Mexicana, which is leaving the Star Alliance as of March 31, has entered into a codesharing alliance with American Airlines.

There is a real hole in United’s route network to Central and South America, and I do understand that the exit of Mexicana from its United and Star Alliance relationships was initiated by Mexicana. Mexicana was receiving far less passenger feed from United – some say 50% less – than they were pre-United bankruptcy.

American’s own network, combined with their partnership with Grupo TACA, makes American far stronger than United in this area.

It will be interesting to see whether Mexicana’s relationship with American remains a standalone or whether it foretells entry into the oneworld alliance. Similarly, it will be interesting to see whether American’s passenger feed to Mexicana cannibalizes the passenger feed to TACA and what that foretells for the American-TACA partnership.