Aeroméxico Suspends Quito Route Amid Diplomatic Tensions and Low Load Factors

Aeroméxico has announced the temporary suspension of its route from México City International to Quito International, effective from July 1 to December 18, 2024. The decision comes as the airline evaluates the route’s viability following a reported average load factor of 71%, according to Ecuador’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works (Ministerio de Transportes y Obras Públicas – MTOP). The suspension also coincides with ongoing diplomatic tensions between Mexico and Ecuador.

The strain between the two countries escalated earlier this year following an incident at the Mexican embassy in Quito, where Ecuadorian forces conducted a raid to arrest Jorge Glas, a former vice president of Ecuador seeking asylum. This event led to a significant diplomatic rift, with President López Obrador’s administration cutting ties with Ecuador.

As Aeroméxico reassesses the future of this route, it has implemented a passenger protection scheme to accommodate travelers booked to fly after June 30. The airline currently operates this route four times a week using Boeing 737-8 and Boeing 737-9 aircraft.

With the suspension of Aeroméxico’s flights, there will no longer be direct scheduled passenger flights between Mexico and Ecuador. The Ecuadorian Transport Ministry has advised passengers needing to travel between the two countries to consider alternative routes via Copa Airlines through Panama City Tocumen International or Avianca Airlines through Bogotá.

This is not the first instance of a Mexican airline discontinuing service to Ecuador; VivaAerobus previously halted its flights from Cancún to Quito in December 2023, although this was due to reasons unrelated to the diplomatic tensions.

The cessation of Aeroméxico’s service marks a significant moment in aviation connectivity between the two nations, underscoring the broader impacts of geopolitical disputes on international air travel.