Mexico inks deal with Air France for operation of Airbus 380 fleet

Mexico Thursday signed an agreement with Air France to allow the airline to operate its Airbus A380 fleet in the Latin American country starting in 2016.

The Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT) said in a press release that President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is on a state visit to France, and his French counterpart Francois Hollande, witnessed the signing of the agreement.

"The deal marks the beginning of a new era in the development of Mexican aviation, and turns the International Airport of Mexico City into the first destination in Latin America to have this great aircraft operating regularly," the ministry said.

Airbus 380, considered the world's largest and most modern passenger airliner, could begin flying into Mexico City in the first four months of 2016, "once the necessary arrangements and adjustments have been made" to airport facilities, the ministry said.

The double-deck, wide-body jetliner can carry up to 525 passengers in a traditional three-class setup, or up to 853 people in an all economy-class setup.

In 2009, Air France became the first major commercial airline in Europe to operate Airbus 380, with a Paris-to-New York flight.

The airline's 12 Airbus 380 aircraft also fly between Paris and the U.S. city of Miami, Florida. Endi