Thursday, April 24, 2025

Mexico’s job growth, down 67%, shows signs of formal sector strain

By
MND Staff
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0
Formal sector construction workers
In the first three quarters of last year, the Mexican economy grew just 1.5% in annual terms, well below the 3.2% rate recorded in 2023. (Adolfo Vladimir/Cuartoscuro)

Last year was Mexico’s worst year for formal sector job creation since 2020, when the COVID pandemic ravaged the Mexican economy. And 2025 could be even worse.

The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) reported Monday that the number of workers registered with IMSS increased by 213,993 last year, a 67% decline compared to the 651,490 new formal sector jobs added in 2023.

On X, economist Valeria Moy noted that Mexico should be creating more than one million formal sector jobs each year.

The total number of formal sector workers affiliated with IMSS — 22.24 million as of Dec. 31 — increased just 1% in 2024, two points below the 3% increase recorded in 2023.

The formal sector job creation result in 2024 was well below the 480,000 estimate of the Bank of Mexico.

It was the worst result since some 648,000 jobs were lost in 2020, when the Mexican economy contracted 8.5% due to the COVID pandemic and associated restrictions. Excluding 2020, the result was the worst since 2009, when around 172,000 formal sector jobs were lost.

Slower economic growth in 2024 was cited by analysts as a factor in the result.

Unemployment in Mexico remains low — the rate was 2.6% in November  — but over half of Mexico’s workforce, some 32.8 million people, is employed in the country’s vast informal sector.

Worst December on record for job losses

IMSS reported that 405,259 formal sector jobs were lost in December, a figure “without precedent” for the final month of a year, according to the newspaper El Financiero.

The almost 214,000 new IMSS-affiliated jobs added last year is equivalent to just 0.6% of the total number of people employed in Mexico’s informal sector workforce.

The size of Mexico’s IMSS-affiliated workforce invariably declines in December as many workers’ contracts end that month. In addition, some employers lay off workers in December to avoid higher end-of-year employment costs only to rehire them in January. According to IMSS, almost 257,000 workers with indefinite contracts were laid off in December, a figure that accounts for 63.4% of all formal sector jobs lost last month.

César Salazar, an economics academic at the National Autonomous University (UNAM), said that the 2024 formal sector employment data is “highly influenced by the loss of jobs in December.”

However, he added that the low level of formal job creation in 2024 was “without doubt” linked to a slowdown in economic activity that “deepened in the final quarter of the year.”

In the first three quarters of last year, the Mexican economy grew just 1.5% in annual terms, well below the 3.2% rate recorded in 2023.

Alberto Alesi, general director in Mexico of staffing company Manpower Group, said that the pausing of some investment projects was also a factor in the low level of formal sector job creation in 2024. United States electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is among the companies that have paused plans in Mexico due to political uncertainty generated by elections in the U.S. and Mexico last year.

Janneth Quiroz, director of analysis at the Monex financial group, noted that in 2024 Mexico’s labor market lost the dynamism it demonstrated in 2023, indicating that companies were more cautious about increasing the size of their payroll.

Which states and sectors lost jobs in 2024? 

IMSS reported that 11 states recorded decreases in the size of their formal sector workforces in 2024. The Gulf coast state of Tabasco, where the construction of a new Pemex refinery created a large number of jobs in recent years, recorded a 12.2% annual decrease, more than any other federal entity.

The other states where the number of IMSS-affiliated formal sector workers declined were Campeche, Zacatecas, Baja California, Sonora, Morelos, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Veracruz, Chihuahua and Tamaulipas.

The year-over-year declines in those states ranged from 4.2% in Campeche to 0.2% in Chihuahua and Tamaulipas.

Octavio Romero at a Pemex site
The Gulf coast state of Tabasco, where the construction of a new Pemex refinery created a large number of jobs in recent years, recorded a 12.2% annual decrease, more than any other federal entity. (Pemex/X)

IMSS reported that the size of the workforces of two sectors decreased in 2024. The construction sector workforce was 6.3% smaller in December than a year earlier, while the number of agriculture sector workers declined 2.5%.

The decline in construction sector jobs was, in part, due to the completion of government infrastructure projects, including the Maya Train railroad, which is now fully open.

Which states and sectors added jobs in 2024?

The formal sector workforces of 20 states increased in size in 2024, according to IMSS.

México state recorded the strongest annual growth (4.4%), followed by Hidalgo (4.3%) and Guerrero (4%).

