Aeroméxico (AM, México City International) has announced it will suspend its México City International-Quito International route between July 1 and December 18, 2024, while it evaluates its continuity after grappling with low load factors, the airline and Ecuador’s transport ministry (Ministerio de Transportes y Obras Públicas - MTOP) have confirmed.
According to the ministry, Aeroméxico recorded an average 71% load factor on the route. The company has set up a passenger protection scheme for travellers flying after June 30. The Mexican carrier currently operates 4x weekly flights to Ecuador using B737-8 and B737-9 aircraft.
Earlier this year, Mexico and Ecuador clashed in a showdown at the International Court of Justice over an incident in which Ecuadorian forces raided Mexico’s embassy in Quito to arrest Jorge Glas, a former vice president who had been seeking asylum. The assault led to López Obrador's administration severing its relations with the South American country.
Once Aeroméxico halts its route to Quito, the country pair will no longer have direct scheduled passenger connectivity, according to the ch-aviation schedules module. Ecuador’s transport ministry suggested that passengers travelling to either country do it through Copa Airlines or avianca airlines via Panamá City Tocumen International or Bogotá, respectively. Cargo specialist mas (Mexico) still flies between Quito and México City Felipe Angeles.
Aeroméxico is not the first Mexican airline to halt its direct connectivity to Ecuador. In December 2023, VivaAerobus suspended its flights to Quito from Cancún. However, this cancellation was unrelated to the ongoing political issue.
