Category Archives: Volaris

Frontier and Volaris to codeshare

Frontier Airlines (2nd) and Volaris announce a new codeshare agreement which will provide millions of people access to affordable fares between the U.S. and Mexico. This first-ever codeshare agreement between uniquely branded ULCCs will allow both carriers to sell tickets and connecting itineraries on the airlines’ combined networks.

Subject to regulatory approval by authorities in the United States and Mexico, the codeshare routes will be available for purchase this Spring. This agreement will allow Frontier to place and sell tickets with its code (F9) on Volaris operated flights and for Volaris to place its code (Y4) on Frontier operated flights. Once the codeshare is in place passengers will enjoy a seamless low-fare travel experience traveling on Frontier and Volaris.

Beginning in Spring 2018, flights will be available directly through Frontier on the company’s website flyfrontier.com, its mobile application and its call center. Flights will also be available through third party distributers including online travel agencies. Flights also will be available directly through Volaris’ website volaris.com and mobile application.

A natural fit between the carriers’ networks already exists with each serving more than 20 of the same markets. In addition, both carriers fly Airbus A320 aircraft. Frontier operates a fleet of 78 aircraft with 199 additional aircraft on order and Volaris operates a fleet of 71 with 128 additional aircraft on order.

Top Copyright Photo: Frontier Airlines (2nd) Airbus A320-251N WL N307FR (msn 7472) (Champ, the Bronco) DCA (Brian McDonough). Image: 937375.

Frontier Airlines aircraft slide show:

Volaris aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Volaris Airbus A320-233 WL XA-VLE (msn 6288) (Eduardo) LAX (Jay Selman). Image: 403441.

Airbus, Indigo Partners finalize orders for 430 A320neo Family aircraft

Airbus has announced that it had finalized agreements with Indigo Partners and its four portfolio airlines for the purchase of 430 additional A320neo Family aircraft for ultra-low-cost airlines Frontier Airlines (United States), JetSMART (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) and Wizz Air (Hungary).

The signed purchase agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding among the parties announced at the Dubai Air Show last month.

The 430-aircraft order is made up of 274 A320neos and 156 A321neos worth $49.5 billion at list prices.

Airlines in the Indigo Partners family had previous placed orders for a total of 427 A320 Family aircraft.

Image: Airbus.

Volaris Costa Rica will launch operations to the USA on March 15, 2018

Volaris, the ultra-low-cost airline serving Mexico, the United States and Central America, announced its affiliate, Vuela Aviación, S.A., was awarded by the Department of Transportation (DOT) of the United States of America a Foreign Air Carrier Permit to provide:

1) Foreign scheduled transportation of persons, property, and mail from points behind Costa Rica via Costa Rica and intermediate points to a point or points in the United States and beyond; and

2) charter air transportation between any point or points in Costa Rica and any point or points in the United States, and between any point or points in the United States and any point or points in a third country or countries, provided that, such service constitutes part of a continuous operation, with or without a change of aircraft, that includes service to the homeland for the purpose of carrying local traffic between Costa Rica and the United States.

Volaris Costa Rica will initiate operations to and from the United States of America on March 15, 2018.

Volaris Costa Rica operated its first revenue flight from San Jose to Guatemala City on November 30, 2016 using an Airbus A320 wet-leased from Volaris (Mexico).

Volaris seeks to replicate its ultra-low-cost model in Central America by offering low base fares and point-to-point service in the region.

Volaris Costa Rica initiated sales of four routes from Central America to the following U.S. destinations: Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), and Washington D.C.(IAD) from San Jose.

Volaris Costa Rica is expected to launch operations with two Airbus A319s and two Airbus A320s.

Volaris (Mexico):

Indigo Partners doubles existing A320neo Family order

Airbus, Indigo Partners’ four portfolio airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase by the four airlines of 430 additional A320neo Family aircraft. The aircraft will be allocated among the ultra low-cost airlines Frontier Airlines (United States), JetSMART (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) and Wizz Air (Hungary) upon the completion of final purchase agreements between Airbus and the four airlines.