Only two other states recorded formal sector workforce growth levels above 3%: Chiapas (3.9%) and Guanajuato (3.6%).

Fifteen entities recorded increases of between 0.1% and 1.9% in the size of their formal sector workforces. Among them was Mexico City, which recorded a 0.2% growth rate.

There was a 0.0% variation in the size of the formal sector workforce in Durango, IMSS said.

The workforces of seven sectors increased, according to the IMSS data. The transport and communications sector recorded the strongest growth, increasing its number of workers by 3.9%.

The other sectors that increased their workforces were:

  • Retail (2.8% growth)
  • Electricity (2.3%)
  • Company services (2.1%)
  • Social and community services (1.9%)
  • Mining (1.1%)
  • Manufacturing (0.17%)
Construction Tren Maya
The formal sector job creation result in 2024 was well below the 480,000 estimate of the Bank of Mexico. (Cuartoscuro)

The labor market outlook for 2025 

The rehiring of workers laid off in December should boost formal sector job creation numbers in early 2025.

Analysts at Mexican bank Banco Base, however, said that the 2024 data suggests that Mexico could “soon” record “negative rates” for job creation.

“However, it’s important to consider that the slowdown [in formal sector job creation] is occurring at a time when the unemployment rate is close to historic minimums,” they said.

Salazar, the UNAM academic, noted that economic growth is forecast to slow even further in Mexico in 2025, and acknowledged that such an eventuality would lead to a lower job creation level.

Quiroz also noted that GDP growth is expected to slow this year, and therefore predicted a weakening of the labor market and a possible increase in unemployment.

With reports from El Financiero, El Economista and Reforma 

Korean EV parts manufacturer invests US $25M in Coahuila

By
MND Staff
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0
Doosung Tech plant
The initial stage of operations at the new Doosung Tech plant in Monclova will create 200 jobs. (crcsolar.com.vn)

South Korean electric vehicle parts manufacturer Doosung Tech will invest US $25 million to open a factory in Monclova in the northern state of Coahuila, Mexico. The initial phase of operations is expected to create 200 jobs.

“This is excellent news for Monclova, not just for the jobs that will be created, but also for the quality and competitive salaries the company will provide,” said Mayor Mario Dávila, according to the regional newspaper El Siglo de Torreón.

Doosung Tech, which specializes in advanced technological solutions in the fields of automation and manufacturing, will produce electronic components for electric vehicle batteries at the plant located in the city of Monclova, according to the newspaper El Financiero.

These products are primarily aimed at the United States and Latin American markets. 

The strategic location — Monclova sits roughly three hours south of the border with Texas, skilled labor and industrial infrastructure were key factors that influenced the Korean company’s decision to establish itself in the city, according to the news site Mexico Now.

The new plant is important for Monclova as city leaders have sought to diversify the local economy and strengthen its industrial sector, according to industry news site Cluster Industrial. 

Local authorities say they hope this investment helps attract other automotive and technology companies as they seek to position Monclova as a key player in the growing electric vehicle sector. 

Another hope is that the Doosung Tech operations can serve as a magnet for specialized manufacturing, particularly in the clean and sustainable energy sector.

Mayor Dávila told reporters that other companies have shown interest in establishing operations in Monclova, which could lead to the creation of between 500 and 1,000 additional jobs by 2025, he said.

With reports from El Financiero, Cluster Industrial, La Prensa de Coahuila, Mexico Now and El Siglo de Torreón

NYT names Los Cabos a place to travel in 2025

By
MND Staff
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1
Los Cabos, Baja California Sur
Tourism to Los Cabos was up 33% in 2024, compared to 2021. (Salvador Navarro/Unsplash)

The New York Times has released its list of 52 places to travel in 2025, and Los Cabos, Baja California, earned a spot at No. 18. 

Los Cabos, located at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, has seen massive growth in recent years and is now one of Mexico’s most popular destinations for international tourists. 

Travelers can book their spring break flights from March 8 through April 7, 2025.
New flights to Los Cabos from Nashville, Tennessee, will begin in March — just in time for Spring Break. (Unsplash)

According to figures from the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (FITURCA), the resort city saw 3.9 million tourists in 2024 — and NYT noticed. 

According to NYT, Los Cabos has established itself as a premier destination thanks to its acclaimed golf courses and resorts. But it is the new “wave of exclusive openings,” that earned this sunny destination a spot among global destinations like Greenland, Nepal and Portugal.

