Mexico had a great year in 2022 in terms of carried passengers. The North American country definitely left the COVID-19 crisis behind by carrying 106.8 million passengers, growing by 5.3% compared to the pre-pandemic traffic levels. Mexico was also the largest market in Latin America & the Caribbean and second behind only the United States in the Americas.

A strong performance in 2022

The airlines operating domestic and international trips in and out of Mexico carried 106.8 million passengers in 2022. They set a new record in terms of traffic and were led by the ultra-low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobus, and the full service Aeromexico in the domestic segment, and by American Airlines in the international market.

Despite the strong traffic performance, Mexico’s civil aviation industry faced tough challenges in 2022. The country remained downgraded to Category 2 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The industry faced headwinds, particularly from controversial government projects such as the inauguration of the new Felipe Ángeles International Airport and the law reform project that would authorize cabotage.

In 2023 the challenges will remain as Mexico continues to be downgraded to Category 2, although recertification could be achieved in 2023’s second quarter. The country could also lose an airline if the regional carrier and ATR-based Aeromar cease operations as projected. Nonetheless, the strong growth of the domestic and the Mexico-US markets has been helpful in keeping the country’s civil aviation growing at a rate barely seen globally in this post-COVID environment. Other countries that have surpassed 2019 traffic levels are Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

An Aeromexico Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in Mexico City.
Photo: Guillermo Quiroz Martínez via @gquimar.

The domestic market performance

Mexico’s seven airlines carried 57.16 million passengers in 2022. That was a nearly 7% growth compared to 2019, when the country had 53.5 million passengers and eight carriers. Interjet ceased operations one year later due to a financial crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Volaris led the domestic market carrying 23.43 million passengers, followed by Viva Aerobus with 17.36 million passengers and Aeromexico with 15.14 million passengers. None of the other four airlines surpassed even half a million passengers, a testament to the complex challenges faced by regional operators. Aeromar was the largest of the regional players, with 367,259 passengers. In 2023, Mexico could also receive a new regional airline with the launch of Aerus, a Cessna and Alice-based company.

An American Airlines Airbus A319 in Mexico City.
Photo: Guillermo Quiroz Martínez via @gquimar.

The international market performance

The four Mexican carriers that operate international flights had 13.03 million passengers. They were led by Aeromexico, which carried 6.34 million passengers. Volaris carried 4.75 million and Viva Aerobus 1.90 million. In 2019, when there were five Mexican airlines operating international travel, they had 16.40 million passengers, meaning they had recovered nearly 80% of their pre-pandemic traffic levels. However, if we remove Interjet’s 2019 numbers from the equation (4.75 million passengers), the Mexican airlines have increased their traffic levels by 12%.

The non-Mexican airlines operating international flights carried 36.65 million passengers (16% growth versus 2019), led by American Airlines. The US-based carrier had 7.38 million passengers, while United Airlines carried 5.39 million, and Delta Air Lines carried 3.75 million.

Have you had the opportunity to travel to Mexico recently? How did you find the experience? Let us know in the comments below.

  • Volaris Getty
    Volaris
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    Y4/VOI
    Airline Type:
    Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Guadalajara International Airport, Mexico City International Airport, Tijuana International Airport
    Year Founded:
    2005
    CEO:
    Enrique Beltranena
    Country:
    Mexico
  • Aeromexico Tile
    Aeromexico
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    AM/AMX
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Mexico City International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1934
    Alliance:
    SkyTeam
    Airline Group:
    Grupo Aeromexico
    CEO:
    Andrés Conesa Labastida
    Country:
    Mexico
    Region:
    North America
    Loyalty Program:
    Aeromexico Rewards