VivaAerobus becomes a member of the Airbus Family

Mexican low cost carrier orders 52 A320 Family aircraft

In October, VivaAerobus announced the biggest purchase of Airbus aircraft in Latin America by a single airline when they ordered 52 A320 Family airplanes.

Airbus has been following closely the rise of the low cost carrier (LCC) market throughout Latin America, and VivaAerobus’ growth makes for a very interesting example. LCCs account for nearly 40 percent of the market share of total air traffic in the region, up from just 12 percent in 2003, with Mexico and Brazil representing nearly the entire market. A highly competitive LCC market has led airlines, like VivaAerobus, to constantly seek the most efficient aircraft available.

Experiencing steady success during the past four years, VivaAerobus was faced with the challenge of renewing its ageing fleet of 737 classics. An old fleet would most likely becomes unprofitable despite the likelyhood of low capital costs. Fuel and maintenance costs generally rise at an economicially-unsustainable level, while dispatch reliability significantly decrease.

VivaAerobus’ decision to replace their fleet was driven by two things. First, who they are - an ultra low cost carrier looking at all means possible to offer its passengers the lowest fares. Secondly, the A320 Family is the right answer to achieve low-seat-mile costs and as a result of more than 25 percent of fuel savings and decreased maintenance costs, while offering high reliability levels. With 60 percent market share, the A320 Family has become the aircraft family of reference for airlines in Latin America and the Caribeean, especially among LCCs.

VivaAerobus capacity per plane when operating the A320, will increase by 22 percent. Meanwhile, comfort and passenger experience will be significantly improved with the extra width the A320 cabin provides, offering passengers seats of up to 18 inches wide.

In addition offering passengers the lowest fares and most comfortable aircraft, VivaAerobus is also expanding on its bus-to-air model, an initiative to convert bus passengers to air travelers. This model, which has already seen initial success, is helping Mexicans travel faster and smarter.

With the VivaAerobus fleet likely to double within the next years, Airbus very much looks forward to being part of the adventure.

For more information contact:
Bernard de l’Estoile
Airline Marketing Manager, Latin America & Caribbean
bernard.delestoile@airbus.com