Where to stay in Los Cabos

Amanvari by Aman luxury hotel group: Expected to open this year, this resort will offer indoor-outdoor living with generous terraces adjoining 18 rooms. Located in Costa Palmas, Amanvari will be Aman group’s first hotel in Mexico. 

Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo del Sol: This luxurious beachfront retreat close to downtown Cabo San Lucas features a 59,000-square-foot wellness center and five swimming pools across the 1,800-acre development. 

Park Hyatt Los Cabos.
Park Hyatt Los Cabos. (Hyatt)

The St. Regis Los Cabos at Quivira: Expected to open in 2026, this 120-room resort will be adjacent to a Jack Nicklaus golf course and will staff private butlers. 

In addition to highlighting these resorts, NYT noted Los Cabos’ culinary scene, including the city’s first one-star Michelin recipient, Cocina de Autor. 

With reports from The New York Times and Peninsular Digital

What’s on in Rivera Maya this January?

By
Bel Woodhouse
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1
What's going on in the Riviera Maya this month? Quite a lot. (Fisheye Sport Fishing)

Beginning the new year is always fun. Resolutions are made — and broken not long after. No matter your resolution, the Riviera Maya has something going on in January 2025 for you. Fun salsa dance classes to get fit. Splurge to renew and rejuvenate your relationship with a 7-night jungle retreat. Or just dive into the magic of Mexican culture with a food and wine festival. 

Private salsa/bachata class

People dancing in the street.
(Ardian Lumi/Unsplash)

Get those hips moving in one of the most popular dance styles worldwide. English or Spanish-speaking teachers are available for private classes (up to 3 people). Their specialized methodology teaches you how to dance faster without missing a beat. Available all through January with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. 

Date: choose your date here.
Location: Puerto Morelos
Cost: 1,080 pesos, or $53 (USD) for a group of up to 3 people.

Day Zero festival

Damian Lazarus Sunrise Set at Day Zero Tulum 2024 | @beatport

An epic line up is listed for the Day Zero Festival. If dancing the night away is how you’d like to start the new year, this is the place to be. Thirty two artists are in the line up to enchant and immerse you in this sanctuary for electronic music enthusiasts. In true Tulum style, there are ancient traditions and cultural reverence mixed in to feel the magic.

Date: January 11
Location: Tulum, 4pm
Cost: Starts at US $250

Celebrate Love meditations

People meditating by a fire in the beach
(Syl Valenzuela Tardel)

Celebrating 13 years of Love Meditations through the Sound of SHAMAN AHAU. Meditation, sound bowls, and healing are a wonderful way to start the year. All while listening to the sound of the Caribbean just meters away. Offered with peace, love, respect and gratitude to everyone who feels like joining.

Date: January 16, 8pm
Location: on the beach in front of Encanto Beach Club, Calle 40, Playa del Carmen
Cost: Free

Tantra in the jungle of Tulum

A person in lotus position meditating by the beach
(Chelsea Gates en Unsplash)

Cacao ceremonies, swimming in cenotes, tantric massage, ecstatic dance and conscious breathwork are just a few things covered in this celebration of life. A 7 night, 8 day all-inclusive stay at relaxing jungle eco-village. All are welcome to this experience to reconnect, reinvigorate, and renew their inner spirituality, sexuality, and sensuality. 

Date: January 12-19
Location: Tulum
Cost: choose your room and cost here. (Prices from US$2997 – $5997) 

Nations Cup polo tournament 2025

A woman horseback riding
(Sergiu Vălenaș en Unsplash)

Join the thundering hooves and cheering fun at El Rey Polo Country Club for the annual polo tournament. There are also horseriding lessons and polo lessons for every age if you want to go earlier for a ride. Plus an option to stay the night after a full day of fun.  

Date: January 18, 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: El Rey Polo Country Club, Puerto Morelos. 
Price: General admission tickets 350 pesos. 

Yo Amo Mexico (I Love Mexico) festival

A saxophonist playing during Yo Amo Mexico Festival
(Rosewood Mayakoba)

The magic of the fifth annual I Love Mexico festival starts in January and ends in March. Full of fun and often delicious activities, there’s something for the whole family. Candle making, cooking classes, sound baths and healing, purification rituals, Mexican wine tastings and destination-inspired dining just to name a few. Held to support Centro Educativo K’iin Beh, the bilingual school in Playa del Carmen for local children. The event calendar shows what’s on each day and each month. 

Date: January 20-24
Location: Rosewood Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen
Cost: depends on the activity chosen. 

Watch the rare planetary alignment 

A couple watching the stars on the beach
(Nathan Jennings en Unsplash)

Soar into the stars for an up close and personal look at this rare celestial event. Cozumel’s Planetarium is aiming its telescope to the skies as the cosmos aligns in a total alignment of the planets. Rare events like these are said to bring transformation, success and productivity so I’ll be attending this one to start my 2025 on the right foot! 

Date: 25 January
Location: Cozumel Planetarium Cha’an Ka’an
Cost: 150 pesos 

Annual Handline Barracuda fishing tournament

A man fishing for Barracudas
(Canaveral Kings)

In the stunning crystal clear waters surrounding Isla Mujeres the barracuda are biting. January is prime time and each year they hold this tournament to raise funds for local charities. Book through a fishing charter company, or organize it through your stay on the island. Either way it’s fun for all ages. 

Date: near the end of January.
Cost: Varies from operator to operator

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. 

How to deal with Mexican sidewalks — A comprehensive guide for foreigners

By
Sarah DeVries
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Broken, narrow and often terribly designed, sidewalks in Mexico are a challenge even to local pedestrians. Here's how to deal with them. (Dan Torres/Unsplash)

Y’all know what my favorite feature is of the sidewalks in my city?

When I say “favorite,” by the way, I mean “most shocking.”

A man trying to figure out what is wrong with his wheelchair
Sidewalks in Mexico are definitely not designed for those with a disability – or for anyone, for that matter. (Franklin Garcida/Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)

It’s the wheelchair ramps. If you weren’t already in a wheelchair before trying to brave them, trying to use them in a wheelchair would probably put you in a wheelchair.

Many of them are at full 45-degree angles. I don’t know if you’ve ever pushed someone around in a wheelchair before, but I can tell you that it is not as easy as it looks. And the upper-arm strength someone in an actual wheelchair would need to get up those ramps would necessitate comically muscly arms.

But fine. Let’s say you are Popeye and you make it up there. At least half the time, there will be nowhere else to go besides right back down the ramp. If you do this, of course, you risk gaining momentum on that 45-degree ramp for rolling straight out into traffic. The other option, amazingly, is suddenly not needing the wheelchair so you can walk off the curb or — I kid you not — down the steps.

It’s not easy to be in a wheelchair if you want to go exploring in Mexico. 

Vista de la calle San Jacinto hacia la calle Francisco I. Madero. Colinda al norte con la calle Amargura, al oeste con la misma calle de San Jacinto, al sur con Dr. Gálvez y al este con Francisco I. Madero. En la foto se observa la calle empedrada, característica de la zona y del lado derecho la Plaza San Jacinto.
Narrow and often with uneven surfaces, sidewalks in Mexico make it very hard to walk at one’s own leisure. (Reginaesc/Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)

But really, it’s not even that easy to walk around Mexico, either. 

Why? 

The sidewalks.

The (several) problems of sidewalks in Mexico

Let me preface this by saying that Mexicans themselves do not seem to be bothered at all by the sidewalks. I guess it’s like growing up a Sherpa, unfazed by Mt. Everest.

Del Río Bridge in Colonia Del Carmen, Coyoacán, Mexico City.
If uneven sidewalks were not enough of a challenge by themselves, try cobblestone streets. (Vladmartinez/Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)

But for us weakling imports, things can get scary!

Oh Mexican sidewalks, let me count the ways — that you could kill me.

Uneven concrete

Organ grinders are one of the most emblematic pieces of historical identity in Mexico City. Their melodies have been ringing through the streets of the capital city for more than 100 years.
Stairs, merchants, pointy window decorations and other obstacles await pedestrians on Mexican sidewalks. (OsBlanco/Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)

This, I know, is fairly common in most places. The difference between them here and, say, my hometown in Texas, is that it’s usually uniform by area. Nicer parts of the town can usually be expected to have nice, even sidewalks — not having to look down is one of the privileges. Older or less affluent parts of town might have bumpier ones, though I dare say they’re not as treacherous as Mexico’s.

Uneven widths

Another issue is how much space you’ve actually got on a sidewalk. It’s not consistent, and the width can fluctuate widely. You might be able to walk five abreast on one part, then need to switch to single-file. Sometimes this is because of obstructions — see below — but sometimes it’s just because of how things are built.

