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Viva (airline)

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This article is about the Mexican airline. For the similar named Colombian airline, see Viva Air Colombia. For the former Spanish airline, see Viva Air. For the airline from the Dominican Republic, see Viva Air Dominicana.
Viva
IATA ICAO Call sign
VB VIV VIVA
Commenced operations30 November 2006; 17 years ago (2006-11-30) (as Viva Aerobus)
30 October 2024; 17 days ago (2024-10-30) (as Viva)
AOC #V8OF230F[1]
Operating bases
Frequent-flyer programViva Fan[3]
Fleet size105
Destinations60[4]
Parent companyGrupo IAMSA
HeadquartersMonterrey International Airport, Apodaca, Mexico
Key people
Websitewww.vivaaerobus.com

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V., trading as Viva (formerly Viva Aerobus), is a major Mexican low-cost airline headquartered at Monterrey International Airport, in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Measured by passenger numbers, it is Mexico´s third-largest airline and eleventh-largest airline in North America, offering more than 160 routes in more than 50 destinations serving Mexico, the United States, Central and South America.[5]

Viva is fully owned by the largest bus company group in Mexico, IAMSA, and was co-founded by and invested in by Irelandia Aviation.[6][7][8]

Viva operates mostly within a combination of point-to-point system with direct flights between middle-size airports and a hub system. Monterrey International Airport serves as its largest hub in terms of passengers carried and the number of departures. Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City-Benito Juarez, Los Cabos, Merida, Mexico City-Felipe Angeles and Tijuana serve as operating bases.

History

[edit]

The airline, launched as Viva Aerobus, commenced operations on November 30, 2006, with its hub at Monterrey International Airport, in Monterrey, Mexico, and with an initial investment of $50 million and two Boeing 737-300 aircraft.[8] Viva Aerobus was co-owned by Ryanair's Irelandia Aviation and the Mexican bus company IAMSA.[9] Ryanair joined with Alexander Maurice Mason of Kite Investments to establish "RyanMex" to facilitate the Irish family's investment in the Mexican airline. IAMSA has showed interest in developing a new stage of transportation after its successful bus market in Mexico, and Irelandia has been actively investigating the market opportunity, leading to the companies' partnership to form a Mexican low-cost carrier.[6] Irelandia held a 49 percent of shares in the airline, while IAMSA had the remaining majority stake.[9]

The airline initially connected Monterrey to a number of Mexican domestic locations and, in July 2007, publicly confirmed its intention to open its first base outside of Mexico and first US destination in Austin, Texas (although it ultimately pulled out of Austin in 2009).[10]

Viva Aerobus fares were intended to undercut traditional Mexican carriers by up to 50 percent, in a change of the industry that started with the arrival of the country's second generation of low-cost airlines (Avolar, MexicanaClick, Interjet, Volaris) and the privatization of Mexicana de Aviación, one of the two top national airlines. The airline started operations at Monterrey International Airport in November 2006 with two aircraft and one nonstop service connecting Monterrey to Tijuana, under the leadership of Mike Szucs as its CEO. A year after its foundation, in October 2007, Viva Aerobus had already transported one million passengers. Later, Donald Rogers became Viva Aerobus CEO in May 2009, year when Guadalajara became the airline's second base. In June 2010 the airline's leadership was assigned to Juan Carlos Zuazua, current CEO . Expansion continued and the airline established Mexico City, Cancun, Tijuana and Mérida as its new bases in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2022, respectively.[11]

On November 5, 2007, the airline received approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, initially serving the Mexican destinations of Cancún, Monterrey, Guadalajara and León. Flights to the South Terminal Austin began on May 1, 2008.

On May 16, 2009, Viva Aerobus stated it would cease passenger operations at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on May 31, 2009. The airline blamed the pullout in part on an outbreak of swine flu, which caused an unprecedented decrease in demand for service.[12] The company began to fly between Monterrey and Las Vegas in the summer of 2009.

In November 2009, the airline announced it had applied to commence operations between Hermosillo and Las Vegas beginning in March 2010.

In April 2010, the airline finally began serving Mexico's capital with two flights, one from Monterrey and the other from Guadalajara. It also started serving Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. However, the airline planned to serve Houston Hobby Airport on completion of that airport's new terminal in 2015.[13]

In 2010, the airline opened a focus city at Mexico City International Airport on October 1 after Mexicana ceased operations. Viva Aerobus switched Mexico City from focus city into a hub on April 1, 2011, beginning more destinations from the airport.[14][failed verification]

On July 26, 2011, the airline received approval to fly to Chicago-Midway International Airport.[15] On August 15 the same year, Viva Aerobus announced it would begin round-trip service between San Antonio (SAT) and Monterrey (MTY), Mexico starting that November.[16] On April 13, 2012, the airline ceased flights to Chicago Midway. On December 7, 2019, the airline resumed flying from Monterrey to Chicago, but this time via O'Hare International Airport. In addition, the airline flew to Morelia, Guadalajara, Leon and Zacatecas from Chicago-O'Hare for the 2019-2020 winter season.[17]

