Team size: Approximately 80 individuals

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

In the aviation industry, uncertainty and crises are not the exception but the rule. Our business operates in an environment of constant change—whether due to geopolitical events, economic fluctuations, regulatory developments, or operational challenges. At Aeroméxico, we have learned that resilience is built not by resisting instability, but by embracing it as an opportunity to improve, to adapt, and to grow stronger.

As General Counsel, I approach each period of instability with a focus on agility, collaboration, and strategic alignment with the company’s broader objectives. The legal function serves not only as a guardian of compliance and risk management but also as a strategic partner to the business, enabling the organisation to act decisively while maintaining legal integrity. Our role is to transform uncertainty into a platform for learning and progress—to correct what caused the crisis and to build on what works.

Over the past few years, the legal department has been deeply integrated into Aeroméxico’s transformation journey. We have supported the company in navigating complex post-restructuring scenarios, achieving stability, and enabling expansion. As a result, Aeroméxico has successfully launched multiple new routes connecting Mexico with the United States, Central and South America, Canada, Europe, and Asia, while also incorporating new aircraft into our fleet. Each new route and fleet addition involves intricate regulatory, operational, and commercial considerations, and our legal team plays a central role in ensuring compliance and facilitating seamless execution across jurisdictions.

We have also played a key role in supporting Aeroméxico’s operational excellence, helping the airline achieve recognition as the most punctual airline in the world in 2024. This achievement reflects the company’s strong governance, disciplined execution, and deep coordination between business and legal functions—all of which contribute to customer trust and brand leadership.

Another critical aspect of resilience has been the constructive relationship we have developed with Aeroméxico’s unions. Through proactive dialogue and negotiation, we have helped reach agreements that improve employees’ quality of life while safeguarding the company’s long-term sustainability. These agreements reinforce our shared values of safety, efficiency, and service excellence—three pillars that define Aeroméxico’s culture.

Part 2 – Sustainability practices and the role of the General Counsel

Sustainability is at the core of Aeroméxico’s business strategy and long-term vision. As the Mexican flagship carrier, we recognise our responsibility to reduce our environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable aviation industry. This commitment extends across all areas of our operations and involves close collaboration with regulators, industry associations, and global partners.

One of our key areas of focus has been the analysis and promotion of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in Mexico. Together with Canaero—the national industry association representing airlines and aviation stakeholders—we are evaluating the current regulatory and economic environment for SAF adoption, recognising that SAF represents the most effective pathway for the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint. We are therefore working collaboratively with authorities and industry partners to explore the development of an enabling framework, including potential fiscal and regulatory incentives, that could encourage SAF production and availability in the country. These inter-institutional efforts aim to ensure that Mexican airlines can access sustainable fuels locally, which is essential to meeting long-term environmental goals in a realistic and impactful way.

At the same time, Aeroméxico is actively working to help ensure that Mexico develops the necessary regulatory framework and local conditions to enable compliance with the CORSIA framework (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation). We are collaborating with industry stakeholders, regulators, and government agencies to promote the creation of certified projects in Mexico that can generate the carbon offsets required under CORSIA. From a legal perspective, this effort involves coordinating inter-institutional agreements, facilitating dialogue between the public and private sectors, and ensuring that Mexico’s emerging framework aligns with international standards—so that both the country and its airlines can meet their environmental commitments in a sustainable and practical manner.

As General Counsel, my role in these efforts is to integrate legal, regulatory, and strategic perspectives to ensure that sustainability is embedded in both our operations and our decision-making processes. This requires facilitating dialogue among diverse stakeholders—including industry peers, environmental authorities, and international investors—to create frameworks that enable the company to innovate responsibly.

Beyond compliance, the legal team contributes to sustainability by ensuring that new projects incorporate ESG considerations from the outset—whether in contract design, risk assessment, or stakeholder engagement. The objective is not only to reduce emissions but also to promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and long-term value creation.

Ultimately, sustainability is not a parallel objective but a fundamental component of Aeroméxico’s mission to connect people responsibly and efficiently. The legal function plays a key enabling role—bridging the gap between environmental ambition, regulatory reality, and business execution.