The revived Mexican airline, Mexicana, has completed its first test flight sporting its new branding and livery.
The former Mexican Air Force Boeing 737-800 flew to Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) and returned to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) in preparation for commercial operations to start on December 26, 2023.
According to Mexico News Daily, the aircraft has been kept at Monterrey International Airport (MTY) where it was painted in its new livery and reregistered from a military to civilian aircraft.
The new aircraft, now registered as XA-ASM, is taking part in test flights to ensure it is ready to carry passengers and has the correct documentation in place to fly.
The airline, which is run by the nation’s army, has planned to lease 10 737-800 aircraft from Boeing when the relaunch was announced in August 2023.
Vean que belleza… el avión de Mexicana de Aviación que despegó en el AIFA está aterrizando en Tijuana como parte de los vuelos prueba para iniciar operaciones MUY PRONTO.
— Marina del Pilar (@MarinadelPilar) December 18, 2023
Nuestro Presidente esta conectando a todo México!!!🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/uGtvWuWTT5
Another Boeing 737-800 and a 737-300 belonging to the air force are also being readied by the airline to launch on December 26, 2023.
It is also planned that two Embraer E145s will be wet leased to Mexicana from the regional airline, TAR.
The airline reduced the number of destinations it will fly to due to the difficulties in acquiring aircraft.
The first flights scheduled are from Mexico City to Acapulco, Huatulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Los Cabos, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Monterrey, Villahermosa and Guadalajara.
