Airline history

Act I

The Founding Vision (1934–1958)

The Origin Story: Aeronaves de México was founded on September 15, 1934 by Antonio Díaz Lombardo.

• The Pioneer Aircraft: The first plane was a Stinson SR-5A Reliant (XB-AJI). Díaz Lombardo and pilot Julio Zinser traveled to Kansas City to purchase it, flying it back over three days.
• The Maiden Flight: On September 14, 1934, Zinser flew Mexico City–Acapulco in roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes with just two passengers, turning a grueling multi-day car journey into a luxury flight.
• The Pan Am Influence (1940s): During WWII, Pan Am acquired a 40% stake, providing capital to upgrade from small Stinsons to Boeing 247s and Douglas DC-2s.
• Global Ambitions (1950s): The airline expanded by acquiring competitors like Aerovías Guest. In 1957 it launched its first international service to New York (Idlewild/JFK) using Bristol Britannia turboprops, then the fastest commercial aircraft in the fleet.

Act II

The “Caballero Águila” & Jet Age (1959–1987)

The State Identity: Nationalized in 1959, Aeromexico became Mexico’s true flag carrier.

• The Iconic Emblem (1959): Coinciding with nationalization, all planes were renamed after Aztec cultures. The Caballero Águila (Eagle Knight) was born, a profile of an Aztec elite warrior in a feathered helmet.
• Entering the Jet Age (1961): Aeromexico entered the modern era with the Douglas DC-8, used primarily for high-demand NYC and European routes.
• The Orange Era (1972): The airline rebranded simply as Aeromexico and adopted a bold orange and black livery. The McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 became the flagship for non-stop flights to Europe.
• Safety & Crisis: The 1980s were difficult; the tragic 1986 Cerritos mid-air collision and chronic government mismanagement led to the airline declaring bankruptcy in April 1988.

Act III

Rebirth & Global Alliances (1988–2023)

The Modern Phoenix: Reborn in late 1988 as Aerovías de México under private ownership.

• The Blue & Red Palette (1990s): The orange was replaced with Dark Blue and Red, symbolizing a more professional, “executive” image.
• SkyTeam Co-Founder (2000): Along with Delta, Air France, and Korean Air, Aeromexico founded the SkyTeam alliance, giving it global reach.
• The Dreamliner Era (2013): The Boeing 787-8 replaced the 777 as the long-haul flagship, enabling non-stop flights to Tokyo (NRT) and London (LHR) with unprecedented fuel efficiency.
• The Delta Marriage (2017): Delta Air Lines acquired a 49% stake, creating a Joint Commercial Agreement that essentially merged the networks for US–Mexico travel.

SkyTeam founding member

Act IV

The 90th Anniversary & Redesign (2024–2025)

The Human Transformation: In August 2024 Aeromexico unveiled its most radical visual change in 25 years.

• The “Humanized” Eagle Knight: The geometric warrior silhouette was replaced with a more organic face meant to convey closeness and empathy. The helmet’s upper part now mimics an aircraft fuselage.
• Visual Identity: The red cheatline was removed. The new look features a darker navy blue and the introduction of Mexican Pink in digital branding.
• Special Liveries: The “Quetzalcoatl” (Feathered Serpent) livery on a 787-9 remains iconic; in 2024 they added the “Kukulcán” 737 MAX 9, blending ancient mythology with vibrant modern folk art.

Act V

The World Cup & 2026 Strategy

The Soccer Hub: As of early 2026, Aeromexico is Mexico’s largest international airline — with fleet and route growth aimed at the FIFA World Cup.

Fleet milestones

• Fleet size: 161 aircraft, including 67 Boeing 737 MAX units.
• Punctuality: Cirium ranked Aeromexico #1 as of January 2026.

New routes

• Mexico City–Barcelona: Resumed March 2026, six times weekly.
• Monterrey–Paris: Launching April 13, 2026 — Northern Mexico direct to Europe.
• World Cup capacity: 29 additional aircraft in 2026, with Monterrey and Guadalajara as secondary international hubs.

Chapter 1 · 1988–1991

The Split Origins

Connect didn’t begin as one airline. In the late 1980s the group built two feeder systems to cover Mexico’s geography:

• Servicios Aéreos Litoral (1988): Based in Veracruz, serving the Gulf and southeast. Founding fleet: 4 NAMC YS-11 aircraft (64-seat, Japanese-made turboprops).
• Aerovías de Poniente (1992): Based in Guadalajara, covering the Pacific and west. Utilized the smaller Fairchild Metroliner III (19-seaters).

Chapter 2 · 1991–1996

The Monterrey Hub & Metro Era

By 1991 Aeromexico saw the real growth was in the industrial north — and moved Connect with it.

• The Big Move: Main operations moved to Monterrey, which remains a primary crew base today.
• The “Texas Tubes”: Between 1991 and 1995 the airline grew to a fleet of 29 Fairchild Metroliners, legendary in northern Mexico for launching “Industrial Routes” connecting Monterrey, Chihuahua, and Hermosillo to San Antonio, Tucson, and Phoenix.
• The Pilot Pipeline: In 1992 a landmark agreement made Aerolitoral the official pilot source for Aeromexico. To this day, hundreds of Aeromexico Boeing captains started their careers flying regional Metros or Saabs for Connect.

Chapter 3 · 1997–2006

The Aerolitoral Golden Age

In 1997 the two feeders merged into one brand: AeroLitoral.

• The Saab 340 Transition: Metroliners lacked a pressurized cabin you could stand in. The airline introduced the Saab 340B (33 seats), a major leap that brought Flight Attendants, on-board service, and restrooms to regional routes.
• Peak Turboprop: By the early 2000s the fleet peaked at 22 Saab 340Bs, covering virtually every medium-sized city in Mexico and the Southern US.

Chapter 4 · 2007–2020

The Connect Jet Revolution

On November 22, 2007, AeroLitoral became Aeromexico Connect and pivoted to jets.

• The Rebrand: AeroLitoral was renamed Aeromexico Connect. This wasn’t just a name change; it was a shift to an all-jet fleet to compete with new low-cost carriers.
• The Embraer 145: The Saabs were retired for the ERJ-145 (50 seats), enabling “long-thin” routes, too long for turboprops but not enough demand for a 737.
• The Premier Cabin: With the later introduction of the Embraer 170/175/190, Aeromexico Connect became one of the few regional airlines in the world to offer a Clase Premier (First Class) cabin on regional jets, aligning with mainline product.

Chapter 5 · 2021–2026

The Modern Standard

After Aeromexico’s restructuring and the 2024 rebrand, Connect simplified and modernized:

• Fleet Simplification: The smaller E145s and E170s were retired to simplify costs. The airline now operates a standardized fleet of Embraer 190s.
• The “Humanized” Image: In August 2024 Connect adopted the new branding, the “humanized” Eagle Knight and dark navy blue livery.
• The Tech Edge: As of February 2026, Connect is unique in the region for offering high-speed Wi-Fi and “Free Messaging” on regional flights, a service typically reserved for large long-haul jets.