Despite assurances from President Claudia Sheinbaum and her security minister Monday that Mexico was returning to normal after a weekend of cartel violence, many vacationers to Puerto Vallarta and other cities still faced canceled flights and shelter-in-place warnings.The travel disruptions began Sunday as criminal groups set up blockades, burned vehicles and attacked businesses in retaliation for the capture and killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, Mexico’s most wanted drug kingpin. Foreign governments i ...

The Mexican Army, on 22 February (local time), killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho," the country's most powerful cartel leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, AP reported. His killing is reportedly one of the highest-profile blows against cartels since the country recaptured the former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán a decade ago.Following El Mencho's killing, who was also one of the United States' most wanted fugitives, the drug cartel members responded with a wa ...

Group 1: Flight Cancellations and Delays - Hundreds of travelers were stranded at Cancún International Airport and Lic Benito Juárez International Airport due to at least 29 flight cancellations and numerous delays [1] - A total of 62 flights were delayed and 29 were cancelled at these two major airports during peak travel season, causing significant logistical issues for tourists [2] - Several airlines, including Aeromexico, Viva, Aerobus, and Interjet, reported cancellations and delays, with US and Canadian airlines also suspending flights to parts of Mexico [3][4] Group 2: Impact on Airlines - US carriers such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, along with Canadian airlines like Air Canada and WestJet/Sunwing, cancelled flights to destinations including Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and Manzanillo [4] - Southwest Airlines announced plans to send aircraft to Mexico for repatriating stranded passengers once the situation stabilizes [5] Group 3: Security Concerns - Videos showed panic among travelers at Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports, with reports of armed individuals inside terminals leading to a military operation [6] - The killing of drug lord Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes triggered violent events in Jalisco, prompting advisories from the US and India for their citizens in Mexico [7][9]

Core Viewpoint - Brazilian airline Azul has successfully exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, achieving key restructuring goals including improved capital structure, increased liquidity, and reduced debt levels [1]. Financial Restructuring - Azul has reduced its debt and lease obligations by approximately $2.5 billion during the restructuring process [1]. - The company raised nearly $1.4 billion through debt financing and $950 million in equity investments as part of its restructuring efforts [1]. Industry Context - Azul filed for Chapter 11 in May 2025, joining a trend of Latin American airlines seeking bankruptcy protection due to the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the aviation sector [1]. - Competitors such as Aeromexico, Avianca, Gol, and LATAM Airlines have also filed for bankruptcy since early 2020, highlighting the challenges faced by the industry [1].

Group 1: Air Canada and Flight Operations - Air Canada has suspended its 16 weekly flights to Cuba due to a shortage of jet fuel, becoming the first scheduled airline to withdraw services from the island [1] - The airline will send aircraft to bring home approximately 3,000 customers currently in Cuba and may tanker in extra fuel for remaining flights [1] - Other airlines, such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have stated they will continue their operations, with American Airlines indicating that their aircraft can carry enough fuel for round trips without needing to refuel [1] Group 2: Impact of U.S. Energy Embargo - The fuel shortage is a direct consequence of the U.S. tightening its energy embargo on Cuba, which has led to significant economic impacts, particularly on tourism [1] - The U.S. President's recent measures aimed at cutting off oil shipments to Cuba have exacerbated the situation, leading to rolling blackouts and fuel rationing in the country [1] - Official data indicates that Canada was the largest source of tourists to Cuba in 2025, with over 754,000 Canadians visiting, compared to significantly lower numbers from the U.S., Mexico, and Spain [1]

Core Insights - Aeromexico achieved a 90.02% on-time performance, securing the title of the world's most on-time global airline for the second consecutive year, according to Cirium's 2025 On-Time Performance Review [1][2] - The airline operated 188,859 flights across 23 countries, demonstrating industry-leading schedule reliability [1] - Aeromexico is only the second airline to win this title consecutively since the program's inception in 2009 [1] Global Rankings - Aeromexico ranked first globally, followed by Saudia with 86.53% and SAS with 86.09%, indicating a competitive landscape with a margin of 3.93 percentage points between first and third place [2] - The top three airlines in the global ranking are: 1. Aeromexico: 90.02% on-time performance 2. Saudia: 86.53% on-time performance 3. SAS: 86.09% on-time performance [14] Regional Winners - Regional champions included: - North America: Delta Air Lines with 80.90% on-time performance - Europe: Iberia Express with 88.94% on-time performance - Asia-Pacific: Philippine Airlines with 83.12% on-time performance - Latin America: Copa Airlines with 90.75% on-time performance - Middle East and Africa: Safair with 91.06% on-time performance [3] Awards and Recognition - Qatar Airways received Cirium's Platinum Award for operational excellence, achieving 84.42% on-time performance over 198,303 flights [4] - Virgin Atlantic was awarded the inaugural 'Most Improved' award, showing a significant year-over-year increase in on-time performance from 74.01% to 83.45%, a 9.44 percentage point improvement [5][6] Airport Performance - Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport won the Large Airport category with 87.04% of flights departing on time [7] - Panama's Tocumen International Airport topped the Medium Airport category with 93.34% on-time departures [7] - Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport claimed the Small Airport title for the second consecutive year with 91.47% on-time departures [7] Industry Insights - Cirium's CEO highlighted the importance of sophisticated network planning and operational coordination in maintaining consistent on-time performance, which distinguishes top performers in the aviation industry [10] - The On-Time Performance Review analyzes flight data from over 600 sources, providing a comprehensive overview of airline and airport punctuality [11]