Narrow streets

A narrow street in Guanajuato City, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Narrow streets often do not have a sidewalk in Mexico, given that they were designed for horses or simply pedestrians — not cars. (Jorge Gardner en Unsplash)

This doesn’t seem to have much to do with a sidewalk, but hear me out. The closer a vehicle has to drive to the curb, the closer the vehicle is to you and the sidewalk, my friend.

I still remember the shock of being hit, by someone’s rear-view mirror; that’s how close the car had to drive to the curb. 

There’s a somewhat busy street I take on my way to downtown too that makes me feel close to death. Gigantic buses come rambling by on the narrow parts, which also happens to be a place where you must walk single-file on the sidewalk. One step down without paying attention, and your second life as a pancake begins!

Poles, parked cars, and other obstructions

Dodging things jutting out or taking up space on a sidewalk can be a kind of fun game with the right attitude. Throw in a hearty appreciation for the absurd, and you might even find ecstasy!

 Need a telephone pole there? Oh, right in the middle of the sidewalk is fine. Pointy decorative window moulding right at eye level? Fabulous idea. Finding your way around a car considerately pulled up on the sidewalk to make room for other cars going by can also be a unique challenge. Houses might also decide to build some stairs right outside their doors, or perhaps a ramp for their garage, and tall people must look out for awnings and the like. If you like your ankles of the non-twisty variety, look alive!

The moral of the story? Just keep looking down, up, and all around. All the time. We didn’t get the mountain goat training as kids, so we’ve just got to power through it.

Happy sidewalk exploring!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

Mexico’s famous scrap metal song turns 20

By
MND Staff
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4
“We’re buying mattresses, metal drums, refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, microwaves or any old metal things that you’re selling.” 
“We’re buying mattresses, metal drums, refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, microwaves or any old metal things that you’re selling.” (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

One of the iconic sounds of Mexico just celebrated its 20th birthday.

It’s the recording of a 9-year-old girl’s voice blaring from an old pickup truck that’s cruising the streets in search of “colchones, tambores, refrigeradores, estufas, lavadoras” and other used goods.

@languageobsessed #México #cdmx #secomprancolchones ♬ original sound – Carlos

And according to the newspaper El País, this 18-second piece of Mexican poetry was recorded in the final weeks of 2004 by the young daughter of Marco Antonio Terrón, a buyer of scrap metal in greater Mexico City.

Although the exact date of little Marimar’s recording isn’t certified — other sources say the audio began to circulate in 2002 or even earlier — what is definitive is that the melodic “Fierro Viejo” (Scrap Metal) has become a significant part of popular culture in Mexico.

The full ditty translates to “We’re buying mattresses, metal drums, refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, microwaves or any old metal things that you’re selling.” 

Terrón and his daughter, whose full name is María del Mar Terrón Martínez, produced the recording at home in Chimalhuacán, a municipality in México state that’s part of the metropolitan area of Mexico City. Within years, her same distinctive song had permeated Mexico City — and beyond.

The voice of "se compran..."
Marco Antonio Terrón, a buyer of scrap metal in greater Mexico City, produced the song with his young daughter María del Mar in 2004. (Screenshot of video)

In 2022, a Jalisco native now living in Europe played it on the streets of Doha, Qatar, much to the joy and amusement of Mexicans (and others) who were there for the World Cup men’s soccer tournament.

Once, it interrupted former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during a press conference.

It has been turned into hypnotic dance music by DJ Ariel Style and others, and there’s even an opera version. Occasionally, it’s heard in the background in a Mexican TV show or movie. T-shirts and other merchandise are emblazoned with its words. And it’s even been translated into English and Japanese in heavily gentrified neighborhoods of Mexico City, according to El País.

Terrón, now 60, originally wrote the lines to help his business. He had just broken away from a scrap operation with one of his brothers, and needed a way — better than yelling into his hand-held megaphone — to let people know he was out collecting items for scrap or resale.

@elescenariovip #lasvocesdeelescenario #chistopherhernandez #fyp ♬ sonido original – El Escenario Vip

As father and daughter told it to El País, they both came up with the idea of a recording. So one night, Dad wrote the script and added drawings (a stove, a refrigerator, etc.) to aid his daughter, who still couldn’t read very well.

For the recording, they used a dual cassette tape recorder with a built-in microphone. 

When the recording was finished, Terrón began playing it from his cart (he didn’t have a truck yet) with a tape player and megaphone. Because a cassette tape could get tangled in the player, he carried several extra tapes with him — which is how the recording spread after several of his colleagues asked him for a copy.

