Is teetering Interjet set to become the next airline casualty of the pandemic?
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Another airline may soon succumb to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The outlook for Mexican low-cost airline Interjet is bleak as the carrier canceled most of its flights for the third day and its website remained offline. The Mexican government is now warning passengers about the risk of doing business with the airline, according to Mexican media reports.
For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Interjet canceled all of its flights on Sunday and Monday, citing liquidity and aircraft issues. The airline called it “a restructuring of its itineraries,” The Associated Press reported.
More specifically, Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA), the Mexican State company that manages the country’s airport, claims that Interjet failed to meet payments on jet fuel, and thus stopped receiving fuel for its planes, according to Reuters. The airline added in a statement that “additionally, some of the company’s aircraft have gone into maintenance.”
Related: What you can do when your airline goes belly up
A few flights have resumed Tuesday, but many remain grounded. Perhaps even more concerning is that the airline’s website and reservations line have been offline throughout the day. No updates have been shared on the airline’s social media channels since Sunday (Nov. 1).
Earlier Tuesday, Ricardo Sheffield, director of Mexico’s Bureau of Consumers’ Protection (PROFECO), warned that the airline was at the brink of bankruptcy and that there is high risk of doing business with the airline. Thousands of passengers have already been left stranded due to these cancellations.
Related: Airlines expect a post-coronavirus boom in leisure travel, they just don’t know when
Bottom line
Interjet has been struggling financially for several years now and the drought in demand for air travel caused by the pandemic has only only brought more trouble for the airline. If you have any upcoming travel booked on the airline, make sure to keep an eye on the news.
The collapse of the airline would also mean goodbye to the only Russian-made jet in commercial service in North America — the Sukhoi Superjet 100.
Featured image by Alberto Riva/The Points Guy.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first three months of card membership.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of membership.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.