Viva (airline)
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| Founded | 2006 | ||||||
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| Hubs | Gen. Mariano Escobedo Int'l Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 6 | ||||||
| Destinations | 19 | ||||||
| Parent company | Aeroenlaces Nacionales S.A. DE C.V. | ||||||
| Headquarters | Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico | ||||||
| Key people | Roberto Alcántara Rojas (Chairman), Mike Szucs (CEO), Donal Rogers (CFO) | ||||||
| Website | http://www.vivaaerobus.com. | ||||||
vivaAerobus is a low cost airline part-owned by the founders of Europe's biggest low-frills carrier, Ryanair.
History
vivaAerobus started operations on November 30, 2006 with its hub at General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (MTY), in Monterrey, Mexico. vivaAerobus connects General Mariano Escobedo International Airport to a handful of Mexican domestic locations and, as publicly confirmed in July 2007, will later open their first base outside of Mexico and first US focus-city in Austin, Texas. The airline currently flies between Monterrey and eighteen other Mexican cities, as well as between other domestic markets.
It is co-owned by the Ryan family, founders of Ryanair and the Mexican bus company IAMSA. The Ryans joined with Maurice Mason of Kite Investments to establish "RyanMex" to facilitate the Irish family's investment in the Mexican airline. RyanMex hold 49 percent of shares in the airline, while IAMSA will have the remaining majority stake. It started off with an initial investment of $50 million and two Boeing 737-300 airplanes bearing its vivid green and red dots logo. The airline has served 1.3 million passengers in its first year of operations and anticipates handling 2.4 million passengers in 2008.
vivaAerobus fares intend 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 first low-cost airlines (Avolar, Click Mexicana, Interjet, Volaris) and the privatization of Mexicana, one of the two top local airlines. 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. Reservations for flight to Austin began on the 28th of January.
Destinations
Over the last months of 2007 and continuing through the present, Viva Aerobus has had some problems regarding frequent changes in their travel schedules. Unfortunately, these schedule changes have affected passengers with already purchased tickets. These schedule changes have been erratic and sometimes occur during the final few days preceding the scheduled flight. The modifications have resulted in, for example, a paid Saturday to Wednesday itinerary being unilaterally changed to a Sunday to Monday itinerary. Passengers adversely affected by such changes have been informed that due to Viva Aerobus' status as a discount airline no refunds will be issued.
Viva Aerobus has recently signed a deal with Gary/Chicago International Airport, Chicago's third biggest airport, for flights starting in July 2008.
Viva Aerobus will also have flights to Austin, Texas, starting in May.
- La Paz (Manuel Márquez de León International Airport) Service begins August 1, 2008
- Los Cabos (Los Cabos International Airport) Service begins August 1, 2008
- Chihuahua (General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport)
- Ciudad Juárez (Abraham González International Airport)
- Acapulco (General Juan N. Álvarez International Airport)
- Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport)
- Huatulco (Bahías de Huatulco International Airport) Service begins August 1, 2008
- Oaxaca (Xoxocotlán International Airport) Service begins August 1, 2008
- Culiacán (Federal de Bachigualato International Airport)
- Mazatlán (General Rafael Buelna International Airport)
- Gary (Gary/Chicago International Airport) Service begins July 1, 2008
- Austin (Austin-Bergstrom International Airport) Service begins May 1, 2008