Mexicana MRO Prepares for Potential Sale
The maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility that survived Mexicana de Aviación’s bankruptcy in 2010 has consolidated its position as a financially sound company and is now preparing to be sold in the coming months.
Following the airline’s bankruptcy, Mexicana MRO was forced to transform its business model. At the time, the facility relied heavily on Mexicana de Aviación, which had been its main customer and accounted for the majority of its operations involving more than 100 aircraft. External customers represented only about 5% of its business.
Today, the situation has changed significantly, with external airlines accounting for the majority of Mexicana MRO’s customer portfolio. This transformation allowed the facility to remain operational while requiring it to compete for contracts and generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations independently, without relying on business from its former parent airline.
Mexicana MRO currently operates three hangars capable of simultaneously providing maintenance services for up to 10 aircraft. In addition to major maintenance services, the company operates support workshops focused on components and materials for aircraft in the Airbus A320 family and A330, as well as Boeing models including the 737, 757, and 767.
To pursue new opportunities in the global MRO market, the company also plans to expand its capabilities to support next-generation aircraft, including the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. The expansion would allow the facility to broaden its potential customer base and participate in a wider range of maintenance programs.
The MRO Training Center also remains operational, providing in-house training for specialized technicians. The facility could eventually evolve into a dedicated business unit focused on training technical personnel for Mexico’s aviation industry, creating an additional potential source of revenue.
Mexicana MRO is certified by several aviation authorities and organizations, including Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Its facilities cover approximately 218,000 square meters at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), providing additional room for potential expansion of aircraft parking areas and maintenance hangars.
The company is now moving toward a potential sale as part of a process overseen by the trust’s Technical Committee, which is responsible for managing the transaction. Under the rules established by the committee, interested parties have until the end of November to submit applications to acquire Mexicana MRO.
According to CEO Óscar Arguello Ruiz, between six and seven companies have expressed interest in the facility so far, including three foreign companies.
During a press conference, Arguello Ruiz said the objective of the process is “to bring it to a successful conclusion and ensure that the proceeds go to the former employees.”
The potential transaction is intended to generate resources for the former employees of Mexicana, Click, and Link while preserving the MRO facility’s operational capabilities and strategic infrastructure for Mexico’s aviation industry. Mexicana MRO currently employs approximately 1,200 workers.
If the sale is completed, the proceeds would benefit approximately 6,200 former employees of Mexicana de Aviación, Click, and Link who are covered by the trust. The transaction therefore represents not only a change in ownership for
