Aeroméxico (AM, México City International) CEO Andres Conesa told Flightglobal that the carrier is planning to launch a service to Barcelona El Prat, although he denied that the intention had anything to do with Emirates (EK, Dubai International) dropping its own plan to operate the route.
The Mexican carrier announced earlier that it would commence México City International-Barcelona flights on November 1, 2018, but later changed the plan, citing the competition with Emirates as a reason. AeroMéxico often seconded major US carriers in complaining about the alleged state subsidies to the Gulf carriers.
However, the Dubai-based carrier recently dropped its own plans. It said that despite the assurances from the Mexican authorities, it only obtained slots for 3x weekly flights, not planned daily service. Such a schedule, according to Emirates, would not allow for profitable operations.
Emirates planned to operate the route as a fifth-freedom service extending one of its two daily Dubai International-Barcelona services.
According to the ch-aviation capacity module, AeroMéxico currently operates 36 weekly transatlantic services to Europe connecting Mexico City with Madrid Barajas, Paris CDG, Amsterdam Schiphol, and London Heathrow.
Mexico City also sees European services operated by Iberia, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Alitalia.
