Troubled Mexican carrier Interjet will resume more routes tomorrow, with all flights operated by Russian-made Sukhoi SuperJet 100-95B jets.
Interjet is (was) an international low-cost carrier based in Mexico City, the third largest Mexican airline behind Aeromexico and Volaris. But since March 31, 2020 all international service to the United States and Latin America has been suspended. Instead, the carrier has operated a limited number of domestic routes.
This compounded economic problems for Interjet, which still owes government taxes dating back to 2013. Earlier this year Interjet operated to 42 international and 45 national destinations. It had a fleet of 66 Airbus jets, including a mix A320s and A321neos, and 22 Sukhoi SSJ100 jets.
But all but seven Airbus jets (six A320s, one A321neo) have been repossessed by lessors or returned. And the Russian-made Sukhoi SSJ100 jets have proven tremendously problematic, with Sukhoi unable to provide spare parts in a timely way. As a result, 19/22 SSJ100s are grounded.
Destinations from Mexico City currently include:
- Cancún
- Guadalajara
- Mérida
- Monterrey
- Oaxaca
- Puerto Vallarta
Interjet will resume more service on June 16, 2020 to the following eight destinations:
- Acapulco
- Chetumal
- Ciudad del Carmen
- Ixtapa Zihuatanejo
- Mazatlán
- Tuxtla Gutiérrez
- Veracruz
- Villahermosa
All flights will operate with the three SSJ100s that remain operational. With a range of 1,895 miles, the Sukhoi SSJ100 jet cannot even reliably travel from Mexico City to Tijuana, Interjet’s longest domestic route.
CONCLUSION
COVID-19 has impacted airlines in different ways, but has hit Interjet particularly hard. The airline has been reduced to using three Russian-made jets to operate a limited domestic network. Unless it can work out new deals with its creditors and airline lessors, it may never serve nearly the number of destinations it did just a few months ago. But it’s currently an exotic option for those looking to fly unusual jets in North America.
image: SuperJet International / Flickr // H/T: Airline Geeks
For a period of time, Interjet operated the SSJ on the DFW-MEX route. It was probably a death wish on my part, but I really regret not hopping on one of those flights…
I’ll get on it with you if they ever bring it back…
I flew them from LA to SJD once — good service and comfortable seat (coach). That was on an Airbus. The plane got a preferred parking spot at SJD (no remote gate or bus!) which was a nice perk. Would not fly the Russian jet, however.
“As a result, 19/222 SSJ100s are grounded.”
I think you meant 19/22 SSJ100s… unless, this sentence in the previous paragraph is factually incorrect: “It had a fleet of 66 Airbus jets, including a mix A320s and A321neos, and 22 Sukhoi SSJ100 jets.”
Flew twice on the SSJ on InterJet. From a passenger perspective it was nice: way better seat pitch than most airlines and a decent padded seat. Less than 100 passengers too. For a <90 flight these are all just fine. I'd trust it slightly ahead of the MAX
It would be a miracle for InterJet to turn their luck around though, their problems preceded Covid-19 and its hard to imagine they'd regain their fortunes.
I flew their superjet in Mexico before I flew one of Aeroflot’s in Russia. It all went well. The seats are 3-2 if I remember correctly.