Access selected deals available with budget and full-service airlines
Lock any airfare that sounds great. You don’t lose anything if you cancel it
Call us anytime for any assistance. We do not go into hibernation
Your personal and financial information stays secure with us
Viva Aerobus, officially Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V., is Mexico’s leading ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) and the third-largest airline by passenger numbers in the country, offering affordable air travel to over 68 destinations across Mexico, the United States, Central America, and South America. Founded on November 30, 2006, and headquartered at Monterrey International Airport (MTY) in Apodaca, Nuevo León, Viva Aerobus is fully owned by Grupo IAMSA, Mexico’s largest bus company, and was co-founded with investment from Irelandia Aviation, the family behind Ryanair. With a modern fleet of 90 Airbus A320/321 aircraft, averaging 5.5 years in age, the airline operates over 400 daily flights, carrying 25 million passengers annually as of 2024. Known for its low fares, unbundled services, and operational efficiency, Viva Aerobus targets price-sensitive leisure travelers, visitors of friends and relatives (VFR), and small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) business travelers, often converting bus passengers to air travel. The airline’s slogan, “Viva ser tú” (Be you), reflects its vibrant, inclusive culture, recognized by CH-Aviation as North America’s fourth-youngest fleet in 2023.
Viva Aerobus launched operations in November 2006 with two Boeing 737s, offering nonstop service from Monterrey to Tijuana, under CEO Mike Szucs. By October 2007, it had transported 1 million passengers, undercutting traditional Mexican carriers by up to 50% amid a wave of low-cost competitors like Volaris and Interjet. In 2007, the airline gained U.S. Department of Transportation approval to serve Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, starting flights in May 2008 to Cancún, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and León. However, it ceased Austin operations in May 2009, citing reduced demand from a swine flu outbreak.
The airline expanded internationally, launching Monterrey–Las Vegas in 2009 and Hermosillo–Las Vegas in 2010. In 2010, it began serving Mexico City with flights from Monterrey and Guadalajara. A pivotal shift occurred in 2014 when Viva Aerobus introduced Airbus A320s, phasing out Boeing 737s by 2016 to operate an all-Airbus fleet, enhancing cost efficiency. In 2015, it briefly operated flights to Dallas–Fort Worth, ending in October 2015. By December 2016, Grupo IAMSA acquired Irelandia Aviation’s 49% stake, making Viva Aerobus 100% IAMSA-owned.
In 2017, Viva Aerobus started nonstop service from Guadalajara to Los Angeles, followed by Mexico City to Las Vegas and New York (JFK) in 2018. In January 2020, it launched Viva Cargo, a cargo subsidiary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline led Mexico’s domestic demand recovery, carrying over 12 million passengers in 2019 and recording the highest growth rate in Q4 2020. In 2022, it transported 22 million passengers, solidifying its position as Mexico’s second-largest airline by passenger volume, per an X post. In 2024, Viva Aerobus added routes like Mexico City–Miami and expanded U.S.–Mexico services, leveraging its ULCC model.
Viva Aerobus operates a fleet of 90 aircraft as of Q4 2024, all Airbus A320/321 models, including A320ceo, A320neo, and A321neo, with an average age of 5.5 years—among the youngest in North America. The fleet supports over 160 routes, with key bases at Monterrey, Cancún, Guadalajara, Mexico City (Benito Juárez and Felipe Ángeles), and Tijuana. In 2014, the airline received its first A320, and in 2012, it placed a record-breaking order for 52 A320s, the largest Airbus order in Latin America at the time. Future plans include expanding to 100 aircraft by 2027, with additional A321neos on order to support growth. Maintenance is handled by Viva Aerobus’ in-house team, with a focus on cost efficiency.