Last updated May 8, 2009 11:40 AM

DESTINATION TRAVEL NEWS

Airline Agreement

Louis Armstrong Airport
lands deal for AeroMexico Service

Flights will connect New Orleans with Mexico City and Honduras

NEW ORLEANS — Greater New Orleans, Inc., the regional economic alliance, in partnership with the City of New Orleans, recently announced with Mayor C. Ray Nagin and officials that an agreement has been signed with AeroMexico to restart international service at Louis Armstrong Airport.

AeroMexico, the global airline of Latin America, plans to launch six weekly, non-stop flights on July 6 between New Orleans and Mexico City, with convenient connecting flights to San Pedro Sula, Honduras on 50-seat ERJ 145 regional jets.  The route represents the first new international flight service to be announced for New Orleans since 2005.

“We're very excited about this opportunity to provide the people of New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding region with a convenient way to travel to Mexico City with easy connections to Honduras and over 60 destinations in Mexico and around the world,” said Frank Galan, Vice President, U.S. Division, Aeromexico. “Our decision is a statement about the distinctive service we plan to bring to your city. It also is an expression of our confidence in New Orleans and the tremendous progress you have made since Hurricane Katrina. We believe this is an ideal time to expand the travel opportunities for residents of New Orleans and visitors to your community.”

Mayor C. Ray Nagin added that the additional flights will help boost the area’s economy as the region continues to recover from various natural disasters.

“This new international flight is a major accomplishment as we continue our recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed,” Nagin said. “It will allow for strengthened business relationships with Mexico, Honduras and Latin America. It will create new tourism opportunities. And it will provide for easier travel for the tens of thousands of our residents who have family ties in these countries. By working together as one community, we are creating a New Orleans that will be better and stronger than ever before.”

Numerous partners in the region and state played an integral role in finalizing the deal.

“Aeromexico coming to the New Orleans region is significant on many levels,” said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of GNO, Inc. “It means that Louis Armstrong Airport is truly international again; it means that the Greater New Orleans region is on its way to reclaiming the mantle of Gateway to the Americas and, it means, that through public-private collaboration, we can make great things happen. The AeroMexico agreement was secured thanks to the vision and efforts of the City of New Orleans and numerous local and state partners, in the public and private sector.  Within this group GNO, Inc. played a critical role as a broker and catalyst — ensuring that the discussion progressed, that problems were solved, and that, ultimately, a deal was structured that will benefit all parties, and the Greater New Orleans region as a whole.  I congratulate all of the government, economic development and private sector contributors to this important effort.”

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret said, “Landing the first direct international flight since Hurricane Katrina is a significant milestone with both symbolic and practical value. New Orleans is one of the great cities of the world, yet it is a city that has so much unrealized potential as a center for commerce.  [This] announcement represents a terrific step in the right direction, and LED is proud to have supported this exciting initiative.  These new flights will strengthen the region’s economic foundation by improving the business relationship between Louisiana and Mexico, and by creating new revenue streams for businesses located in the New Orleans region.  We salute GNO, Inc. and local and regional leaders who worked together to make this happen.”

AeroMexico is the largest airline in Mexico, with about 35 percent of the market share of domestic Mexico airline service. AeroMexico and AeroMexico Connect operate more than 600 daily flights through its primary hub at Mexico City International Airport to more than 45 destinations in Mexico, 16 U.S. cities in 11 states, two cities in two Canadian provinces, four locations in South America, two cities in Central America, four European destinations and two markets in Asia.  It is the only Latin American carrier that flies to Asia and has served Europe for more than 30 years.

“Mexico visitors always have been a key to our success as an international destination,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are grateful to AeroMexico for their commitment and new service, which will make New Orleans even more accessible for business and leisure visitors.”

The economic impact of this flight is significant. A summary of the study completed by Loren C. Scott & Associates is provided below: