Mexican carrier Aeromar is down three aircraft after the plane's lessor moved to put a stop to the aircraft operating. The airline reportedly owns up to 7 billion pesos ($375 million ) to various creditors including Mexico City International Airport, where the carrier is based. This latest action leaves the airline with only two active aircraft in its flat.

Mexico's Federal Civil Aviation Agency on Thursday afternoon notified the nation's Navigation Services in Mexican Air Space Navigation Services that three aircraft currently operated by the carrier cannot be considered in flight plans. The move comes in response to a claim from Export Development Canada, a governmental organization potentially acting on behalf of the aircraft's lessors.

The document was signed by the general commander of the Mexico City International Airport, José Rivera, and includes three annexes with the court decisions indicating the aircraft cannot continue flying.

The three aircraft in question are ATR 72-600s. The first of which, bearing the registration number XA-UZE, was last spotted in Puerto Vallarta on February 9th after a full day flying between there, Guadalajara, and Aguascalientes. A second aircraft (XA-UZS) has been at Mexico City Airport since arriving from Zihuatanejo on February 7th. The final plane with a ground stop order is XA-UZT. The ATR aircraft departed Mexico City for Villahermosa on February 9th and did not return. From Villahermosa, the aircraft made its way to Cancun, made a short return journey to Havana, and has remained in Cancun ever since.

Photo: ATR.

With the loss of the three ATRs, Aeromar only has two planes left, according to the latest data from ch-aviation. The ATR 72-600 is registered XA-MKH and so far this month has flown from Raleigh-Durham International Airport airport in North Carolina to Goose Bay, Canada, and onwards to Reykjavik.

The carrier's sole active ATR 42-600 (XA-UYK) appears to be continuing regular operations. The aircraft's most recent stops included Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta on February 10th.

The potential merger with Nella.

The airline generated headlines earlier this month when it change its social media handles to read "Aeromar by Nella". This change was accompanied by an uncaptioned photo of an Aeromar aircraft, with the same text. Officially known as Transportes Aeromar, S.A. de C.V., Aeromar is currently the oldest operating airline in Mexico. The company was incorporated in January 1987,

The Brazilian company has reportedly presented its formal letter of interest to the airline's directors. The terms of the agreement are dependent on a meeting with the potential investors and Mexican Government to discuss Aeromar's debt and potential solutions. The investor is understood to have made a good faith deposit to declare its intention of acquiring control of the airline with the meeting set to take place on Monday, February 13th.

Brazilian Nella Airlines has already taken over the Bolivian regional airline Amas Bolivia (formerly Amaszonas) and Venezuelan airline Albatross.

The airline's outstanding financial obligations

The airline reportedly owes seven billion Mexican pesos ($375 million), much of this to the Mexican Government, and 500 million Mexican pesos ($26.79 million) is due to Mexico City International Airport. Officials at the airport announced on February 3rd that should Aeromar not pay by February 15 at 11:59 p.m. they will rescind permission for Aeromar aircraft to depart. Incoming aircraft would still be able to land, but Aeromar's outgoing flights would no longer be able to refuel or depart.

Source: Forbes Mexico, A21mx, El Financiero