Editing Aeroméxico (section)

==History==
{{Aeroméxico timeline}}
===1934===
[[File:Aeromexico.png|thumb|The former logo of Aeroméxico.]]
The airline was established as '''Aeronaves de México''' on 15 September 1934,<ref name="FI">{{cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= [[Flight International]] | page= 49 | date= 27 March 2007}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Magnusson |first=Michael |title=Latin glory: airlines of Latin America |date=1995 |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn=978-0-7603-0024-4 |location=Osceola, WI |language=en}}</ref> by Antonio Díaz Lombardo. Its first aircraft was a [[Stinson Reliant|Stinson SR Reliant 5A]] (registered XB-AJI<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeromexico.com/es-mx/blog-de-viajes-inspirate/stinson-reliant-sr-5a-joya-aeronautica|title=Nuestro primer avión, el Stinson Reliant SR-5A, se aventuró a cruzar cielos mexicanos, ¡conoce sus hazañas!|website=Aeromexico|language=es}}</ref>). [[Julio Zinser]] piloted the maiden flight on the Mexico City – [[Acapulco]] route on 14 September 1934.
[[File:Aeromexico Mexico Acapulco ca 1935.jpg|thumb|An early [[Bellanca Aircraft Company|Bellanca]] aircraft of Aeroméxico, México City – Acapulco ca. 1935.]]
[[File:Bristol 175 302 XA-MED Aeronaves JFK 1958 edited-2.jpg|thumb|Aeronaves de Mexico Bristol Britannia at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York International Airport]] in 1958.]]

===1940s===
When [[World War II]] began, the airline continued to grow with the help of [[Pan American World Airways|Pan Am]], which owned 40% of the new Mexican airline and upgrade the fleet with [[Douglas DC-2|DC-2s]] and [[Boeing 247]]s.<ref name=":0" /> Aeroméxico saw few changes for the next two decades. However, during the 1950s, renovation began, and the airline took over various small competitor companies across the country, including Aerovías Guest (the second airline of the country at that time) that held the routes to [[Madrid]] and Paris. Aeroméxico added aircraft including the [[Douglas DC-3]] and its successor, the [[Douglas DC-4]].

===1950s===
During the late 1950s, the Douglas DC-4s were replaced by some pressurized [[Douglas DC-6]]s and two [[Bristol Britannia]]s (the first turboprop passenger aircraft in the fleet) and in 1958, services were inaugurated to [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|Idlewild Airport]] (now JFK) using the Britannias.<ref name=":0" /> The Mexico City-[[New York City|New York]] route would prove profitable for "Aeronaves" and its North American competitors. The airline was [[nationalization|nationalised]] in 1959.<ref name=":0" />

===1960s===
In the early 1960s, the fleet of Aeronaves de México (Aeroméxico) included Douglas DC-3, Douglas DC-6, and Bristol Britannia aircraft. Starting in 1961, "Aeronaves" began replacing its piston-engined aircraft with new jets. The first jet-engined aircraft were a pair of [[Douglas DC-8]]s. The DC-8s were used on routes within Mexico and to New York City. In 1963, Aeronaves de México (Aeroméxico) took over [[Aerovias Guest]] airlines and they were merged under the name Aeronaves de México.<ref name=":0" /> Later in the 1960s, more DC-8s were added and service to Europe was resumed, operated by two [[de Havilland Comet 4C]] jet aircraft dry-leased by Aerovías Guest prior to the merger.

===1970s===
[[File:Douglas DC-8-51 XA-SID Aeronaves TOR 26.03.71 edited-3.jpg|thumb|An Aeronaves de Mexico [[Douglas DC-8]] at [[Toronto Pearson International Airport|Toronto International Airport]] in 1971.]]
The 1970s brought dramatic changes for Aeroméxico. In 1970, under a government plan, Mexican domestic airlines were nationalized into an integrated air transport system under the control of Aeronaves de México. The system included eight smaller carriers, although these were later disbanded.<ref name="FI"/>
During the early 1970s, the remaining Douglas DC-6 and Bristol Britannia aircraft were retired. A new color scheme (orange and black) was introduced and the airline changed its name from "Aeronaves de México" to its current, shortened version of Aeroméxico in February 1972.

