On 19 May 2026, Mexican Airlines “Magnicharters” formally filed for bankruptcy protection at the First District Court in Mexico City. The airline completely ceased its operations, cancelled all flights, and closed its airport counters. The Operating License was revoked, and the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) was suspended by the Mexican Authorities (AFAC) due to financial problems and safety concerns. The airline faces an estimated debt of 150 million Mexican pesos.
Right now, the airline has not disclosed whether they have filed Chapter 11 (reorganization) or Chapter 7 (liquidation) bankruptcy but currently, looking at the situation, the airline likely would have filed Chapter 7 liquidation.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)What is Bankruptcy? "When a company faces financial difficulties, it may seek protection under bankruptcy law. When a company files for bankruptcy, it does not have enough money to pay everyone it owes. At the end of bankruptcy, the company may be set free from any unpaid debts."
Magnicharters Airlines Details
The airline was founded in 1994 by the Bojórquez family in Monterrey, Mexico, and began operations in 1995. The Headquarters is in Mexico City, with Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and Monterrey (MTY) as main operational hubs. Magnicharters was a small, family-run leisure airline for promoting tourism in Mexico.
The airline voluntarily filed for bankruptcy protection due to financial pressure caused by elevated fuel prices, operational disruptions, and broader stress.
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Business Model
Magnicharters was a low-cost carrier that primarily focused on tourist/charter flights. The airline primarily focuses on holiday travel rather than business routes.
The airline had 2 main licenses: AOC and Concession License / Operating Permit. These licenses allow the airline to operate both commercial scheduled and charter flights. All Mexican commercial airlines have to get this dual-license (Concession + AOC). As for the Magnicharters Airlines, both the licenses remain inactive due to bankruptcy.
Fleet Overview
The Magni Charters had a fleet of all classical Boeing 737s with an average age of 30 years. During the time of suspension, the airline had 4-5 aircraft. During its whole operations from the beginning, the airline owned and operated a total of 33 Boeing 737s. The Boeing 737s have typically configration of 140 seats per aircraft. Currently, all the aircraft are grounded/stored, as their AOC has been revoked.
Routes and Destinations
Magnicharters Airlines operated around 16-23 domestic scheduled routes. It usually carries tourists from Mexican cities to popular beaches and destinations. It follows the point-to-point flight model. The airline also operates seasonal and charter flights to the United States and the Caribbean.
Key Domestic Destinations
- Cancún (CUN) — One of their busiest and most important routes
- Puerto Vallarta (PVR)
- Mérida (MID)
- Huatulco (HUX)
- Cozumel (CZM)
- Mazatlán (MZT)
- Acapulco (ACA)
- Los Cabos (SJD)
Employees and Passengers Data
Around 390-500 employees, including pilots, cabin crew, maintenance staff, ground personnel, and administrative roles, have been affected by this bankruptcy. The Mexican Association of Air Transport Workers filed a strike to protect 450-500 employees.
Alejandro González Forastieri, general secretary, Mexican Association of Air Transport Workers and Related Services, said, “We are going to ensure that, if Magnicharters does not resume operations, it will have to compensate all workers.” He added that the action effectively immobilizes company assets, noting, “The aircraft will remain grounded; furthermore, nothing can be moved from the company because the strike notice is already in place.”
In 2025, the airline carried 208,583 passengers, which is very low compared to their peak year 2015, with over 1 million passengers. With 4-5 operational aircraft, the airline’s theoretical maximum daily capacity was also very low compared to other low-cost carriers in Mexican cities like Volaris or VivaAerobus.
Contact Infomation
If you’re a passenger affected by cancellations, check with Mexican consumer protection (Profeco) or your travel insurance for refunds/rebooking options. Moreover, you can contact the airline by sending an email to contacto@magnicharters.com. Make sure to include the following details in it:
- Name of the holder
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Reservation code
- Departure origin
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