The Alemán legacy of proactivity is embodied in the growth of Mexico’s unique luxury low-cost airline

Getting off the ground was just the easy beginning of a so-far outstanding performance for the economy airline Interjet. Created in December 2005, with seven Airbus A320 aircraft, it has been moulded into an airline of distinction, conceived, designed and realized under a business model of superior efficiency, which has attracted more than one million passengers in its first year of service.

Several factors should ensure that Interjet does not suffer the fate of other, flash-in-the-pan low-cost airlines. The interiors of its fleet are closer in standard to first-class berths on other airlines, with fewer -- only 150 -- leather seats affording greater space and comfort to its passengers who are also pampered with a generous in-flight snack service. In an innovative move designed to allow increased fluency of movement, Interjet flies from one of Mexico City’s less-congested airports, in Toluca, to 13 popular destinations, shortly to increase to locations across the Americas upon enlargement of their fleet to 27 aircraft.

At AeroExpo this May, Eurocopter, a subsidiary of Airbus international, signed agreements to supply helicopters and to establish a training school for Latin American helicopter pilots. Airbus itself is setting up a study base at Toluca, in partnership with the Alemán family, “to increase the flight-hour capacity of its fleet of Airbus A320s, and to maximise efficiency to further lower costs for our passengers,” says Miguel Alemán Magnani, executive president of Interjet.

“Due to the lack of maintenance centers operated by new airlines, we decided to create our own company to augment the size and number of our fleet. It was imperative,” he explains.

Mr. Magnani’s grandfather, Miguel Alemán Valdés, was a former Mexican president who, in addition to spotting the durable appeal of Mexico as a tourist destination, was also instrumental in bringing the 1968 Olympic Games to the country, the finest form of advertisement on a global scale. Entrepreneur Miguel Alemán Velasco is Interjet’s chairman of the board who, as the former governor of the State of Veracruz, moved into business “to promote tourism and attract foreign investment to Mexico”. He will also chair a prominent business summit in Monterrey this year entitled: Building the Mexican Formula, faster growth and fuller democracy.