Volaris and Viva cleared another step in their merger process, as Volaris’ shareholders approved the merger during the low-cost carrier’s annual shareholders’ meeting, leaving the two low-cost carriers with regulatory approvals as the final hurdle to form a single company.
Clearing another hurdle
Following Volaris’ annual shareholders meeting on March 25, the Mexican low-cost carrier informed stakeholders in a filing on March 26 that 91.85% of its shareholders approved the merger, with Volaris as the surviving entity upon completion.
The transaction will have to be approved by Mexico’s competition authorities, which were reshuffled in October 2025, with the Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio (National Antitrust Commission, CMA) replacing the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (Federal Commission for Economic Competition, COFECE).
The Mexican government, at least the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, views the merger favorably. In December 2025, Sheinbaum said that the two airlines’ goal is to “invest more, what they want is not only to join forces […] but also to invest, buy more planes.”
“In short, it is a very important investment to expand the capacity of Mexican airlines in our market and toward the United States.”
At the time, Sheinbaum said that while CMA’s analysis of the transaction is yet to come, “the commission will review it, but I will believe [the merger] has to be within the framework of the law.”
“But I think it is a good thing that investment is increasing and that Mexican companies are growing,” she added.
Over 77% of the domestic market
Cirium’s Diio Mi showed that on domestic flights within Mexico in March 2026, Viva and Volaris currently hold 77.7% of the weekly departing capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASKs). Aeromexico, the country’s flag carrier, accounts for another 20.6%.
During the same month, out of the 536 domestic routes operated by both airlines, they overlap on 281. Of the 100 international routes to the US, there is an overlap of 20 routes.
However, if the Department of Transportation (DOT), for example, gets involved, it could get messy. The DOT previously did not extend the antitrust immunity (ATI) to Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines’ joint venture, citing concerns about the Mexican government’s actions regarding slots at Mexico City International Airport (MEX).
When Volaris and Viva unveiled their merger in December 2025, the two airlines emphasized that both airlines have high compatibility with their all-Airbus A320 family aircraft fleets, as well as other infrastructure, which will drive “substantial potential for economies of scale and synergies to reinforce Americas-leading unit costs.”
If the merger closes, Volaris and Viva will unite under a single company, retaining their independent brands, operating certificates, and leadership teams, while sharing a united board of directors.
Enrique Beltranena, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Volaris, highlighted that the merged company’s “economies of scale and expanded distribution capacity will allow us to compete even more effectively in domestic and international markets by lowering fleet ownership costs, enabling us to offer ultra-low-cost fares to even more passengers.”
Rytis Beresnevicius
