Airline aiming for the business market
Mexicana is to start a twice weekly service from Mexico City to London Gatwick next January.
The Mexican carrier plans to increase the frequency to four a week in February.
Adolfo Crespo, Mexican's director of corporate communications, said the new route was aimed at the business traveller and would complement BA's three flights a week from Heathrow to Mexico City.
Mr Crespo said business class on these flights was "saturated" but conceded that the business market at the moment was "not big."
He added: "Mexico is hosting more and more meetings and conventions and the entire investment in Mexico has grown dramatically. There is a need for another direct link," he said.
Mr Crespo said that Mexicana, formerly a member of the Star Alliance, would be joining the oneworld network, which includes BA, next year.
The airline is also planning to start flights from Mexico City to Madrid next year.
Mr Crespo said his carrier would be using Boeing 767-200s for the London service with 156 seats, 40 in business class and 116 in economy.
He said flights from Gatwick would be timed for onward connections to destinations in Latin and Central America served by Mexicana. Waits would be no longer than 90 minutes.
Visit www.mexicana.com.