A Mexican Airline And A Russian Plane Maker Have Made Low-Cost Flying Comfortable

Low-cost air travel is hardly synonymous with comfort, but a young Mexican airline is teaming up with a Russian manufacturer to bring the two together.

At the Paris Air Show in June, low cost carrier Interjet took delivery of the first of 20 new SuperJet SSJ110s, built by Russia's Sukhoi.

The 100-seat planes are a logical fit for Interjet, which operates relatively short, regional flights. It's the first Western airline to operate them.

We stepped on board the new jet in Paris, and were rather impressed: It feels clean and comfortable — not the first things that come to mind when flying from Miami to Mexico City for under $300.

The interior is the work of Italian design firm Pininfarina, and puts a great face on a jet with a troubled history. Last year, 45 people died when one of the jets crashed in Indonesia. Investigators blamed the crash on pilot error, according to Reuters.