In October 2013, Viva Aerobus has signed an agreement to order 52 Airbus A320 aircraft for $5.1 billion, making it the largest order by a Latin American carrier.[9][18]

On May 15, 2014, Viva Aerobus received and started using Airbus A320s. It continued using Boeing 737s until the end of 2016, when it began operating an all Airbus fleet.[19][20]

In October 2014, Viva Aerobus began nonstop flights from Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua State) to Mexico City, León, and Hermosillo. In 2015, the airline launched flights to Dallas–Fort Worth from several Mexican cities.[21] The service was terminated in October 2015.[22]

As of December 8, 2016, IAMSA has acquired a 100 percent stake of the company after Irelandia Aviation sold its 49% stake to the company following regulatory approval.[8][23]

On December 17, 2017, Viva Aerobus began non-stop service to Los Angeles International Airport from Guadalajara International Airport.[24]

In 2018, Viva Aerobus began non-stop service to Las Vegas and New York City from Mexico City International Airport.[25]

Viva Aerobus announced the launch of its cargo subsidiary, Viva Cargo, in January 2020.[26]

In late-October 2021, Viva Aerobus has announced an interline agreement with Viva Air Colombia which took effect on November 1, 2021.[citation needed]

In December 2021, Viva Aerobus has partnered with Allegiant Air to form an alliance and expand low-budget services between the United States and Mexico. Subject to regulatory approval, the alliance is planned to launch in 2023.[27][28][29]

In early August 2022, Viva Aerobus announced a codeshare agreement with Iberia to better connect passengers going between Mexico and Spain.[30]

In September 2024, Viva Aerobus and Air Canada announced an interline agreement.[31]

In October 2024, the airline has underwent a major rebranding as simply "Viva", and introduced a new "Flex-Sí-bilidad" policy for a more relaxed exeprience for passengers, which include improved ticket, name, and flight changes. Alongside, a new logo and livery was introduced.[32][33]

Corporate affairs

[edit]
[edit]

The key trends for Viva are (as of the financial year ending 31 December):[34][35]

Revenue
(US$ m) 		Net profit
(US$ m) 		Number of
passengers
(m) 		Passenger
load factor
(%) 		Fleet size References
2016 271 36 6.3 84.6 21 [36][37][38]
2017 378 28 8.1 89.9 24 [36][39][40]
2018 512 37 10.0 90.0 31 [36][41][42]
2019 679 25 12.0 88.7 36 [36][43][44]
2020 414 −123 8.1 80.5 43 [45][46][44]
2021 998 76 15.2 83.6 55 [45][44]
2022 1,461 8 20.6 85.8 69 [45][47]
2023 2,024 121 24.9 86.8 81 [45][48]

Headquarters

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The corporate headquarters is in Terminal C of Monterrey International Airport in Apodaca, Nuevo Leon.[49] It occupies space in the terminal's cargo zone.[50]

Sponsorships

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To promote physical activity and healthy recreation, Viva has been the official sponsor of the Atlas, Tigres UANL and America Liga MX soccer teams; as well as Los Tomateros de Culiacan and Los Sultanes de Monterrey Mexican baseball teams. Internationally, it is also a sponsor of the NBA team the San Antonio Spurs and the Las Vegas Raiders of the NFL.[51][52][53][54][55][56]

In-flight services

[edit]

As of 2009, Viva has a buy on board program offering food and drinks for purchase.[57]

Countries in which Viva Aerobús operates as of September 2024[58][59]

Destinations

[edit]
Main article: List of Viva destinations

Bus services

[edit]

Viva operates a shuttle bus from downtown El Paso, Texas to Abraham González International Airport in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.[60]

Viva operated a bus shuttle between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport South Terminal and the Omnibus Mexicanos Bus Terminal in eastern Houston in addition to a bus shuttle between the Austin airport and the Omnibus Mexicanos Bus Terminal in downtown San Antonio for passengers on flights going to and from Cancún and Monterrey.[61][62]

Fleet

[edit]
Viva Aerobus Airbus A321neo
A former Viva Aerobus Boeing 737-300 in 2009.