Business Strategy - Aeromexico will introduce a new class of upscale seats starting in late 2027 [1] - The airline aims to expand its loyalty program [1] - Aeromexico intends to capitalize on increasing demand for premium offerings [1]

Core Insights - Qatar Airways has successfully launched the first commercial passenger flight with Starlink Wi-Fi, enhancing in-flight connectivity across its fleet [1][2] - Etihad Airways has made significant improvements to its Etihad Guest loyalty program, allowing all seats to be booked with miles and introducing new features for earning Tier Miles [14][15] - Iberia and WestJet are expanding their route networks, with Iberia adding Toronto to its destinations and WestJet launching two new routes to Iceland [7][9][11] - The U.S.-Mexico slot dispute is evolving, with Mexico agreeing to return some landing and takeoff slots to U.S. airlines [18][19] - Arajet has completed its U.S. route network for 2025 and plans to expand further into the U.S. market [20][21] Qatar Airways and Starlink - Qatar Airways is leading the airline industry with the rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi on over 100 wide-body aircraft, providing high-speed, uninterrupted connectivity [2][3] - Other airlines, including Air France and United Airlines, are also adopting Starlink technology for improved in-flight internet services [4] Etihad Airways and Loyalty Program - Etihad's loyalty program, Etihad Guest, now offers "Saver Awards" for all seats, enhancing flexibility for members [14] - Members can earn Tier Miles on award tickets, a rarity in airline loyalty programs, and enjoy additional benefits like a free UAE chauffeur service for certain ticket types [15][16] Iberia and WestJet Route Expansion - Iberia will commence flights to Toronto using the Airbus A321XLR starting June 13, 2026, competing with Air Canada [7][8] - WestJet is launching two new nonstop routes from Edmonton and Winnipeg to Reykjavik, Iceland, starting in June 2026 [11][12] U.S.-Mexico Slot Dispute - The Mexican government has decided to return some airport slots to U.S. airlines, a response to previous restrictions imposed by the U.S. [18][19] Arajet's U.S. Expansion - Arajet has completed its initial U.S. route network with six destinations and plans to connect 16 to 18 U.S. airports in the next few years, including Los Angeles and Houston [20][21]

A US appeals court temporarily halted an order from the Trump administration directing Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their transborder joint venture https://t.co/Jt6ARvWm37 ...

Core Insights - Freightos has announced a partnership with Megacap Aviation Service to enhance digital access for over 5,000 global freight forwarders to capacity from 13 airlines, starting with Ethiopian Airlines [1][3] - The partnership aims to improve transparency and instant access to rates and capacity, particularly benefiting trade between China and Africa, as well as other global routes [2][3] Company Overview - Freightos (NASDAQ: CRGO) is a leading vendor-neutral global freight booking and payment platform, connecting airlines, ocean carriers, freight forwarders, and importers/exporters to streamline international trade [5][6] - The platform digitizes the international freight industry, offering a suite of software solutions for pricing, quoting, booking, shipment management, and payments [6][7] Partnership Details - The integration with Megacap Aviation Service will provide real-time access to Ethiopian Airlines' capacity and pricing, with plans to include additional carriers like Aeromexico [3][4] - This collaboration is expected to enhance digital distribution in emerging markets, allowing clients to access real-time logistics prices and book services instantly [4][3] Market Impact - The partnership is positioned to support the growth of global trade, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, by providing efficient and transparent logistics solutions [2][4] - Megacap Aviation Service's expertise in regional markets will complement Freightos' platform, facilitating better service for logistics stakeholders [4][3]