On Tuesday, Mexico gave a ministerial welcome to Air France's superjumbo A380, which made its debut at the capital's airport and its first commercial flight to Latin America. Air France has thus assumed the status of a pioneering airline, more than sixty years after its arrival in Mexico, and is demonstrating its new ambitions for the Paris CDG - Mexico route. A world first, moreover, widely hailed by the local authorities and the Latin American media. The launch of this very first A380 to Mexico City is also being watched very closely on the other side of the Atlantic: several European carriers have already announced, more or less openly, their intention to launch their very wide-bodied aircraft to Mexico City airport.
By then, Air France will have installed its A380 in daily flights from the end of March, increasing its capacity by 20%. Above all, the airline intends to launch a new offensive on the business travel market, thanks to a sharp increase in Business capacity (+120%). All this while adding First and Premium Economy cabins to its Mexican catalogue, to better appeal to Mexican customers who are visibly attracted by forward cabins. "There is a market for Première in Mexico City", emphasised Eric Caron, Regional Director Mexico, the day after the inaugural flight, citing the success of luxury products in the Mexican market. In addition, the Air France KLM group will be able to draw on the complementary services offered by KLM - up to 9 weekly frequencies by Boeing 747 between Amsterdam-Schiphol and Mexico City - as well as Aeroméxico and Delta. All these assets should give it a head start in the high-potential Latin American market, while we wait to find out which will be the ninth destination for Air France's jumbo jet, which will join Mexico City, Abidjan, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK and Shanghai in the club of "A380 destinations".
