Mexico’s aviation market will gain a new domestic operator from April 27 when regional startup Aerus launches commercial operations.
The carrier, which in January agreed to buy 30 Alice all-electric aircraft, plans to begin flying from a base at Monterrey International Airport in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León with four routes to Ciudad Victoria, Matamoros, Piedras Negras and Tampico. A fifth route will operate between Matamoros and Tampico.
Aerus is the commercial name of the company Aerotransportes Rafilher, part of the Herrera Group, that received approval in May 2022 from Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency to begin regular scheduled flights.
The Herrera Group has been in business for 80 years and operates in the automotive, financial and real estate industries. It has held an air taxi permit since 1990.
Service will initially start using three Grand Caravan EX aircraft. A fourth is on order, and Aerus has also purchased two 19-passenger configured Textron Aviation Cessna 408 SkyCourier twin-engine turboprops.
Additionally, the airline in January signed a letter of intent for 30 nine-seater Alice aircraft from manufacturer Eviation Aircraft. It intends to utilize Alice to connect smaller, unserved destinations.
Aerus’ booking system shows that nonstop flights from Monterrey to Piedras Negras will operate 16 times per week, while 11X-weekly service will be offered to both Ciudad Victoria and Matamoros. The airline also plans to fly Monterrey-Tampico 7X-weekly and Matamoros-Tampico 5X-weekly.
Data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows that only one of the five launch routes is served at the present time, with Viva Aerobus and TAR Aerolineas each providing flights between Monterrey and Tampico…
