Mexico's Interjet Airlines' Fleet Collapse Leaves 22 Sukhoi Superjets Abandoned Since 2020

In 2011, Mexico’s then-third-largest carrier Interjet made an unusual choice to purchase 30 Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jets to expand its domestic route network. At the time, competitor manufacturers such as Bombardier and Embraer dominated the regional aircraft market, but Interjet opted instead for the Russian-built jets due to appealing financial terms. This steep commitment to the Superjet 100 series would later prove disastrous for Interjet’s long-term viability.

Initially, the Superjet acquisition helped Interjet increase passenger capacity and served a growing Mexican domestic travel market. However, operational challenges emerged over time, including maintenance complexities and supply chain issues due to the jets’ Russian origin. After 2018 and into 2020, Interjet began facing severe financial difficulties, leading the airline to dramatically curtail operations and soon enter insolvency proceedings.

As Interjet ceased significant operations, 22 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft delivered to the carrier have remained parked, neglected, and in deteriorating conditions at multiple Mexican airports. These jets have essentially become stranded assets, unused for years due to the carrier's collapse and the ongoing complications in restarting their service life without the airline's infrastructure and support.

The fallout from Interjet’s strategic gamble illustrates the risks of adopting less-common aircraft types in markets heavily reliant on established engine and parts networks. While the Superjet offered initial cost advantages, the long-term drawbacks contributed notably to Interjet’s decline. Since 2020, the languishing Superjets symbolize the broader impact the airline’s failure has had on Mexico’s regional aviation landscape.

Going forward, the fate of these 22 Sukhoi Superjets remains uncertain. Potential buyers, leasing firms, or scrap options will depend on the geopolitical and technical feasibility of returning Russian aircraft to commercial service in Mexico. This episode underscores how aircraft fleet decisions can reverberate far beyond initial delivery, especially when economic and operational stability falter.