Current fleet

[edit]

As of September 2024, Viva reported the following fleet:[63][64]

Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers[65] Notes
Airbus A320-200 45 — 180
Airbus A320neo 22 — 186
Airbus A321-200 10 — 220
Airbus A321neo 28 20[66] 240 Signed MoU for 90 airframes, no firmed order yet.[67]
Total 105 20

Fleet development

[edit]

In its beginnings, Viva Aerobus operated with a fleet integrated by Boeing 737-300 aircraft. In October 2016, the airline took ownership of the first PW1100-JM-powered Airbus A320neo.[68] This was part of an order placed with Airbus in October 2013 for 52 Airbus A320 family aircraft, including 12 A320ceos, at the time the largest number of aircraft ordered by a Mexican airline directly from Airbus.[68][69][70] The first A320ceo had been delivered in May 2015.[68] At the time of receiving the first A320ceo the carrier operated a fleet of six leased A320s and Boeing 737-300 aircraft.[71]

Viva Aerobus amended an existing order with Airbus in July 2018 to include the Airbus A321neo, of which 41 were included in the new orderbook.[70] The carrier took delivery of the first of these aircraft in June 2020.[69] In July 2023, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for an additional 90, 240-seater, Airbus A321neo.[72]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Viva Aerobus Air Operators Certificate". Airline Certificate Information–AEROENLACES NACIONALES S A DE C V. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Viva Aerobus". www.vivaaerobus.com.
  3. ^ "Cheap flights with Viva Fan | Viva Aerobus Airline".
  4. ^ "VivaAerobus on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  5. ^ "VivaAerobus on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  6. ^ a b "VivaAerobus Case Study". Irelandia Aviation. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  7. ^ Moss, Loren (27 February 2020). "Irelandia Aviation To Grant Equity Ownership To All Viva Air Employees". Finance Colombia. Finance Colombia. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Ryanair co-founder Declan Ryan to sell stake in Mexican carrier". The Irish Times. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Burke-Kennedy, Eoin (17 January 2014). "Ryan-backed VivaAerobus plans lucrative Mexican IPO". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  10. ^ "VivaAerobus to drop all Austin services". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Viva Aerobus - Relación con Inversionistas". ri.vivaaerobus.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  12. ^ Eaton, Tim. "Viva Aerobus to cease operations out of Austin-Bergstrom Archived 2009-05-19 at the Wayback Machine." Austin American-Statesman. Saturday, May 16, 2009. Accessed May 16, 2009.
  13. ^ "Houston airport operator envisions Hobby offering international flights in 12 markets". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Historia de VivaAerobus". Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  15. ^ "Viaje de Monterrey a Chicago desde 125 dólares, Negocios, El Semanario". 27 July 2011. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  16. ^ "City of San Antonio". www.sanantonio.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-08-23.
  17. ^ "¡Prepárate! A partir de esta fecha habrá vuelos Morelia-Chicago O'Hare". MiMorelia.com. 15 August 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  18. ^ Yeo, Ghim-Lay (21 October 2013). "VivaAerobus orders 52 A320 family aircraft". Flight Global. DVV Media International Limited. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  19. ^ "VivaAerobus Starts A320 Operations in Mexico". Caribbean News Digital. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  20. ^ "AIRBUS : Viva Aerobus starts A320 operations in Mexico". 4-traders.com. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  21. ^ "VivaAerobus to Launch Mexican Service from Dallas Fort Worth". Airchive. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  22. ^ "VivaAerobus pulls back on US routes as the Viva Group takes aim at Costa Rica". Centreforaviation.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  23. ^ "'Mexicanizan' a VivaAerobus". Retrieved 2017-07-06.
  24. ^ "vivaAerobus adds Guadalajara – Los Angeles route from Dec 2017". Routesonline. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  25. ^ "VIVA AEROBUS BOOSTS INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIVITY WITH ITS NEW ROUTE MEXICO CITY – NEW YORK". Viva Aerobus. October 16, 2018. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020.
  26. ^ "VIVA AEROBUS ENTERS THE AIR FREIGHT MARKET WITH ITS VIVA CARGO SERVICE". Viva Aerobus. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  27. ^ Rains, Taylor (4 December 2021). "The world's first ultra-low-cost international airline alliance is on the horizon as 2 budget carriers team up to bring cheap fares between Mexico and the US". Business Insider. Insider Inc. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  28. ^ "US's Allegiant Air, Mexico's VivaAerobus to form alliance". ch-aviation. ch-aviation GmbH. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  29. ^ "Viva Aerobus busca alianza con Allegiant para expandir sus operaciones entre México y EU". El Economista. Periódico El Economista S.A. de C.V. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Iberia, Viva Aerobus Finalize Codeshare Partnership". Routes. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
