Interjet reported the highest passenger growth of Mexico’s three largest airlines during the first quarter of 2018.
According to Reportur.com, the carrier recorded an interannual increase of 15.7 percent, compared to 8.7 percent for Aeromexico and 7.5 percent for Volaris.
Interjet also increased its load factor by approximately five percentage points and saw an average rate increase of nearly 11 percent. The Mexico City-based airline also reported a dramatic 38.9 percent increase in international passengers, more than doubling that of Aeromexico (18.7 percent).
Domestically, Interjet registered 9.1 percent growth, once again beating out Aeromexico (3.2 percent) and Volaris (6.9 percent).
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Interjet’s growth led to a 20.6 percent year-on-year increase in revenue during the first quarter.
However, all three major airlines reported losses during the opening period amid the depreciation of the peso against the dollar, increased competition, rising oil prices and union issues. Interjet improved slightly compared to the first quarter of 2017 with a reported net loss of $30.7 million. By comparison, Aeromexico reported a net loss of $39.7 million during the first quarter of 2018.
It remains to be seen whether the added financial burden on the country’s air carriers will lead to higher fares.
Last month, Interjet launched a revamped website designed to improve functionality and be more user-friendly, celebrating the launch with special $72 one-way fares to Mexico through May 31, 2018.
Interjet has also recently added new nonstop service between San Francisco and Cancun and Guadalajara as well as new daily, nonstop flights from Houston and San Antonio to El Bajio, Mexico. The carrier also recently debuted daily, nonstop service between Chicago and Guadalajara.
