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The Colombian ultra-low-cost carrier Viva sees in Mexico its biggest international market, and it is looking to further expand its operations to this country. How has Mexico become a key segment for the airline? Let’s find out.
Viva in Mexico
Viva has launched six new routes to Mexico in the last two years, connecting Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Cartagena with Mexico City and/or Cancún. The airline deploys its Airbus A320 fleet on these services and has allowed for a boom in low-cost travel between both countries.
Viva has also signed an interline agreement with Mexico’s low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus. Both airlines offer 483 flights per month between Mexico and Colombia, according to data provided by Cirium. Mexico City-Bogotá is the main route, with 83 scheduled flights next month, followed by Mexico-Medellín and Cancún-Medellín.
Félix Angelo, Viva CEO, said the following about Mexico’s importance,
“Mexico is a key country in Viva’s international expansion plan, and we are constantly creating strategies to boost low-cost connectivity in Latin America. The opening of the Medellin-Mexico City route has strengthened our Medellín Hub as a hub for the region, contributing to the economic reactivation of both nations; now we are adding new direct flights between Mexico City and Cartagena, Cali-Mexico City and Cali-Cancun, to continue positively impacting the pockets and travel plans of Mexicans.”
Viva currently operates six routes between Mexico and Colombia. Photo: Viva.
Mexico’s importance to Colombia
Mexico and Colombia are two deeply intertwined markets. They are each other’s third-largest international markets. In the last few years there has been a deeper touristic connection, meaning many travelers from both nationalities want to visit the other country. As Colombia’s tourism authorities have described it in the past, Mexicans and Colombians are very much alike, which leads to a great understanding and interest in each other.
So far, in 2022, Mexico is leading the list of recently announced international routes in Colombia. Moreover, in terms of seats offered weekly in Colombia, Mexico remains the third-largest international market, with a 13% share, just behind the United States and Panama, said Flavia Santoro, ProColombia’s president.
In April, there will be 1,406 flights between both countries overall. The operators are Aeromexico, Avianca, Wingo, Viva Aerobus, Viva Colombia, and Volaris. Avianca is the largest operator with 32% of the market share. Volaris has the smallest share with 8.5%.
Viva’s central hub is Medellín International Airport (MDE). Photo: Viva.
The Medellín Hub
The Colombian low-cost carrier has pivoted its international operations across Latin America, mainly from Medellín.
Medellín is Colombia’s second-largest city and Viva’s central hub. The low-cost carrier also operates flights from other cities like Bogotá, but Medellín remains essential to Viva’s plans.
Viva aims to create in Medellín a low-cost hub for the Americas, a place where a traveler from Mexico City can connect to São Paulo, Lima, or any Colombian city. It is a model similar to the one Copa Airlines deploys in Tocumen International Airport (PTY), but Viva’s goal is to offer lower fares.
Viva is looking to open up to 30 new international routes across the Americas in the next few years. Last year, the Colombian civil aviation authority (Aeronáutica Civil) approved 65 new routes to Viva. Half of these new routes were international —the latest of these routes to be launched connected Medellín with Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Viva received authorization to operate international flights to the United States, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Panama, Guatemala, and Aruba.
Have you had the opportunity to fly with Viva? How was the experience? Let us know in the comments below.
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