Mexico City Airport in 1987

Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México '87
by Jan Koppen

On the morning of February 22, 1987, my girlfriend and I arrived on flight AM504, which Aeromexico operated with a Douglas DC-9-15, from Merida, Yucatan to Mexico City Airport, where 'we' went plane-spotting for a couple of hours. Enjoy the pics and captions.

Overview of Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México, as Avensa Boeing 727-22, YV-82C, climbs away from runway 23R for CCS.

Boeing 727-22 YV-82C was delivered new to United Airlines in May 1965. This airframe served with United 12 years, before being sold to Allegheny Airlines. In 1983 the aircraft was picked-up by Avensa, who operated the 727 till 1998, when she was withdrawn from use. She was finally broken-up at Caracas during August 2000.

A last look at Avensa YV-82C as she climbs away from MEX-City Airport, bound for Caracas in February 1987.

Ohhh ... shit, she looks bored and angry! - Airplane spotting is definitely not my girlfriend's hobby.

Again, we got rewarded with bright sunshine on this lovely Sunday, February 22, 1987, while Mexicana Boeing 727-264, XA-CUB was seen rocketing off runway 23R. In the background we see the huge Airport Hotel Americanas. Some years later, this hotel was rebuild by the Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and is now the famous Hotel/Museum Camino Royal Polanco.

In 1995, XA-CUB was sold to DHL. A couple of years later she was being stored at Roswell, New Mexico.

Mexicana Boeing 727-264 XA-DAT, climbs away from runway 23R, with destination Guatemala City.

XA-DAT, was sold to low-cost carrier SARO in December 1973, who withdrew her from service in March 1995. She was broken-up at Mexico City during June 1997.

Servicios Aéreos Rutas Oriente, S.A. de C.V. (commonly known as SARO) was an airline based in Monterrey, Mexico. The airline was established in 1991 and had its first flight on March 18th of that year. Due to their low prices, SARO was one of the first low-cost airlines in Mexico and America. It operated scheduled and charter flights throughout the Mexican Republic. SARO ceased all operations in 1995.

Mexicana Boeing 727-2Q4 XA-MER on short final to runway 05R at MEX-City, February 22, 1987. Unfortunately, Mexicana went bust in August 2010 following years of corruption and mismangement.

XA-MER was sold to VASP Brasil in July 1997. During the early month's of 2005 she was stored at Sao Luis Cunha Machado where she still languish today in a corner of the airport.

This Continental Golden Jet, in her inimitable style, blasts into the Mexican sky.

Mad-Dog N18835 flew with 'Conti' till 2005 when she was sold to One-Two-Go Airlines of Thailand. In June 2011 she was stored and one year later she was scrapped at Bangkok, Don Muang.

Douglas DC-9-15 XA-SOY is seen here in a Kodak blue sky.

XA-SOY was delivered new to Aeroméxico in May 1967. After 23 years of faithfull service she was sold to Aero California. In February 2007 her service life was over and she was ferried to Mojave for storage.

Mexicana Boeing 727-264 XA-MEI is seen here pulling out of MEX in February 1987, with a Aeroméxico Douglas DC-8-62H in the background.

The 727 was withdrawn from service in March 2003.

I can still remember the deafening sound of this beast and the kerosene odor after such an earthquake take-off.

This aircraft first flew at Renton in June 1973 and was delivered new to Braniff, as N416BN. In December 1980, she was sold to American Airlines as N712AA. 23 years later, the 727 was retired by the American and sold to Ascend Aviation who stored her at Jacksonville, Florida.

Boeing 727-264 XA-IEU 'Guelaguetza', climbing after a runway 23R take-off.

XA-IEU was withdrawn from use in May 2003 and finally scrapped at Mexico City.

Douglas DC-10-15 N1004A 'Popocateptl' is seen here on finals to MEX-City's runway 05R.

In July 1996 she was sold to SkyJet-Electra and became a familiar visitor to many european airports as V2-LER. In March 2003 she ended her duties and was stored at Abidjan airport where she was scrapped in 2013.

An Aeroméxico McDonnell Douglas MD-82 has taken up station on the taxiway behind a Mexican ‘three-holer’.

N1003X was sold in March 2004 to Aeropostal of Venezuela. In 2008 she was ferried to Victorville for storage.

Pan Am Airbus A300B4-203 N204PA, seen here in a Kodak blue sky, was a regular visitors to MEX-City on Pan Am's regular flights between Miami and Mexico City.

