Mexicana Airlines, which suspended all flights in August 2010 under bankruptcy proceedings, will return to Puerto Vallarta's sky in May 2011, according to Deputy Transportation Secretary Humberto Trevino, who is close to the negotiations.

Mexicana Airlines will emerge from bankruptcy as a much smaller entity thanks to bankruptcy negotiations spearheaded by Gerardo Badin. Avianca will operate the company domestically while American Airlines continues its marketing agreements overseas.

Mexicana Airlines will fly a fleet of nine Airbus A319 and A320 planes. According to Mexican authorities, ticket sales for the union owned airline are expected to begin February 20 if all goes according to plan.

Impact To Puerto Vallarta's Airport

Puerto Vallarta's airport is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP). Miguel Gargollo asserted that, while still in business, Mexicana Airlines accounted for 18% of GAP's passenger traffic to its 12 airports located in Mexico's Northwest.

After Mexicana Airlines bankruptcy announcement, GAP had forecasted a reduction in passenger GAP's traffic. Instead, GAP closed 2010 with a 5.6% increase in passengers thanks to the new flights by other carriers which picked up of about 30% of Mexicana Airlines' lost passenger traffic.

Planned Flight Schedules

Initially, Mexicana Airlines will start operations with domestic flights to Mexico City, Cancun and Guadalajara. International flights will include Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Francisco, Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami and New York.

Subsequently Mexicana Airlines plans to expand its domestic flights to Monterrey, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Puerto Vallarta and Tuxtla Gutierrez. International flights will increase to Bogota, Guatemala, El Salvador, Havana, Costa Rica, Orlando, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary in Canada.

GAP, and Puerto Vallarta, expect a slow recovery of traffic to its airports during 2011 as a result of the emergence of the new Mexicana Airlines.

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