One of Aeronaves de Mexico's subsidiaries during that era was named Aeronaves del Sureste ("Southeast Air Ships").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/sureste2.htm|title=Aeronaves del Sureste|website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> That subsidiary had a mix of Twin-Otter and DC-9 jets aircraft.

Aeroméxico, as one of the launch customers of the [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]] program, received the first of its aircraft in 1974. That same year, the airline also took delivery of its first seven [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9|McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32s]].{{cn|date=June 2024}} 
[[File:Aero Mexico DC-9 XA-DEN 01.jpg|thumb|First flight on April 8, 1974 and delivered to Aeroméxico on May 21, 1974. The aircraft on July 27, 1981 landing at Chihuahua [[General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport]], with bad weather conditions, overran the runway threshold, the fuselage broke and caught fire causing 30 fatalities among 66 occupants.]]
During this period, the airline's popularity and visibility grew dramatically. This was due in part to Aeroméxico's involvement in [[Cinema of Mexico|Mexican movies]]. Basically, every time characters in any movie produced in Mexico had to fly somewhere, they were depicted as flying on Aeroméxico aircraft.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

===1980s===
{{unsourced section|date=December 2023}}
The early 1980s were marked by expansion. A new color scheme was introduced (orange paint and silver),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Enderes |first=Gunter |title=Airline liveries |date=1999 |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |edition=4th |location=Shepperton, Surrey, England, United Kingdom}}</ref> two DC-10-15s and a DC-10-30 were added in 1981 and in 1984. Aeroméxico, one of the launch customers of the [[McDonnell Douglas MD-80|McDonnell Douglas MD-82]] (an elongated version of the DC-9), received its first two in late 1981. Between 1980 and 1981, eight more DC-9-32 aircraft were added.
On 31 August 1986, the company suffered its only fatal accident outside Mexico when [[Aeroméxico Flight 498]], a Douglas DC-9, approaching [[Los Angeles International Airport]] was struck by a [[light aircraft]]. Both aircraft then fell to earth in the Los Angeles suburb of [[Cerritos, California]]. All 64 passengers and crew on board the DC-9-32 were killed, as were the three people in the light aircraft and 15 people on the ground. After three years and a long trial, the aircraft's crew and the airline were found not to blame. This was because the pilot of the Piper had strayed into an air traffic control zone reserved for commercial flights. That same year, the airline acquired the charter carrier GATSA and used it for charter operations until December.
In April 1988, the state-owned company was declared bankrupt and grounded for three months because of lack of organization, a fleet with an average of 20 years without a renovation plan and a depredating administration by the Mexican Government. In August, a privatization program was underway. This involved retiring the eight Douglas DC-8s along with the remaining ten DC-9-15 aircraft. After a strike and bankruptcy between April and May 1988, a privatization process started and included a new corporate name (Aerovias de Mexico SA de CV). The airline restarted operations with some of its predecessor's assets, including the headquarters building, maintenance hangar, some aircraft, and some former Aeronaves de Mexico employees.

===1990s===
{{one source section|date=December 2023}}
[[File:145bz - AeroMexico Boeing 767-200, XA-TNS@CDG,11.08.2001 - Flickr - Aero Icarus.jpg|thumb|right|An Aeroméxico [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-200ER]] at [[Charles de Gaulle Airport]] in [[Paris]] in 2001.]]
The early 1990s were turbulent times, with the rise in fuel costs due to the [[Gulf War]], and a domestic fare war caused by start-up airlines like [[TAESA]], [[Servicios Aéreos Rutas Oriente]], [[Aviacsa]], among others, as well as constant labor problems. In April 1991, the first two 767-200ERs were introduced to the fleet to replace DC-10s in services to Europe, New York, and Tijuana, and another two 767-300ERs joined the fleet later that year. This was all a part of a renovation and expansion program to introduce 24 direct flights to [[Barajas Airport|Madrid]] and [[Charles De Gaulle Airport|Paris]] from [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]] with Boeing 767s as well as services to [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]] via Paris and Rome via Madrid.

