Interjet proposes Central American franchises, with no launch date

Interjet is proposing to use franchises to take its brand into Central America, although it still has no date for resuming flights. Carlos del Valle, the company’s executive chairman, said he is in talks with businesspeople in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. The proposal offers a route to international expansion for the Mexican brand, but remains subject to legal and administrative obstacles.

A US$100 million proposal for each operation

According to a report published by Milenio on 22 October, Del Valle presented the project at the 10th Latin American Franchise Congress. The proposal envisages operations with five Airbus aircraft and an investment of approximately US$100 million per franchise.

The announced model includes staff training, as well as management and operational services. As the executive explained, this would go beyond simply licensing the brand: the package would include aircraft and support to establish airline operations in specific markets.

Del Valle said he was holding talks with potential partners in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. His intention is to use Interjet’s brand recognition to enter other markets through businesspeople involved in developing the business, rather than relying exclusively on a company-run operation in Mexico.

The investment figure and aircraft numbers relate to the model described by the executive chairman. They do not, in themselves, provide evidence that investments have been made or aircraft assigned to new operations.

Talks do not yet amount to launches

The announcement comes almost six years after Interjet suspended flights, with legal, employment and commercial issues linked to its bankruptcy still unresolved. That context is essential to understanding the scope of the proposal: a brand expansion strategy is not the same as a resumption of services.

Del Valle acknowledged that legal and administrative obstacles must be resolved before the plans can be put into effect. According to the information published by Milenio, the project also has no launch date or timetable for bringing aircraft into service.

The executive did not identify the companies that would participate in the Central American franchises. Nor did he explain how each operation would be financed or when tickets might go on sale.

For those assessing Mexico’s franchise market, the key distinction is between the proposed model and its implementation. So far, the announcement amounts to talks with potential partners and a broad outline of the offering. Those talks do not constitute signed agreements or guarantee the return of flights.

A different model proposed for Ghana

The international proposal also includes a possibility outside Latin America. Del Valle said an investor from Ghana had expressed interest in developing an operation with 100 aircraft.

In that case, he explained, Interjet would retain 51% of the company, while the partner would provide the capital for the remaining 49% stake. This proposed ownership structure differs from the description given for the five-aircraft franchises in Central America.

The two initiatives should therefore be considered separately. The reference to Ghana reflects interest reported by the executive and a proposed ownership structure, not an operation already under way. It also does not change the absence of a timetable for Interjet’s return.

What the franchise community should watch

The proposal combines a brand, aircraft, training and management. However, these announced elements still need to be distinguished from any commitments that may eventually be agreed with specific partners.

The next points to verify will be signed agreements, the identity of the participants, financing and implementation dates. It will also be important to establish how the obstacles acknowledged by the executive chairman are resolved. Without those details, the estimated investment indicates the intended scale of the project, but does not confirm that it will launch.

Practical takeaway: anyone assessing franchise opportunities should treat Interjet as a proposal under development, not a confirmed launch. Before making decisions, verify the contracts, who will be responsible for running the operation, the financing and the timetable.