One of Mexico's largest hotel companies, Grupo Posadas, is entering the airline business after agreeing to pay $165 million for Mexicana Airlines, the country's second-largest airline. Grupo Posadas owns or operates 94 hotels, including the Fiesta Americana brand, which recently opened the Grand Aqua property in Cancun (pictured, with damage from Hurricane Wilma).
Mexicana is owned by airline holding company Cintra SA, which also owns Mexico's largest carrier, Aeromexico. The Mexican government, which owns two-thirds of Cintra, has been trying to get out of the airline business since it was forced to rescue Mexicana and Aeromexico in the mid-1990s during Mexico's bank crisis. Cintra also received offers for Aeromexico, including one from Posadas for 75% of the airline, but turned down the offers. Cintra said it expects to sell Aeromexico next year. Makes me wonder if we'll see some aggresively priced vacation packages to the Posadas hotels, including airfare on Mexicana.
Maybe you'll even be able to check your bags at your hometown airport and have them waiting for you in your Posadas hotel room when you arrive. Wouldn't it be nice if you could use your in-flight drink coupons at the swim-up bar? Or maybe purchase a snorkeling trip with frequent flyer miles!
