Aeroméxico resumes operations in Honduras

The project is part of the airline’s regional expansion strategy in Central America and required obtaining various regulatory approvals, as well as structuring operational agreements.

Aeroméxico is Mexico’s flag carrier and one of the leading airlines in Latin America. The company maintains an extensive network of international routes and has pursued a strategy in recent years to strengthen its regional connectivity.

Law firm GarciaBodan assisted the airline in establishing operations from Palmerola International Airport in Comayagua. This involved obtaining regulatory authorizations from civil aviation authorities, as well as reviewing and negotiating contracts with airport operators to ensure the resumption of operations.

 The GarciaBodan team was led by Vanessa Oquelí, Managing Partner of our practice in Honduras, alongside Gabriela Aguirre, Senior Associate. Vanessa oversaw the overall legal strategy and institutional engagement with authorities and industry stakeholders, while Gabriela coordinated the technical execution of the regulatory process, including the preparation of documentation, tracking of authorizations, and contract review.

The strategy focused on early coordination with airport regulatory authorities to ensure that the various regulatory, contractual, and operational requirements were managed in parallel. Additionally, document standardization mechanisms and compliance checklists tailored to the Honduran regulatory framework were implemented to streamline the processes.

One of the main challenges was the need to coordinate multiple interdependent authorizations within a commercially demanding timeline. The team also had to align Honduran regulatory requirements with the regulatory and operational obligations that the airline maintains in its home jurisdiction, as well as with international standards of the aviation industry, the law firm said.

The project stood out for its comprehensive approach, which combined regulatory, contractual, and operational advice within a single implementation process.

The simultaneous coordination of these components allowed the team to maintain a clear critical path for the launch of operations, minimizing regulatory risks and potential delays.

The resumptions of Aeromexico’s operations in Palmerola will help strengthen air connectivity between Honduras and Mexico, expanding transportation options for passengers and facilitating trade and tourism between the two countries. In addition, the project reinforces the position of Palmerola International Airport as an important hub for regional connectivity in Central America.