromexico's plans to launch this new U.S. route in early 2025 come after a year that brought strong growth north of the border for the carrier.
The total number of seats Aeromexico flew to the U.S. this year was up 24% versus 2019 — five years ago.
Check out what Aeromexico's U.S. network looked like in October 2023 versus this month, per Cirium.
Touting that growth this week, airline leaders pointed to the company's close ties with Delta, with whom it operates a joint venture. The arrangement has been directly responsible for the significant growth of the two airlines between the U.S. and Mexico.
That alliance, Aeromexico said this week, has collectively fueled 28 new routes between the U.S. and Mexico this year alone.
"This alliance solidifies Aeromexico and Delta as the airlines with the best connectivity between the United States and Mexico," Aeromexico said this week. "By the end of 2024, we will jointly operate 80 routes, with more than 135 daily flights between both regions."
However, that partnership remains in a state of flux.
Earlier this year, the U.S.
The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it would launch a “broad public inquiry” into the state of competition in air travel — the government’s second inquiry into the airline industry in just the past two months.
Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines are reportedly in talks to merge. Sounds like déjà vu? It is.
A Russian supporter of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been charged with murder in Germany over the fatal stabbing of two injured Ukrainian soldiers who were recovering from operations in Bavaria.
United Airlines may have dropped nearly 40 U.S. cities during the pandemic, but one of them will soon see service on the carrier once again.
During a time when new airport lounges are constantly aiming to one-up each other—with landscaped patios and over-the-top shower suites—Delta Air Line’s newest offering sets a high bar.
Aer Lingus is launching service to a new U.S. city, helped by the arrival of its newest aircraft type.
When most people think of Hyatt Hotels, they think of either luxury hotels (like the Park Hyatt Tokyo in the movie “Lost in Translation”) or urban business hotels (where your corporation’s annual holiday party takes place).
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is introducing its Microtel by Wyndham Brand to India – its eighth brand in the country – through a development agreement with NILE Hospitality.
An upgraded travel experience just got cheaper. Delta Air Lines recently released hundreds of flight deals in their premium cabins, such as Delta Comfort+ and Delta One for travel throughout the fall and winter. Many of the tickets are priced under $1,000, and travelers can also redeem miles from Delta's SkyMiles program for seats at a discounted rate as well. Some of the lowest-priced flight deals to Europe include New York-JFK to London-Heathrow for only $703 round-trip in Comfort+, or 59,000 Miles, valid on travel from January 7, 2025 through March 6, 2025.
Delta Air Lines has announced that its newest premium lounge will be located at its Mountain West hub, where the carrier is boosting international service over the next year. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is slated to receive a Delta One lounge, as confirmed by an airline spokesperson to T+L. While the exact opening date hasn’t been shared just yet, this marks the airline's fifth Delta One lounge in the country. A step above the existing network of Delta Sky Clubs, the Delta One lounges are exclusively available to long-haul business or first-class passengers.
Fresh on the heels of an exciting long-haul expansion, United Airlines is back with another network update.
Delta Air Lines was forced to stop meal service for over 200 flights out of Detroit over the weekend due to a “food safety issue.”