Aeronaves de Mexico, the Grandfather company of today's AeroMexico inagurated its Mexico City - New York Idlewild service on December of 1957. Bristol Brittanias were ordered fresh from the factory to launch this coveted international service, the first in the company's ambtious internation expansion plan. In 1961 it would proceed to take over bankrupt Guest Aerovias de Mexico's routes to Europe, Central, and South America.
On the 20th of November 1960, Aeronaves de Mexico enters the jet age with its brand-new DC-8 on the Mexico City - New York route. At the same time, Eastern Airlines, AeroMexico's biggest American arch-rival also inagurates its DC-8 service from New York to Acapulco via Mexico City.
AeroMexico advert gueared to Mexican businessmen: Mexico City - New York in just less than 4 hours via its DC-8 with Double Doppler Navigation System.
1974 - To compete against Eastern Airlines on the JFK-MEX-ACA run, AeroMexico places a daily DC-10 service on the JFK-MEX route that terminates in Acapulco.
While Pan Am had been flying to Mexico from MIA since its early history, in 1986 it goes head-to-head with AeroMexico launching its own 747 service on the JFK-MEX run. The photo above depicts Pan Am's 747-100 landing in MEX.
AeroMexico Logo Late-1980s.
AeroMexico Logo 1990s. Notice that AeroMexico dropped its classic orange color in favor of its original blue like the one used on its original Britannia!
AeroMexico celebrates 50 years of reliable service between New York's John F. Kennedy's airport and Mexico City's Benito Juarez International. While the once legends of Eastern Airlines and Pan Am are now gone, AeroMexico has endured till this day flying to The Big Apple. A flight that for 50 consecutive years reported a profit on its accounting books.
Alitalia744 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 4352 posts, RR: 46 Reply 1, posted (2 years 1 month 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 3546 times:
Very intersting historical - interesting that it was timed for 3hrs50mins...
Pzurita1 From Bhutan, joined Sep 2002, 1273 posts, RR: 19 Reply 3, posted (2 years 1 month 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3523 times:
In those years (1958), a first class round trip to NYC flying AM was: U$276.2. That would be equivalent to pay US$1,978 today according to www.measuringworth.com Seems as there is no big difference with current prices.
MX77W From Mexico, joined Apr 2007, 115 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 1 month 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3377 times:
Quoting Juventus (Reply 5): Airlines flying DC10s and 747s between JFK and MEX. Who would have known...
I Know!!! To think now they send 737's and A318's (MX)... jeez louise!!! I remember the good ol' days of the DC-10, I was lucky enough to fly the MEX-JFK-MEX route a couple of times when I was very young on the DC-10... Great Airplane and Great Service!
Thanks for the Post Latinplane
Regards,
MX 77W
When Will MX Fly to Europe??? I guess '09 is the year!!!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 11635 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (2 years 1 month 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 3292 times:
One notable aircraft that AM operated to JFK -- the very first DC-8 built, the one that made the first flight May 30, 1958. It was later converted from a DC-8-10 to a DC-8-50 and was used to certify that model. After 3 years with Douglas it was refurbished and served with 6 airlines, including 12 years with DL. AM was the last operator from 1979 to 1982 when it was retired to the desert and never flew again although it survived relatively intact until about 2001 when it was finally scrapped. The first DC-8 deserved to be restored for display in a museum.
It was registered N9608Z when it made that flight. Related excerpt from another forum:
The DC-8-50's payload/range capabilities were demonstrated between February 20 and 23 1962 when DC-8-53 N9608Z, named "Pacific Pacer" and operated in a promotional Douglas livery, flew Seattle/Tokyo direct with a 41,000lb payload, then Tokyo/Miami direct in 13hrs 52mins. Some 10,000lbs of fuel remained aboard the aircraft upon shutdown in Miami.
Fyano773 From Mexico, joined Mar 2004, 436 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (2 years 1 month 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3146 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 12): One notable aircraft that AM operated to JFK -- the very first DC-8 built, the one that made the first flight May 30, 1958. It was later converted from a DC-8-10 to a DC-8-50 and was used to certify that model. After 3 years with Douglas it was refurbished and served with 6 airlines, including 12 years with DL. AM was the last operator from 1979 to 1982 when it was retired to the desert and never flew again although it survived relatively intact until about 2001 when it was finally scrapped. The first DC-8 deserved to be restored for display in a museum.
I remember my flight MEX-TIJ on AM DC-8 on 12/1979 when I was a boy.
In addition to JFK and domestic routes, the DC-8 was assigned to PTY, BOG, CCS and many other places. I agree that the 1st DC-8 deserves to be displayed like the 1st 707.
Latinplane From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2445 posts, RR: 17 Reply 17, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3036 times:
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 14381 posts, RR: 12 Reply 19, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3001 times:
Wow, what a great historical latinplane, really interesting!!!
Thanx a lot for posting those youtube videos. The first commercial with the priest and the classe premier "great business class" are really funny. I remember those days when Aeromexico use to have commercials.
EddieDude From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 5133 posts, RR: 50 Reply 21, posted (2 years 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2944 times:
The Checa Primero (the mismatch couples) ad is very current. It is being shown in television and in movie theatres. It is funny, but definitely the first two (the punctuality ones) are the best.
Too bad punctuality is not a virtue of AM these days... both a TSA agent in LAX and the manager of the duty free shop at T5 in LAX mentioned to me some days ago that AM was always late in both landing and departing. I don't know if that is something happening in all routes, but certainly seems to be a problem in MEX-LAX.
Latinplane From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2445 posts, RR: 17 Reply 23, posted (2 years 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2837 times:
Quoting USADreamliner (Reply 22): I'm surprised that other latin american carriers started flight to New York years before aeromexico. Like aerolineas argentinas and avianca.
Yes, and since you are Argentine, perhaps you should also put some time and effort to dedicate one to Aerolineas Argentinas service to New York.
AR385 From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 2304 posts, RR: 19 Reply 24, posted (2 years 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2830 times:
Quoting Latinplane (Reply 23): Yes, and since you are Argentine, perhaps you should also put some time and effort to dedicate one to Aerolineas Argentinas service to New York.
Great answer, Latinplane, subtle but to the point. I'll have you know, I'm Argentine too, as well as Mexican
MGGS
25 Latinplane: Thank god that I've stepped foot Argentina and really experienced for myself the genuine-friendly culture of the Argentine people, but like one perso
26 LatinPlane: The last two got cut off for some reason. LatinPlane
27 AR385: Just read it. Thanks for the tip. Pathetic if you ask me.
28 AR385: Just read it. Thanks for the tip. Pathetic if you ask me.