Terrón used the recording for two years, then left the area to try his luck in the restaurant business in Valle de Bravo and then Acapulco. When he and his family returned two years later, the recording could be heard throughout metropolitan Mexico City — and, in the years to come, all over Mexico. “My aunts and friends would call me and say, ‘Hey, I’ve heard your recording up here in Durango,” recalled Marimar, now 29 and a mother of three.  

In 2013, Terrón registered their creation with intellectual property and copyright agencies, and now, the family has been able to profit a bit when the ditty has been used in productions by major studios such as HBO or Netflix.

Terrón even made a commercial for the home improvement and construction retailer Sodimac.

“It made me cry,” he said of the commercial. “I felt very flattered.”

With reports from El País and Infobae

Nearly half of Mexicana flights eliminated: Monday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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0
President Sheinbaum stands a podium during her morning press conference, where she discussed flights eliminated by Mexicana airline and other topics.
The state-owned airline Mexicana, judicial elections and the president's approval rating were topics of discussion at the president's Monday press conference. (Presidencia)

After weekend visits to México state, Puebla, Hidalgo and Morelos to distribute pension cards to women aged 63 and 64, President Claudia Sheinbaum was back at the National Palace in Mexico City on Monday to preside over her first morning press conference of the week.

Below is a recap of her Monday mañanera.

8 Mexicana flights eliminated due to ‘review’ of airline’s ‘strategic plan,’ says Sheinbaum 

A reporter asked Sheinbaum about the announcement by the state-owned, army-operated airline Mexicana that it would discontinue routes between the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) near Mexico City and airports in eight cities: Acapulco, Campeche, Guadalajara, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Nuevo Laredo, Puerto Vallarta, Uruapan and Villahermosa.

The airline, which began operations in late 2023, said on Sunday that flights between AIFA and those destinations would cease from this Monday, but didn’t say why.

Sheinbaum told reporters that Mexicana is carrying out a “review” of its operations like any other company.

“Some of the planes are leased so they have to renew the lease, the new planes are going to arrive, and they’re doing a review like at any company — which are the routes that had the most passengers, which are the routes that had the least,” she said.

A plane with the Mexicana airline logo flies above the clouds to an unknown destination.
Mexicana has eliminated eight of its 18 routes after incurring multi-million-dollar losses in 2024. (Mexicana de Aviación/Facebook)

“This week they’re going to present the company’s master plan to me, and Mexicana will continue being the company of the people of Mexico, it will continue flying. It’s nothing more than a review of their strategic plan for 2025,” Sheinbaum said, explaining the reduction in the number of destinations served by the airline.

Mexicana was operating 18 routes in Mexico, meaning that almost half have been discontinued. Sheinbaum suggested that new routes could replace some of those that have been scrapped.

The El Financiero newspaper reported in December that Mexicana incurred losses of more than 932 million pesos (US $45.8 million) between January and September 2024.

President sees no risk to judicial elections  

Asked about a study that raised concerns about the staging of Mexico’s first-ever judicial elections due to the reduction to the National Electoral Institute’s budget and the limited amount of time to organize them, Sheinbaum declared that “there is no risk.”

“The people of Mexico will participate. On June 1 we’ll elect judges, magistrates, Supreme Court Justices, Electoral Tribunal judges,” she said.

“… In other words, together we’ll elect the judicial power,” Sheinbaum said.

“I don’t see any risk,” she reiterated.

Mexico's elections chief Guadalupe Taddei stands in front of a sign reading "INE: Instituto Nacional Electoral"
Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE) is tasked with organizing Mexico’s first judicial elections in 2025, in which voters will choose over 800 federal judges. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

“This week I’m meeting with the National Electoral Institute [councilors]. They already approved the budget [for the elections], they even already have proposals for the ballots and for how they will organize the election,” Sheinbaum said.

“… It will be a good election.”

Citizens will elect a total of 881 federal judges on June 1, including nine Supreme Court justices. The elections are going ahead as a result of the controversial judicial reform approved by Congress last September.

‘In the fourth transformation, commitments are fulfilled’ 

After she was asked about her high approval rating according to an El Financiero newspaper poll, Sheinbaum reminded reporters that when she was a candidate for president she “essentially” committed to “two things”:

  • The continuation of “the transformation of public life” initiated by her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
  • The ushering in of the “time for women” in Mexico.

Subsequently asked whether her first 100 days in office could be defined with the phrase “what was promised is being fulfilled,” Sheinbaum said that was an accurate assessment.