The 430-aircraft commitment, comprised of 273 A320neos and 157 A321neos worth $49.5 billion at list prices, was announced at the Dubai Airshow by Bill Franke, Managing Partner of Indigo Partners, and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft. When added to existing Airbus A320 Family orders, the new agreement will make Indigo Partners one of the largest customers by order number in the world for the Airbus single-aisle aircraft family. Airlines in the Indigo Partners family previously have placed orders for 427 A320 Family aircraft.

Also present at the announcement were Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris; Barry Biffle, CEO of Frontier Airlines; Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART; and József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air. They confirmed their firm’s individual aircraft orders as follows:

Wizz – 72 A320neo, 74 A321neo
Frontier – 100 A320neo, 34 A321neo
JetSMART – 56 A320neo, 14 A321neo
Volaris – 46 A320neo, 34 A321neo

Indigo Partners’ Bill Franke indicated that engine selections will be made and announced at a later date.

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies, including new generation engines and Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together will deliver 20 percent fuel savings by 2020. With more than 5,200 orders received from 95 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured nearly 60 percent market share.

Indigo Partners LLC, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a private equity fund focused on worldwide investments in air transportation.

In conjunction with this announcement, Frontier Airlines issued this statement:

Frontier Airlines on November 15, 2017 announced its intent to order 134 A320neo Family aircraft from Airbus, which will triple the size of the low-cost carrier over the next 10 years. Valued at a list price of more than $15 billion, this announcement grows Frontier’s order book to more than 200 aircraft and means more than five thousand new, highly skilled jobs for the U.S. These aircraft are part of the single largest Airbus order announcement ever made – a 430 aircraft order valued at a $49.5 billion list price by Indigo Partners, Frontier’s owner.

This new 134 aircraft order is comprised of 100 A320neo and 34 A321neo aircraft. The A321neo will be a new compliment to the carrier’s existing fuel-efficient A321 family fleet. The addition of these aircraft to the fleet will allow Frontier to grow in new and existing markets, provide even more compelling low fares, further improve the carrier’s already industry-leading fuel efficiency and maintain the company’s status of having one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the U.S. The 134 aircraft order announced today will be delivered between 2021 and 2026.

In addition, in 2018 Frontier will start taking delivery of aircraft from Airbus’ U.S.-based Mobile, Ala. production facility.

Additionally, Frontier has also converted its remaining 18 A319neo orders to the A320neo aircraft. The airline currently has 67 A320neo aircraft on order.

This new order will allow Frontier to continue its focus on achieving the lowest costs in the U.S. airline industry and utilizing these savings to lower fares. Earlier this year, Frontier announced a network expansion that makes the carrier’s low fares accessible to 90 percent of Americans.

Photo: Airbus.

Volaris to add three new routes to California

Volaris is adding three new routes to California in mid December. From Morelia will add a new twice-weekly route to Fresno (December 16) and San Jose, CA (December 15, 2017).

From Zacatecas the carrier will add a new twice-weekly route to San Jose, CA starting on December 18, 2017 per Airline Route.

During the third quarter 2017, the Company incorporated its second Airbus A320neo (pictured) to its fleet.

As of September 30, 2017, Volaris’ fleet was composed of 67 aircraft (12 A319s, 45 A320s and 10 A321s), with an average age of 4.6 years, the youngest fleet among Mexican carriers. At the end of the third quarter 2017, Volaris’ fleet had an average of 180 seats, 64% of which were in sharklet-equipped aircraft.

Volaris revises its livery

Volaris (Mexico City) has revised its livery with the pending delivery of the pictured Airbus A320-271N (A320neo) N530VL (msn 7553).

The revised color scheme now includes larger titles and new lavender painted engines (replacing black painted engines).

Volaris to start Durango – Chicago Midway service

Volaris (Mexico City) has announced new international service between the city of Durango and Chicago’s Midway Airport, starting on December 8 with twice a week flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The new Durango-Chicago (Midway) service, flight schedules, including dates and times of operation, are announced as follows:

Durango, Durango – Chicago (Midway), Illinois
(Effective December 8, Tuesdays and Saturdays)

Departs Durango, Durango at 7:04 hrs., arrives Chicago, Illinois at 10:45 hrs.
Departs Chicago, Illinois at 12:05 hrs., arrives Durango, Durango at 16:22 hrs.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-133 XA-VOA (msn 2771) named “Alejandra” and in the VISA Platinum special livery arrives in Las Vegas.

Volaris aircraft slide show: