Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, members of the media, partners and friends.
Thank you for joining us today here in McAllen for this important moment for Aerus, for the ongoing relationship between our communities.
For those who may not just be familiar with us, Aerus is a regional airline based in Monterrey, Mexico, dedicated to strengthening air connectivity between communities in northern Mexico and southern United States.
Since beginning operations nearly three years ago, we have completed close to 22,000 flights, maintaining on-time performance of 95% and a very strong operational availability record.
We operate a fleet of brand new Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft, all of them delivered directly from the factory, and today, the fleet has an average age of less than two years. This modern fleet allows to provide reliable, efficient and high frequency regional connectivity between cities that share deep economical and cultural ties.
Today is my honor to officially announce the launch for new direct route between Monterrey, Nuevo León, and McAllen, Texas, which will begin operations on March 27 with a daily operation, and is already available for purchase on our website and our distribution channels. We have an introductory fare starting at $185 one way, including taxes.
This new route represents far more than a simply new fight. It represents a bridge between two communities that have long been closely connected, economically, culturally and socially.
For the people from Monterrey, Texas, has always been one of the most important destinations, and McAllen in particular holds a very special place in that relationship. For decades, the ties between Monterrey and McAllen have been strengthened by business, tourism, shopping, medical travel and family connections that unite both sides of the border. With this new route, we want to make the connection even closer, faster and more accessible.
For Aeros, launching service to McAllen is also a significant milestone. With this new flight, Monterrey will now be connected to three destinations in Texas through Aerus, through outstanding air connectivity between northern Mexico and south Texas. In addition, thanks to our co-share agreement partnership with Viva Aerobus, Mexico’s largest national air carrier, passengers traveling from McAllen will have convenient access to more than 30 destinations across Mexico and internationally through Viva’s network. This significantly expands opportunities for tourism, business and regional economical exchange.
This new connection also arrives at a particularly exciting time. Monterrey will be one of the host cities of the FIFA World Cup, and enhanced regional connectivity will play an important role in welcoming visitors from around the world. Routes like this will make it easier for international travel to reach Monterrey and continue exploring Mexico.
At Aerus, we believe that regional air connectivity is a powerful tool for economic development. Every new route opens doors to trade, tourism, investment and cultural exchange between communities.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to those who helped they make this new service possible. I want to thank James Santoscoy, director of the McAllen International Airport for his leadership and support during this time. Many thanks also to Mayor Villalobos for his vision and commitment to strengthening McAllen’s connectivity and economic development. I would also like to recognize city manager Ike Tawil and the entire City of McAllen team for their collaboration and support through this process. To our partners, employees and everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this possible, thank you very much for your dedication and commitment.
This new route is the result of what can be achieved when cities, airports and airlines work together with a shared vision, to bring people closer, create opportunities and improve development of the region.
At Aerus, we remain committed to providing regional connectivity and continuing to build routes that bring our communities closer. To the people of McAllen and Monterrey, we look forward to welcoming you on board very soon.
Thank you very much.
Editor's Note: The above remarks were delivered by Javier Herrera García, CEO of Monterrey-based Aerus, at a press conference held at McAllen International Airport to announce a new daily nonstop air service from McAllen to Monterrey.
