Mexico’s Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico Reports Passenger Traffic Decrease

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. announced preliminary terminal passenger traffic figures for the month of January 2009 compared to traffic figures for January 2008.

During January 2009, total terminal passengers decreased 15.0 percent compared to the previous year; international passenger traffic decreased 6.9 percent, and domestic passenger traffic decreased 19.9 percent compared to January 2008.

During January 2009, VivaAerobus initiated the La Paz to Culiacan route with two weekly frequencies, as well as Puerto Vallarta to Austin and Los Cabos to Culiacan also operating two frequencies each week. In addition, Interjet began operating at the Los Mochis airport, operating the Los Mochis to Mexico City route.

On February 4, 2009, the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SCT) granted Grupo Mexicana the concession rights to operate a low-cost carrier. The airline, called Mexicana Inter, announced that it would begin coverage of 24 routes, with a fleet of 13 CRJ-200 aircraft, with a capacity of 50 passengers, on March 15, 2009.

Per this announcement, Mexicana Inter is expected to cover some of the frequencies that were previously operated by Alma Airlines, from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta, Torreon, Monterrey, Mazatlan, Chihuahua, Ciudad Juarez, Veracruz and Tampico.