President Sheinbaum laughs surrounded by supporters in traditional Chiapas clothing, while holding a ceremonial mask
President Sheinbaum’s approval ratings remain high as she wraps up her first 100 days in office. (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)

“In the fourth transformation, commitments are fulfilled,” said the president, who will reach the 100-day milestone this Thursday.

She said that she will outline the government’s achievements to date in a “brief” address at Mexico City’s central square, the Zócalo, this Sunday.

In her speech, Sheinbaum said she would also “defend” the constitutional reforms that have recently been approved by Congress, “from the reform to the judicial power” to the reform that enshrined women’s rights in the Mexican Constitution.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Aeroméxico named 2024’s most on-time airline

By
MND Staff
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0
A departures board at an airport
Aeroméxico’s “impressive” OTP score of 86.70%, according to Cirium, was calculated from  196,911 tracked flights, or approximately 539 flights daily. (Matthew Smith/Unsplash)

Mexico’s flagship airline Aeroméxico came in as the most on-time airline in the world in 2024, according to a report by aviation analytics company Cirium.  

With a performance rate of 86.70%, Aeroméxico’s top spot can be attributed to strategic investments in fleet modernization, technological advances, adoption of AI-powered tools and the expertise of the carrier’s team, Cirium said.  

“I’m proud to be part of this great team of professionals who every day strive to provide our clients with safe service, elevating the experience to the extraordinary,” Andrés Conesa, Chief Executive Officer of Aeroméxico, said after the accolade was revealed.  

Founded in 1934, Aeroméxico currently holds a significant 39% share of the domestic market and 47% of the international market.

Aeroméxico surpassed Saudia, which came in second with an on-time performance rate of 86.70%, and Delta Air Lines, which secured third place with 83.46%. Next in line were LATAM Airlines, Qatar Airways, Azul, Avianca, Iberia, SAS and United Airlines.  

For the On-Time Performance (OTP) ranking, Cirium tracked millions of flights in 2024 to analyze the on-time arrival of passenger flights. An on-time arrival is when a passenger flight or aircraft arrives at the gate within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time. The global category only included airlines serving three or more regions, including their own. 

Aeroméxico’s top spot can be attributed to strategic investments in fleet modernization, technological advances, adoption of AI-powered tools
Aeroméxico’s top spot can be attributed to strategic investments in fleet modernization, technological advances, adoption of AI-powered tools. (Kevin Wasilevski/Unsplash)

Aeroméxico’s “impressive” OTP score of 86.70%, according to Cirium, was calculated from  196,911 tracked flights, or approximately 539 flights daily.  

“Throughout 2024, Aeroméxico has consistently demonstrated superior on-time performance, earning it recognition as one of the most reliable airlines worldwide,” Cirium’s report said. 

In its report, Cirium said Aeromexico’s move to expand its fleet to 113 aircraft over the past year — with 16 more on order — has boosted operational capacity while maintaining high standards for performance and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the carrier’s adoption of advanced scheduling systems and AI- powered tools has further improved its operational agility. 

“These technologies have enabled proactive management of potential disruptions, including weather-related challenges, ensuring the airline remains at its edge in on-time performance and reliability,” Cirium added. 

Finally, the report recognized the “pivotal” leadership of COO Santiago Diago and vision of CEO Andrés Conesa.  

Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport (AICM), the third-most on-time airport in 2024

Aeroméxico’s main hub, the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), also made it to the ranking as the No. 3 most on-time airport in the global category, with an on-time departure performance of 84.04%. 

An on-time departure is when a passenger flight or aircraft departs the gate within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time. While airlines are ranked by on-time arrivals, airports are ranked by on-time departures. 

First place was awarded to Riyad King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Saudi Arabia, with an on-time departure performance of 86.65%, followed by Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) in Peru with 84.57%.

Mexico News Daily

Hilton announces plans for new luxury resort in Los Cabos

By
Felicity Bradstock
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1
Palms surround an irregularly shaped pool next to the ocean at Hilton's Conrad hotel in Punta Mita.
The Los Cabos resort will be Hilton's third Conrad-brand property in Mexico, after Conrad Tulum and Conrad Punta Mita. (Conrad Punta de Mita/Facebook)

Hilton will expand its Mexico luxury hotel portfolio thanks to an agreement with Parks Hospitality Holdings for a Conrad Hotels & Resorts hotel in Los Cabos, Hilton announced Dec. 18. The beachfront resort is expected to open in 2027.

