7 News Belize

A Major Air Link With Belize’s Northern Neighbor
posted (November 20, 2018)
The second largest city in the western hemisphere now has a direct flight to Belize. We're not talking about New York or LA; we're talking about Mexico City.

Aeromexico's twice weekly flight to Belize City was inaugurated on Saturday morning and 7news was at the PGIA to see it arrive:

Jules Vasquez reporting
It may have been the maiden flight, but the Embraer 190 Aeromexico Jet came with a fair number of passengers and executives to mark the moment of Mexico's first air link to Belize:

Jorge Espat, CEO - BACC
"A direct flight originating from Mexico City has long been a strategic goal of Belize. Our relations are more than tourism, they are government to government, business to business and people to people."

H.E. Carlos Quesnel, MEX. AMB. TO BELIZE
"I am very pleased to recognized the huge effort made by the leading Mexican Airline AeroMexico to bring our people closer."

And while that's the diplomatic side, the business side is that Mexico City airport is a huge hub which opens a world to Belizean tourism:

Loren Andaahl, SVP Corporate Strategy, Aeromexico
"In Mexico City we have a hub that serves about 46 international destinations and about 45-46 domestic cities. So it is one of the bigger hubs in the world and if people wants to go to Canada we can take them non-stop flying over the United States, no visas required. It's a tremendous opportunity for people to simplify their travel patterns. Similarly with our flights to and from Europe, the Belize flight actually have a really good connection in both directions, so you don't have to spend a day in the United States. You don't have to come through United States to come to Belize. We can take you from 4 countries in Europe, 4 of the larger countries in Europe, bring you into Mexico City early in the morning around 4-5-6am, connects this flight at 8:30. It's probably the best connection from Europe to Belize there is."

And, not only Europe to Belize, but also Mexico to Belize:

H.E. Carlos Quesnel, MEX. AMB. TO BELIZE
"In recent years there has been a trend in the increase of tourist flows between both countries."

Hon. Manuel Heredia, Min. of Tourism
"I believe that in the very near future we will have a great potential. Mexico has very rich people also. It has poor people, but it has very rich people over there and we have been seeing this market for a while and it took 3 years before this flight could materialized, but nonetheless between BTB and AeroMexico we will be investing in Marketing to make sure that the numbers increase."

And making sure that happens is a contingent of hoteliers and travel agents heading out to Mexico on this first flight:

Ted Tejada - President, BHA
"We have united with Belize Hotel Association, BTIA and the Embassy in Mexico and we are doing actually a dinner. Its going to be next week Tuesday in Mexico City. We have invited travels agents, tour operators and the media for a sit down dinner at the Sheraton and present them what Belize has to offer and why they should come to Belize."

One of the reasons right now is that this flight is selling for a rock bottom introductory price:

Ted Tejada - President, BHA
"As you know right the tickets are very attractive. Actually to go to Mexico City and come back is around $250. Actually to go to California through Mexico City is around $350 round trip. So we are trying to attract everything that has to do from Mexico City, Puebla and all of those areas."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Explain to me what's the introductory strategy at that rate structure?"

Loren Andaahl, SVP Corporate Strategy, Aeromexico
"Right now very common for airlines when they open up a new route, is they offer very attractive rates to get people on the flight to introduce the people, the consumer to a new destination. But over time we hope that we will find an equilibrium that's good for the consumer and good for the airliner."

Right now, it's definitely good for the consumers.

Aeromexico will fly to Belize on weekends only - but the BTB hopes to increase that by next year. The jet being used has 99 seats and it takes about two hours to fly the 718 miles to Mexico City.

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