  31. ^ "Viva Aerobus-Air Canada pact links 8 Canadian cities with 59 Mexico routes". Mexico News Daily. Tavana LLC. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  32. ^ de la Rosa, Alejandro (30 October 2024). "VivaAerobus ahora será Viva; cambia su política de vuelos". El Economista (in Spanish). Periódico Especializado en Economía y Finanzas, S.A. de C.V. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  33. ^ Goytia, Óscar (31 October 2024). "Viva Aerobus Rebrands to "Viva" with New Logo and Livery". Mexico Business News. Mexico Business Company. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Viva Aerobus - Key Figures". ri.vivaaerobus.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  35. ^ "Viva Aerobus - Quarterly Reports". ri.vivaaerobus.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  36. ^ a b c d "Viva Aerobus - Key Figures (2016-2019)". 2020-11-29. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  37. ^ "Mexican Peso to US Dollar Spot Exchange Rates for 31 December 2016". www.exchangerates.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  38. ^ "Reporte 4toTrimestre y Anual 2016 Grupo Viva Aerobus" (PDF). Viva Aerobus (in Spanish). Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  39. ^ "Mexican Peso to US Dollar Spot Exchange Rates for 31 December 2017". www.exchangerates.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  40. ^ "4th Quarter 2017 Earnings Report Grupo Viva Aerobus" (PDF). Viva Aerobus. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  41. ^ "Mexican Peso to US Dollar Spot Exchange Rates for 31 December 2018". www.exchangerates.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  42. ^ "4th Quarter 2018 Earnings Release Grupo Viva Aerobus" (PDF). Viva Aerobus. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  43. ^ "Mexican Peso to US Dollar Spot Exchange Rate on 31 December 2019". www.exchangerates.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  44. ^ a b c "Viva Aerobus Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Viva Aerobus. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  45. ^ a b c d "Viva Aerobus - Key Figures (2020-2023)". 2024-07-21. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  46. ^ "Mexican Peso to US Dollar Spot Exchange Rate on 31 December 2020". www.exchangerates.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  47. ^ "Viva Aerobus Annual Report 2022" (PDF). Viva Aerobus. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  48. ^ "Earnings Release FY 2023" (PDF). Viva Aerobus. 27 February 2024.
  49. ^ "Home (English)". VivaAerobus. Retrieved 2021-04-16. Written correspondance --- Monterrey International Airport. Terminal C Miguel Aleman highway Km 24 Apodaca, NL, Mexico. C.P. 66600
  50. ^ "Contact Archived September 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." Viva Aerobus. Retrieved on August 29, 2010. "HEADQUARTERS: Aeropuerto de Monterrey, Terminal C, Zona de carga Carretera Miguel Alemán Km. 24 Apodaca, Nuevo León, México C.P. 66600"
  51. ^ "Despegó el avión de VivaAerobus con diseño de Raiders". El Economista (in Mexican Spanish). 16 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  52. ^ "Viva Aerobus presenta el Spurs Force One, avión de la NBA". Grupo Milenio (in Mexican Spanish). 14 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  53. ^ Noroeste/Redacción |. "Viva Aerobus es nuevo patrocinador oficial de Tomateros de Culiacán". www.noroeste.com.mx (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  54. ^ "Cambio en el Club América: Sale Interjet y entra VivaAerobus como patrocinador". El Economista (in Mexican Spanish). 8 January 2021. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  55. ^ "Viva Aerobus patrocinará al equipo de futbol Tigres". Expansión (in Spanish). 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  56. ^ Entorno Turístico Staff (2022-07-06). "Viva Aerobus es nuevo patrocinador del Atlas". Entorno Turístico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  57. ^ "Know Before You Go." Viva Aerobus. Retrieved on January 12, 2009.
  58. ^ "Route map Viva Aerobus". Flightconnections. 1 Sep 2024.
  59. ^ "Viva Aerobus Online Booking". Viva Aerobus. 1 Sep 2024.
  60. ^ "New Shuttle Service Cd Juárez - El Paso, Tx". www.vivaaerobus.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-16. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  61. ^ "Shuttle Austin - Houston". www.vivaaerobus.com. 22 September 2008. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  62. ^ "The Low Cost Arrived To San Antonio!". www.vivaaerobus.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  63. ^ "Viva AeroBus fleet details". airfleets.net. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  64. ^ "Registrations and cancellations of Mexican fleets in the second quarter of 2024". Transponder1200 (in Spanish). July 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  65. ^ "About us | Viva Aerobus". www.vivaaerobus.com. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  66. ^ Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), monthly updated, accessed via "Orders & deliveries". Airbus. Airbus SAS. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  67. ^ "Viva Aerobus signs MoU for 90 A321neo". www.airbus.com. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  68. ^ a b c Nensel, Mark (6 October 2016). "Mexican LCC VivaAerobus receives first A320neo". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016.
  69. ^ a b "VivaAerobus takes delivery of its first A321neo" (Press release). Airbus. 26 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  70. ^ a b "Viva Aerobus firms up order for 25 A321neo, 16 A321neo upconversions" (Press release). Airbus. 18 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  71. ^ Blachly, Linda (14 May 2015). "VivaAerobus takes delivery of first A320". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015.
  72. ^ "Viva Aerobus signs MoU for 90 A321neo" (Press release). Airbus. 5 July 2023. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023.
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Media related to VivaAerobús at Wikimedia Commons

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