Why Altitude?
Who are we?
We are an independent group composed of commercial aviation experts with over 100 years of combined experience, whose goal is to provide public opinion based on the credibility of our credentials within the aviation industry, both nationally and internationally. Our founding team consists of professionals with a broad and distinguished track record as key players in the sector, enabling us to offer information, opinions, and analytical, precise, and reliable viewpoints. We take pride in being a group from Latin America, a region whose developments require experienced voices that contribute greater analytical depth from a local perspective and in its native language.
We aim to provide high-level executive analysis, opinions, and advice on commercial aviation topics, contributing to the sector’s development in a transparent, objective manner, always backed by solid data. We will focus on sharing legitimate knowledge that adds value to its various members as well as to the public interested in expanding its understanding of Latin America's aviation industry.
Our mission
With over 40 years of experience in the aviation industry, Arturo is an executive with expertise in various areas of aviation, specializing in all aspects related to the safety of aviation operations.
He began his career as a pilot at Mexicana de Aviación, accumulating 5,000 hours flying commercial aircraft, before transitioning to ground operations where he stood out for designing the first Operational Control Center, utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance the airline’s ability to respond to operational contingencies and improve Mexicana’s punctuality and productivity rates. He was appointed to represent Cintra, the holding company of Mexicana and Aeroméxico, at Aeroperu, the national airline of Peru, as Vice President of Operations. There, he led efforts to regain the company’s certification with the FAA and played a key role in the response and investigation of the Aeroperu 603 accident.
Upon returning to Mexico, he was appointed VP of Operations and Maintenance at Aeromexpress Cargo, where he optimized the productivity of operations with owned aircraft. He was later appointed General Director of Aerocaribe, a company that evolved into the first low-cost airline in the country, achieving positive financial results for the first time in its history.
Arturo was invited to serve as General Director of Air Services at the then PGR (Attorney General’s Office), where he managed the largest air fleet in Latin America at the time, creating the air safety division and increasing the utilization of aircraft by 600%, achieving record figures in the eradication and air interception functions of that agency.
In 2011, Arturo joined Aeroméxico with the mission of enhancing safety standards. He strengthened the Air Safety Management System, implemented Mexico’s first system to manage risks associated with illicit interference, developed and implemented a Human Factors Program for Crew Members to identify and assist pilots and flight attendants with addiction problems, designed the unique Aeroméxico Emergency Response Plan in Latin America, and during the COVID-19 crisis, designed and implemented the Health Management System, which allowed the airline to maintain safe operations during the pandemic. He also played a key role in the creation of the “Just Culture” program, which helped improve the company’s safety metrics to historically healthy levels.
Arturo’s extensive experience in various roles throughout his aviation career (pilot, ground operations, air operations, operational control, maintenance, cargo, emergency response, etc.) has provided him with a comprehensive view of all aspects of aviation operations, enabling him to identify and mitigate inherent risks with full objectivity while maintaining operational efficiency and profitability.
When Arturo is not at an airport, he dedicates his time to his family and preparing for triathlons and flying drones.
Arturo Duhart
Juan Nicolás Rhoads
With over 30 years of experience as a member of the V-Suite In the aviation industry, driving the profitable growth of airlines through leadership, innovation, and strategy, Nicolás Rhoads holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Latin American Studies from New York University, as well as a Global MBA from Thunderbird University and the Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM).
An aviation executive with over three decades of experience at Aeroméxico, Mr. Rhoads has held various key positions in areas such as Commercial Strategy, Corporate Planning, International Expansion, and Crew Planning. His career has been marked by strategic contributions that have significantly enhanced the airline’s operational efficiency, global presence, and long-term competitiveness.
He began his career through a leadership development and internship program in the United States, leading commercial initiatives in the northeastern market, including the launch of Aeroméxico Vacations. Throughout his career, he has held strategic planning roles, leading the expansion into South America and playing an active role in the creation of the SkyTeam alliance, of which Aeroméxico was a founding member.
From 2000 to 2010, he held executive roles such as Vice President of Corporate Planning and Chief Risk Officer, overseeing key areas such as Network Development, Strategic Alliances, and Crew Planning. He was instrumental in consolidating the hub at Mexico City International Airport, opening new international routes, and improving the productivity of technical-operational personnel through technological innovation and strengthening labor relations. He also mentored and coordinated the launch of the airline’s transpacific routes.
Between 2010 and 2022, he led the Crew Planning team, where he implemented productivity platforms such as ManPower and PBS (Preferential Bidding System). Additionally, he played a key role in union negotiations, achieving long-term collective agreements that resulted in a 26% reduction in labor costs during the Chapter 11 process, ensuring the company’s viability.
In 2023, he led the Customer Experience Strategy team, achieving a significant increase in the Net Promoter Score (NPS) and implementing customer-centric strategies aligned with market expectations.
Mr. Rhoads currently resides in Mexico, where he provides strategic consulting services at the executive level for companies in the aviation sector. He lives with his wife Ana Paula, a sustainability expert, while their three children pursue university studies in the Netherlands and Berlin.
Fabricio Cojuc
Fabricio Cojuc brings 36 years of professional experience in the commercial aviation industry. Throughout his career, he has held senior executive roles with leading Mexican airlines, including serving as Chief Executive Officer in 2005. From 2000 to 2004, he represented Mexicana de Aviación as a member of the Star Alliance Management Board in Germany. Since 2014, Fabricio has served as a board advisor, consultant, and independent contractor for various airlines and airports. He specializes in leading projects in corporate and network strategy, capacity planning, air service development, international interline alliances, and airline start-ups. His clients include both national and multinational organizations within the aviation sector.
Over the years, Fabricio has been an active participant in international industry conferences as speaker, panelist, and invited moderator. He is a frequent contributor on LinkedIn and collaborates regularly with journalists and analysts from both domestic and international aviation media.
He also serves as the featured aviation analyst in Bloomberg Intelligence webinars focused on the Mexican aviation market. A fully trilingual professional (Spanish, English, and French), Fabricio holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas–Pan American and a Master’s degree in Airline Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida. He also completed executive education programs in Strategic Negotiation and Competition Strategy at Harvard Business School.