In 1992, Grupo Aeroméxico was among other investors that failed to consummate the acquisition of [[Continental Airlines]]. After failing to invest in Continental, Aeroméxico acquired the bankrupt Aeroperú from the [[Politics of Peru|Peruvian government]].<ref name=":0" />

In 1993, Aeroméxico Group took over [[Mexicana de Aviación (1921–2010)|Mexicana]], the second-largest airline in the Mexican market under the same management.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ramirez |first=Miguel D |date=2001 |title=The Mexican regulatory experience in the airline, banking and telecommunications sectors |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1062976901000977 |journal=The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance |language=en |volume=41 |issue=5 |pages=657–681 |doi=10.1016/S1062-9769(01)00097-7}}</ref> There was a great dispute in June 1993 with the pilot union regarding the transfer of flights to regional subsidiary Aeromonterrey, which had non-union pilots.<ref>{{cite book|title=ITF News|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bV5ZAAAAYAAJ|year=1994|publisher=International Transport Workers' Federation}}</ref> Between 1994 and 1995, the six DC-10 aircraft in the fleet were finally retired. Their last revenue flight was in 1995.

In December 1994, three weeks after Carlos Salinas de Gortari left the office, the first of several devaluations in the next 18 months started, giving way to the [[Mexican peso crisis]]. As a consequence, Aeroméxico had to cut capacity and flights to Frankfurt and Rome were canceled, four McDonnell Douglas MD-80s and four [[Boeing 767]]s were returned to their lessors, early retirement for pilots and other staff was underway, and a new Boeing 767 due for delivery in April 1995 was instead transferred to another airline. Flights to Madrid and Paris were operated only by two Boeing 767-300ER jets.

In 1996, Cintra was created to prevent the two main carriers from going bankrupt. Some [[Boeing 757]]s of Aeroméxico's original renovation program were transferred to Mexicana and [[Aeroperú]]. The market and the airline recovered between 1996 and 1998; eight McDonnell Douglas MD80s were leased back along with two Boeing 767-200ERs.

The sale of Grupo Cintra was scheduled after several delays in September 1999, and with the looming presidential elections in 2000, everything was delayed once again. The ruling party lost the election after 70 years in office and all the policies changed. Due to the recession in 2000, the new government put everything on hold, waiting for better economic conditions to start the stock sell-off, and just when everything was about to start, the [[11 September 2001 attacks]] occurred and nothing materialized since the two main carriers, Mexicana and Aeroméxico, were losing large amounts of money.

===2000s===
{{unsourced section|date=December 2023}}
[[File:Aeromexico Boeing 737-700 Airwim-1.jpg|thumb|An Aeroméxico [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-700]] in 2004.]]
Between 2000 and 2005, Aeroméxico had an average fleet of 60 aircraft in mainline operation, plus 20 in [[Aerolitoral]], as well as five CEOs during this time. On 22 June 2000, the airline, along with [[Air France]], [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]], and [[Korean Air]], founded the [[SkyTeam]] global airline alliance. After 9/11 and the Iraq War, it pursued a fleet renovation program. In 2003, the airline acquired its first [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|Boeing 737-700]] instead of the [[Boeing 717]] as a replacement for its aging DC-9 aircraft. On 29 March 2006, Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa announced the inauguration of direct flights between Japan and Mexico City via [[Tijuana]]. This was after the purchase of two [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200ERs]], making Aeroméxico the third airline in [[Latin America]] to fly regularly to Asia, after [[Varig]] and the now-defunct [[VASP]]. Since Varig's demise, Aeroméxico is currently the only airline with this service. Aeroméxico resumed its Mexico City-Tijuana-Shanghai route twice a week as of 30 March 2010. Suspension of this flight was due to the [[2009 flu pandemic]].

