Aeromexico, one of Mexico’s two leading airlines, anticipates passenger traffic to increase by 5 percent in the next year after it declined by 3 percent this year due to the global economic crisis and local A/H1N1 flu.

While talking to reporters, Aeromexico CEO Andres Conesa said, “This year through October, (passenger traffic) has been lower, but in November and December we're seeing traffic above last year's levels.”

The airline had posted passenger traffic of 10.5 million in 2008. Further, the CEO said that the company is looking forward to introduce a number of new international flights in 2010.

The airline targets to restart its flights from Mexico City to Shanghai in March after freezing the route this year on the basis of weak load factors.

Till 2007, the airline was controlled by the central government of Mexico and later it was sold to a group of private investors led by local Citigroup unit Banamex, for about $250 million.

The CEO told reporters, “The investors have since injected $240 million into Aeromexico, helping it to weather two years that have been very difficult.”

Further, Chairman of Aeromexico Jose Luis Barraza said, “It's not a project in the short term because the markets aren't right. Eventually, we could be looking at it as an option.”