The Conrad branded accommodation will be located around 15 minutes from the center of the popular Baja California Sur tourist destination Cabo San Lucas. It will be Hilton’s ninth property in the region, featuring 175 accommodations.

“The signing of Conrad Los Cabos is a significant milestone for Hilton’s expanding luxury portfolio in Mexico,” said Juan Corvinos, senior vice president of development, architecture, design and construction for Hilton’s Caribbean and Latin America region. “It symbolizes our unwavering commitment to providing enriching and purposeful experiences that transcend the ordinary in highly coveted destinations like Los Cabos.”

The resort will include a sprawling spa, a fitness center and resort-style pools, as well as restaurants, bars, boutique shops and meeting space. It is situated within OLEADA Pacific Living & Golf, a new 350-hectare oceanfront resort community.

This announcement followed the opening of Hilton’s Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya resort on Dec. 10. The Mexican Caribbean resort is located around 11 kilometers north of Tulum and features 349 rooms. It also has five restaurants and six bars and lounges, as well as oceanfront pools.

It is home to Tulum’s first and largest independent event center, featuring 5,000 square meters of indoor and outdoor event space, including a 830-square-meter outdoor terrace, a main ballroom, a junior ballroom and three meeting rooms for up to 2,500 people.

Conrad Los Cabos is Hilton’s third Conrad branded property. Conrad Punta de Mita, located north of Puerto Vallarta in the Riviera Nayarit, opened in 2020 and boasts 324 rooms, as well as restaurants, bars, pools and a spa.

Mexico is Hilton’s largest and fastest-growing market in Latin America and the Caribbean, with over 100 hotels and a project pipeline of 40 new properties. The company has over 270 hotels across the region and a pipeline of 135 more accommodations.

With reports from L’Officiel México and Forbes Travel Guide

Mexico’s electric vehicle Olinia to debut at 2026 World Cup

By
MND Staff
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11
Olinia models
Two models are described as ideal for short trips within the city, while the largest model to be made by Olinia is akin to a local delivery truck. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

The Sheinbaum administration on Monday shared new details about Mexico’s first domestically produced electric vehicle — Olinia — and announced its projected debut at the 2026 World Cup opening match in Mexico City.

The clean mobility initiative, first voiced during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration speech on Oct. 1, will be led by the newly formed Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Sectei) as part of the administration’s push toward sustainable transportation and technological advancement. The ministry has budgeted an initial 25 million pesos (US $1.2 million) toward the project.

President Sheinbaum discussing the EV Olinia
During Monday’s update on Olinia, President Sheinbaum mentioned the importance of creating an urban mobility alternative that is safer than motorcycles. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Olinia — which means “moving” in the Indigenous Náhuatl language — aims to be the first electric car designed and assembled entirely in Mexico. The production center will be located in the northwestern state of Sonora, according to the newspaper Mexico Now, and the factory will produce three models.

The project seeks to consolidate an electric car that is accessible to Mexican families and youth, while also boosting the national automotive industry, Sheinbaum said during her daily presser on Monday.

“Olinia addresses an issue of great importance,” Sectei Minister Rosaura Ruiz said. “It contributes to the energy transition and protects the environment by reducing fossil fuel emissions. And thanks to the compact design, it helps optimize the use of urban space as well as traffic flow.”

The low-cost mini-vehicles are being designed for younger people and families living in urban environments, with two of the models described as ideal for short trips within the city. The largest model to be made by Olinia is what’s known as a Final Mile Vehicle, akin to a local delivery truck.

Olinia, estrategia de producción de autos eléctricos mexicanos. Conferencia presidenta Sheinbaum

The expected price range for the three models is from 90,000 to 150,000 pesos ( US $4,400 to US $7,400), a significantly lower price point than other electric vehicles currently sold in Mexico. EVs sold in Mexico by the automakers JAC, Renault and BYD retail at approximately 350,000 pesos ($17,200).

In addition to their reduced environmental impact, the president also emphasized improved safety in promoting electric vehicles.

“We want a compact and functional car that can represent an alternative to motorcycles,” Sheinbaum said in November upon visiting the proposed site of the factory in Sonora. 

“Motorcycles are popular, but also risky,” she said on Monday. “Traffic accidents involving them have risen considerably…so, this small vehicle must have the following characteristics: safe, electric and primarily made in Mexico.” 

With reports from El Universal, El Economista and Mexico Now

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