MEXICO CITY, July 26 (Reuters) - Mexico's No. 1 airline, Aeromexico, said on Friday it will lease 15 Boeing 737-600s to renew part of its aging fleet, choosing the aircraft from the U.S. manufacturer over those of European rival Airbus.
"This decision has been taken after weeks of intense negotiations and analysis of the economic and operating advantages of the different options existing in the market," Aeromexico said in a brief statement.
Aeromexico, owned by the government-controlled holding company Cintra , which also controls No. 2 airline Mexicana de Aviacion, had also been in talks with Toulouse, France-based Airbus .
Mexicana and Aeromexico together have 80 percent of the Mexican airline market.
Aeromexico will replace 15 McDonnell Douglas DC-9s with the Boeing aircraft.
Aeromexico Marketing Director Alejandro Yberri declined to give details on the dollar amount involved in the lease of the 15 120-seat aircraft that he said the airline will receive between this year and 2004.
Aeromexico has a float of 69 planes, which fly to 35 destinations in Mexico and to 16 international cities, the majority in the United States.
The 15 McDonnell-Douglas aircraft had to be replaced because they do not meet new noise-reduction requirements that went into effect in the United States this year.
The older aircraft will also not be able to fly in Mexico starting 2004 because of noise-reduction requirements coming into effect here.
SALE PENDING
While the float renewal may have been triggered by the environmental regulations, it also comes as the government is looking into to selling Aeromexico and Mexicana.
"If they want to sell the airline they will get a better price if they negotiate with new planes," said Robert Booth, president of Miami-based Aviation Management Services.
Industry analysts said they were not surprised with Aeromexico's decision, given that the airline has traditionally used Boeing aircraft, while Mexicana has used planes from Airbus.
Mexicana recently said it will acquire 16 Airbus planes in 2003 to replace Boeing 727-200s.
The decision also reflects Mexico's close trade ties with the United States, its partner in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
"The decision also shows the government's interest in being fair to its trading partners," said Simon Garcia, a Mexico City-based independent airline industry analyst.
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It seems AM renews its fleet only when new noise-reduction requirements take place :)
Posts: 7,536
By: KabirT - 29th July 2002 at 16:38
Aeromexico to renew fleet with Boeing aircraft:
MEXICO CITY, July 26 (Reuters) - Mexico's No. 1 airline, Aeromexico, said on Friday it will lease 15 Boeing 737-600s to renew part of its aging fleet, choosing the aircraft from the U.S. manufacturer over those of European rival Airbus.
"This decision has been taken after weeks of intense negotiations and analysis of the economic and operating advantages of the different options existing in the market," Aeromexico said in a brief statement.
Aeromexico, owned by the government-controlled holding company Cintra , which also controls No. 2 airline Mexicana de Aviacion, had also been in talks with Toulouse, France-based Airbus .
Mexicana and Aeromexico together have 80 percent of the Mexican airline market.
Aeromexico will replace 15 McDonnell Douglas DC-9s with the Boeing aircraft.
Aeromexico Marketing Director Alejandro Yberri declined to give details on the dollar amount involved in the lease of the 15 120-seat aircraft that he said the airline will receive between this year and 2004.
Aeromexico has a float of 69 planes, which fly to 35 destinations in Mexico and to 16 international cities, the majority in the United States.
The 15 McDonnell-Douglas aircraft had to be replaced because they do not meet new noise-reduction requirements that went into effect in the United States this year.
The older aircraft will also not be able to fly in Mexico starting 2004 because of noise-reduction requirements coming into effect here.
SALE PENDING
While the float renewal may have been triggered by the environmental regulations, it also comes as the government is looking into to selling Aeromexico and Mexicana.
"If they want to sell the airline they will get a better price if they negotiate with new planes," said Robert Booth, president of Miami-based Aviation Management Services.
Industry analysts said they were not surprised with Aeromexico's decision, given that the airline has traditionally used Boeing aircraft, while Mexicana has used planes from Airbus.
Mexicana recently said it will acquire 16 Airbus planes in 2003 to replace Boeing 727-200s.
The decision also reflects Mexico's close trade ties with the United States, its partner in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
"The decision also shows the government's interest in being fair to its trading partners," said Simon Garcia, a Mexico City-based independent airline industry analyst.
******
It seems AM renews its fleet only when new noise-reduction requirements take place :)