ROUTES - Mexico's Aerus looks to start US flights

Aerus (ZV, Monterrey Mariano Escobedo) has asked the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to offer scheduled and charter passenger flights between Mexico and the United States.

Based in Monterrey Mariano Escobedo, the Mexican carrier projects between 1,100 and 1,200 annual flights between both countries, according to a submission to the DOT seen by ch-aviation. If approved, it would be the fourth Mexican-based scheduled passenger airline to operate flights to the United States, following in the steps of Aeroméxico, Volaris, and VivaAerobus. Defunct Aeromar Airlines used to fly north until its collapse in February 2023.

Aerus has a fleet of three eight-seat Cessna (single turboprop) C208B Caravans owned by CIBANCO, S.A. de C.V., according to the country's aircraft registry. Additionally, in 2023, the company signed a Letter of Intent with Eviation to acquire up to 30 all-electric nine-seat Alice aircraft.

A regional carrier flying to and from destinations in Mexico's north and Gulf of Mexico regions, Aerus is looking to operate these routes to the United States:

Monterrey-Brownsville;

Monterrey-Laredo;

Monterrey-McAllen;

Monterrey-Corpus Christi International;

Tampico-McAllen;

Tampico-Brownsville.

Last year, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Javier Herrera García told ch-aviation the decision to serve these destinations was the cultural and business ties across the Mexico-US border.

Aerus is wholly owned by the Mexican Herrera family, with Filiberto Herrera Andrés owning 55% of the company's shares, followed by the CEO, Javier Herrera García, with 20%. Margarita Herrera García, Filiberto Herrera García, José María Herrera García, Bernardo Herrera García, and Pablo Herrera García own 5% of the airline each.

This company, the legal name of which is Aerotransportes Rafilher S.A. de C.V., launched commercial operations in February 2023. It was one of the three Mexican start-ups to begin flying last year, followed by Señor Air (SEN, San José Cabo) and Mexicana (México City Felipe Angeles) in December.

CH Aviation