Chiapas Expands Its Intra-State Connectivity

Aerobalam is the state-owned airline of the Chiapas government, which has been operating since April 2025, with an inaugural flight from Tuxtla Gutiérrez to Tapachula, with the goal of positioning Chiapas as a destination for conferences, conventions, and tourism. Given its positive reception, the airline is set to expand its routes, according to Victor Bermúdez, director of the state’s Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV).

This state-owned airline, administered by the government, operates differently from commercial airlines, whose purpose is not to generate a profit per route, but rather to provide domestic connectivity across a vast and complex territory, which is served by 45-minute scenic flights that connect to the global economy.

Bermudez has described how difficult it is to travel within the organization by land; as a result, trips have sometimes taken between four and five hours.

According to the state government’s first report, the plan aims to position Chiapas as a leader in innovative practices, promote and showcase iconic destinations, and boost tourism. To this end, the tour operator Aerobalam is launching its operations with a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft and daily flights that will benefit the local economy, connecting Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Tapachula, and Palenque.

The executive confirmed that the growth in air connectivity to and within Chiapas is due to the airlines themselves, which are establishing various new routes they can offer within the state.

In this way, Chiapas hopes to combine business tourism with nature and adventure tourism in order to extend the average length of stay for visitors.