In April 1993 she was exported to Indonesia for service with Sempati. During June 1998 she returned to Airbus Industries. Sadly she has been scrapped at Chateauroux airport during 2005.

XA-SOJ is rocketing through the Mexican sky.

This 'baby-niner' started her career with Swissair in 1966 and ended her service life with Aero California during September 1996 when she was placed in store at Mojave.

An Aeromexico DC-10 launches herself into the early afternoon sky over Mexico City, in February 1987.

N1003N was built as a DC-10-15 in 1981. During the late 90's she was sold to Sun Country and in 2001 she was stored at Minneapolis. A short time later she was scrapped.

Three-thousand pounds of hydraulic pressure have been used to retract the undercarriage and aerodynamically clean-up the aircraft as it accelerates towards a climb-out speed.

Black exhaust trails betray climb-out power as Mexicana Boeing 727-264 XA-CUB soars out of Mexico City Airport in February 1987.

After Mexicana, the 727 flew for DHL untill retirement and was placed in store at Roswell, New Mexico in September 2009.

A Mexicana DC-10-15 is captured by the camera accelerating through 170 kts as it climbs out of Mexico City on an February day in 1987.

Aeroméxico MD-82 XA-AMQ 'Morelia' is being almost ready for push-back in bright sunshine.

In 2004 the Mad-Dog was sold to Lion Air in Indonesia. Four years later she was placed in store at Jakarta.

Aeroméxico has been a loyal Douglas customer.

Douglas DC-9-32, XA-AMD ended-up in the DRC operating for Bravo Air Congo. In November 2011 she was with-drawn from use at Kinshasa.

Another very efficient turn-round for this Mexicana Boeing 727.

XA-MER was sold to VASP in 1997 and a couple of years later stored at Sao Luiz.

Tucking up her wheels out of MEX-City is Boeing 727-264 XA-TAA of Mexicana.

In 1988 she went working for Avianca. During the mid 90's she was exported Nigeria where she found employment with Triax Airlines. In 1998 the jet was seized by authorities at Lisbon for non payment of maintenance bills. She was finally broken-up at Lisbon during August 2005.

Crystal clear image on a gorgeous day in February 1987.

After Mexicana she worked for several operators in Turkey and Colombia. She finally ended-up in Miami, Florida, where she was broken-up during March 1994.

Aeroméxico DC-10-30 XA-DUH 'Castillo de Chapultepec' is seen here on a sweltering Mexico City tarmac on February 22, 1987.

After Aeroméxico she saw employment with several operators, including Laker Airways in the mid 90's. It seems she is still active with Transporte Aereo Boliviano (TAB) of Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

On its way back to home-base Miami.

N364PA changed many hands after her service with Pan Am. The last operator was Allegro Air. She was placed in store at Marana in 2002.

Her bright livery still gleaming in the winter sunlight.

After Aeroméxico, XA-SOG, flew some years for Intercontinental Colombia. In Septembr 1994 she was sold to Aerocaribe and consequently returned to her homeland. In the first month of 2002 she was put in store at MEX-City.

Douglas DC-9-32, XA-DEL provided yeoman service for Aeroméxico and seen here wearing their mid-80's uniform.

After she was withdrawn from use she was ferried to Guadalajara. In December 2008 her fuselage was seen on a hill-side 10 km from Guadalajara.

Mexicana Boeing 727-264 XA-DAT, 'cleans-up' its undercarriage as it departs MEX-City runway 23R.

In 1992 the 727 went working for low-cost SARO and in 1995 she was withdrawn from use at MEX-City. Two years later she was scrapped.

Aeroméxico Douglas DC-9-32 XA-DEM, named 'La Paz B.C., is seen here nosed-up at the gate at Mexico City airport in February 1987.

In 2005, this workhorse was withdrawn from use and stored at Guadalajara.

Wings Restaurant DC-4M with Merlin engines at Mex-City Airport in 1987.

Canadair DC-4M-2/4 North Star M2-4 (CL-2)

This North Star was ex Trans Canada Airlines CF-TFG and was operated by the Canadians from 1949 until 1961.

She was sold to the Mexican operator LAUSA and registrated XA-NUW.

She still manages to look majestic despite her punctured nose.

XA-NUW was bought by an entrepreneur and used as a cafeteria on the edge of MEX airport. Unfortunately she was destroyed by fire in 1999.

- The End -

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Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México '87​by Jan Koppen​

Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México '87
by Jan Koppen