On 29 June 2006, the [[International Lease Finance Corporation]] (ILFC) and Aeroméxico announced that the airline would operate three [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]s. Aeroméxico's deliveries were scheduled to begin in early 2012. From 2006, Consorcio Aeroméxico S.A. de C.V., the parent company of Aeroméxico at the time, faced large debts and had no profits to pay them off, so it offered Aeroméxico for sale in 2007. In early October, a week-long auction was held, with [[Grupo Financiero Banamex]], a unit of [[Citigroup]], competing against the Saba family. On 17 October 2007, Banamex offered the highest bid and purchased the airline for US$249.1 million. In October 2010, Aeroméxico's largest competitor, Mexicana de Aviacion, filed for bankruptcy and was placed in administration.

===2010s===
====Delta/Aeroméxico alliance====
In 2011, Delta Air Lines and Aeroméxico signed an enhanced commercial alliance, building on an original agreement from 1994.<ref name=delta2015>{{cite web|url=http://news.delta.com/delta-and-aerom-xico-21-year-partnership|title=Delta and Aeroméxico: A 21-year partnership|website=Delta News Hub|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=6 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006155351/https://news.delta.com/delta-and-aerom-xico-21-year-partnership|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2011 agreement provided for codeshare on all the carriers' Mexico–US flights; Delta investing US$65 million in Aeroméxico shares; and Delta gaining a seat on the Aeroméxico board of directors. 
* In March 2014, the airlines opened Tech Ops Mexico, a US$55 million joint maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility in [[Queretaro City]], Mexico.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/delta-and-aeromexico-create-enhanced-commercial-alliance-127450473.html|title=Delta and Aeromexico Create Enhanced Commercial Alliance|first=Delta Air|last=Lines|website=Prnewswire.com|access-date=4 August 2017}}</ref> 
*In March 2015, the airlines filed applications for antitrust immunity, a first step in the creation of a US$1.5 billion joint cooperation agreement (JCA) that will allow Delta and Aeroméxico to jointly sell, and share costs and profits on all Mexico–U.S. routes.<ref name=delta2015/> 
*In May 2015, Mexican regulator approved the JCA; and in the same month, the [[Senate of the Republic (Mexico)|Mexican Senate]] approved [[Open Skies]] between the U.S. and Mexico. 
* In November 2016, the DOT approved the joint venture under strict conditions that the airlines give up slots in both Mexico City and New York-JFK.
*In December 2016, the two airlines made the final agreement to go forward with the JV and antitrust immunity was granted.<ref name=strib>{{cite news|last=Painter |first=Kristen Leigh |url=http://www.startribune.com/delta-to-move-forward-with-aeromexico-joint-venture/407788926/ |title=Delta to move forward with Aeromexico joint venture |website=Startribune.com |publisher=Star Tribune Media Company LLC |date=21 December 2016 |access-date=5 January 2017}}</ref>
* In February 2017, Delta announced an offer to acquire additional shares of Aeroméxico, up to 49%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.delta.com/delta-announces-launch-cash-tender-offer-acquire-additional-shares-grupo-aeromexico|title=Delta announces launch of cash tender offer to acquire additional shares of Grupo Aeromexico|website=Delta News Hub|access-date=4 August 2017}}</ref>
*On 8 May 2017, the joint commercial agreement went into effect, whereby the airlines share information and jointly determine routes and pricing on all U.S.-Mexico flights, and share costs and profits.<ref name=dpr/>

