Aeromexico has celebrated the launch of its first flight between Heathrow and Mexico City, one of the eight largest emerging markets in the world.

The Boeing 767 aircraft arrived into Heathrow from MEX as flight AM007, before departing on its schedule from the UK at 22:25.

Aeromexico, a founding member of SkyTeam, will be offering three flights a week operating from Terminal 4, as other 12 members of the Alliance.

Aeromexico’s airlines operate over 600 daily flights to 45 cities in Mexico, as well as cities in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, as well as Europe and Asia.

Passengers were welcomed with the Mexican traditional Mariachi band and given souvenirs from the Mexican airline.

As the balance of economic growth shifts from the developed world to emerging markets, it’s increasingly important for the UK to be connected by air to markets to remain an attractive place to invest and do business.

Yet despite Mexico’s position as Latin America’s second largest economy, Britain currently supplies less than one per cent of its imports.

Better flight connections will therefore be vital in helping Britain meet its pledge to double bilateral trade with Mexico to $4.2 billion by 2015.

Colin Matthews, chief executive of Heathrow said: “We are delighted to welcome Aeromexico to Heathrow.

“The centre of gravity in the world economy is shifting and Britain should be forging new links with economies like Mexico.

“But with this single deal taking four years to complete, the UK’s lack of hub airport capacity is causing us to fall further behind the rest of Europe.”