Viva

Airline fortunes differ widely north and south of the border.

LATAM Airlines Group’s market share within Colombia has reached 33% as the country’s airlines take advantage of Viva’s market exit.

Mexican ULCC Viva Aerobus shows no signs of slowing its growth after forging a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Airbus for 90 A321neos.

Avianca CEO Adrian Neuhauser said the “most damage done” from the exit of Viva and Ultra Air has been in Colombian cities Medellin and San Andreas.

Editors discuss why Colombia made a rescue of LCC Viva almost impossible.

Avianca said Aerocivil’s conditions for approving the proposed merger would “make Viva’s recovery impossible and could even affect Avianca’s stability.”

Avianca CEO Adrian Neuhauser says the company will decide whether to buy Viva by the end of this week, “either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.”

Conditions imposed on the Avianca-VIva merger include the return of slots at Bogota El Dorado and placing a fare ceiling on certain routes.

In Colombia demand remains strong yet two of the country’s budget airlines have ceased operations during the first quarter of 2023.

Colombia’s largest airline Avianca announced plans to acquire its ULC rival Viva roughly a year ago.

The airlines hope the proposed steps will allay Aerocivil’s competition concerns.

The agreement allows the Canadian airline’s passengers more destination options in Colombia.

Routes details the latest new route announcements, as well as the services returning to carriers’ networks.

The consolidated business will have a network spanning almost 300 routes and be similar in size to LATAM Airlines Group.

The airline will become only the third carrier to offer nonstop service between Colombia and Brazil alongside Avianca and LATAM Airlines Group.

The buoyant Colombia-Mexico market continues to grow as carriers launch new routes.

The carrier will launch new international routes from Guayaquil, Ecuador in December and January.

The agreement between the ULCCs is designed to strengthen connectivity between Colombia and Mexico.

Orlando becomes the carrier’s second destination in the US joining Miami.

Routes rounds up the latest new route announcements, as well as services returning to carrier’s networks.

CEO Felix Antelo tells Routes Reconnected the Colombian ULCC plans to increase its international network using its recently created Medellín hub.

The LCC will be hoping to gain first mover advantage ahead of two other carriers entering the market.

The country’s aviation authority is considering route proposals from Volaris and Viva Aerobus among others.

The Irelandia Aviation-owned ULCC is planning to enter the Colombia-Mexico market for the first time in its latest expansion.

Ultra Air CEO William Shaw believes Colombia has a 'very big problem'—and the start-up ULCC has the ability to solve it.