====Dreamliners====
On 25 July 2012, Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa announced the purchase of six [[Boeing 787-9]] Dreamliners. The new order was added to the package of 20 aircraft that the company had announced in 2011 and nine more [[Boeing 787-8]] Dreamliners already provided. The delivery of the Dreamliners began in the summer of 2013. The total investment is US$11 billion and includes the acquisition of 90 [[Boeing 737 MAX|Boeing 737 MAX 8s]], which began delivering from 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2362 |title=Boeing, Aeromexico Announce Commitment for 100 Airplanes - Jul 25, 2012 |publisher=Boeing.mediaroom.com |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/860833.html |title=Finanzas - Aeroméxico invertirá 11 mil mdd para comprar 100 aviones |newspaper=El Universal |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=6 October 2012 |archive-date=1 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701110051/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/860833.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (sourced from the [[International Lease Finance Corporation|ILFC]] order book) in early August 2013 and officially launched commercial service on 1 October 2013. Between 2013 and 2015, the remaining eight were delivered (seven leased and two owned by Aeroméxico outright).<ref name="Air Transport World">{{cite web|author=Linda Blachly |url=http://atwonline.com/airframes/aeromexico-take-delivery-first-787-august |title=Aeromexico to take delivery of first 787 in August |publisher=ATWOnline |date=14 June 2013 |access-date=30 June 2013}}</ref>

In September 2016, Aeroméxico received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This particular frame, registered XA-ADL, is named after and painted in a unique commemorating [[Quetzalcoatl]], a major figure in [[Aztec]] culture of pre-Hispanic Mexico, as the result of a "Design in the Air" competition hosted by the airline inviting students at select universities in Mexico to submit a potential design to be painted on the airframe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldairlinenews.com/2016/09/07/aeromexico-unveils-its-first-boeing-787-9-dreamliner-named-quetzalcoatl-in-a-special-livery/|title=AeroMexico unveils its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, named "Quetzalcoatl" in a special livery|publisher=World Airline News|date=7 September 2016|access-date=19 December 2016}}</ref>

====Branded fares====
In February 2018, Aeroméxico introduced a new branded fares structure, which included a new Basic fare that did not contain a checked luggage allowance, nor did it allow for seat assignments, upgrades, or changes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.delta.com/delta-expands-basic-economy-mexico-partner-aeromexico-introduces-branded-fares|title=Delta expands Basic Economy into Mexico as partner Aeromexico introduces branded fares|website=Delta News Hub}}</ref>

===2020===
==== Bankruptcy ====
The [[COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico|COVID-19 pandemic]] deeply affected the global aviation industry, including Aeroméxico.<ref>{{Citation |last=López-Morales |first=José Satsumi |title=De-internationalization in the Sky: Aeroméxico and the COVID-19 Pandemic |date=2021 |work=Globalization, Deglobalization, and New Paradigms in Business |pages=117–131 |editor-last=Paul |editor-first=Justin |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-81584-4_7 |access-date=2024-08-28 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-81584-4_7 |isbn=978-3-030-81583-7 |editor2-last=Dhir |editor2-first=Sanjay}}</ref> Aeroméxico's stock dropped during first half of 2020 and rumors about bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Navarro |first=Carlos |date=2013-09-04 |title=Transportation Secretary Warns AeromÃ©xico to Improve Financial Situation or Face Same Fate as Mexicana |url=https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/sourcemex/6007/?utm_source=digitalrepository.unm.edu/sourcemex/6007&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages |journal=SourceMex}}</ref> On June 30, Aeroméxico voluntarily filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Graulich |first1=Timothy |last2=Piraino |first2=Stephen |last3=Masaro |first3=Matthew |date=2021 |title=International Airlines and the Benefits of Chapter 11 |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/iri15&div=11&id=&page= |journal=Insolvency and Restructuring International |volume=15 |pages=22}}</ref> However, day-to-day operations continued as the company restructured. Existing tickets were honored and employees continued to be paid as usual.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/01/business/aeromexico-us-bankruptcy-intl-hnk/index.html|title=Aeromexico files for US bankruptcy, citing 'unprecedented' challenges|website=[[CNN]]|date=July 2020 }}</ref>

On July 1, 2021, shareholder [[Delta Air Lines]] announced it would purchase $185 million of the Mexican airline's Chapter 11 debt.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

On August 28, 2024, Aeroméxico unveiled a new livery in celebration of the airline's 90th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lake |first=Jon |date=2024-09-06 |title=AeroMexico's 90th anniversary livery |url=https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/aeromexicos-90th-anniversary-livery/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=AGN |language=en-en}}</ref>