Claudia
Gonzalez, Regional Sales Director welcomes guests to AM's launch party flanked
by Oscar Mejia, V.P. Sales North America & Jorge Goytortua Bores, Sr. V. P.
Global Sales
Consul General for Mexico Mauricio Toussaint
l-r:
Kathryn Mazza-Burney Executive V.P. Sales & Service, Travelsavers; David
Pierce, Collacutt Travel & Jill Dickie, Director, New Business Development
Canada, Travelsavers
Craig Bradbrook, V.P,
Aviation Services for Toronto Pearson Airport welcomed AM back to YYZ with a
special presentation to Anko van der Werff
With the re-launch of their YYZ-MEX daily non-stops this
week, AeroMexico Chief Revenue Officer, Anko van der Werff, declared they
are “open for business". That news was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of
industry partners at their Distillery District launch party held the following
day to coincide with Cinquo de Mayo.
Cinco de Mayo festivities, celebrate Mexico's defeat of
encroaching Napoleonic troops in 1862. So, after a 5 year hiatus from this
market, Mexico's Consul General, Mauricio Toussaint, joked that although he
bears a French name, “both occasions are well worth celebrating!"
It's clear from the emphasis being placed on trade between
our 2 countries, NAFTA expansion and the growth of the auto sector, Aero Mexico
is counting on high yield business traffic to help bolster its daily service.
“70% of trade with Canada is in and out of Ontario. To us, in Mexico, we
practically consider the province as one country." But AM is also looking to
its MEX hub as the ideal opportunity for connecting traffic to and from other
Latin American destinations. In particular, Sao Palo is a very popular
destination for Canadian and Brazilian business people to and from both eastern
and western Canada. AM will also inaugurate the YVR-MEX route with daily
flights beginning in December.
The relaxation of Canada's position on visa requirements for
Mexicans in 2016 is considered an additional boost for traffic. “More Mexicans
will be travelling to Canada and continue to expand the business sector – not
to mention the upcoming Pan American games."
AM's Anko says the momentum is already there. “Yesterday's
return flight to Mexico city was overbooked. Which is a great sign of the
confidence in our return."
I asked him why the carrier left 5 years ago. “It was a
combination of things. Firstly, SARS. Secondly, the general financial slow
down. And thirdly, the visa restrictions imposed by the government. But we are now in a position of strength for many reasons - not the least of which is that over
the last 6 months, we have made the biggest investment of any Mexican airline
with the purchase of 100 Boeings, including 10 Dreamliners."
To complement Toronto service, AM is finalizing a code share
with WestJet for feeder traffic across the country. “WestJet has been extremely
cooperative and in about 2 to 3 weeks, the system will be in place."
And what about beaches? Anko says they are a B&B airline
- business and beaches. Over 650,000 Ontarians escaped the Canadian cold for
Mexico's beaches this past year, and the carrier hopes to divert some of the
sun seekers to its wings.
