GarciaBodan advised Aeromexico on the corporate and regulatory process required to resume its operations at Palmerola International Airport in Honduras. The project forms part of the airline’s regional expansion strategy in Central America and required obtaining multiple regulatory authorizations, as well as structuring key operational agreements.
Aeromexico is Mexico’s global airline and one of the leading carriers in Latin America. The company operates an extensive international route network and has strengthened its regional connectivity strategy in recent years.
GarciaBodan supported the airline in establishing operations from Palmerola International Airport in Comayagua. This work involved securing regulatory approvals from the relevant civil aviation authorities, as well as reviewing and negotiating contracts with airport operators and essential service providers to ensure operational readiness.
Our team was led by Vanessa Oquelí, Managing Partner of our Honduras office, together with Gabriela Aguirre, Senior Associate. Oquelí oversaw the overall legal strategy and institutional engagement with authorities and industry stakeholders, while Aguirre coordinated the technical execution of the regulatory process, including the preparation of regulatory filings, monitoring approvals, and conducting contractual reviews.
The legal strategy focused on early coordination with airport regulatory authorities to ensure that the various regulatory, contractual, and operational requirements were addressed in parallel. In addition, the team implemented document standardization mechanisms and compliance checklists tailored to the Honduran regulatory framework to streamline approval processes.
One of the main challenges involved coordinating multiple interdependent authorizations within a commercially driven timeline. The team also needed to align Honduran regulatory requirements with the airline’s obligations in its home jurisdiction, as well as with international aviation industry standards.
The project stood out for its integrated approach, combining regulatory, contractual, and operational legal support within a single implementation process. The simultaneous coordination of these components allowed the team to maintain a clear critical path for the launch of operations, minimizing regulatory risks and potential delays.
The resume of Aeromexico’s operations in Palmerola will help strengthen air connectivity between Honduras and Mexico, expanding transportation options for passengers and facilitating trade and tourism between the two countries. In addition, the project reinforces the position of Palmerola International Airport as an important hub for regional connectivity in Central America.