Mexico to approve Viva-Volaris airline merger by end of 2026, sources say
VLRS•Mexico’s antitrust authority is expected to approve the Viva-Volaris merger before the end of 2026, sources say, likely requiring the group to keep fares low, avoid widespread layoffs and largely maintain routes. The merged group would be the sole operator on 55 overlapping routes.
1. Expected approval conditions
Mexico’s antitrust authority is expected to approve the planned merger of Volaris and Viva Aerobus before the end of 2026, according to six sources familiar with the matter. Three sources said conditions would likely require the merged Grupo Mas Vuelos to keep fares low and avoid widespread layoffs, while largely maintaining the airlines’ current routes.
2. Route overlap
The carriers operate 85 of the same routes, and Mas Vuelos would be the sole operator on 55 of them, a Reuters analysis found. Overlap is particularly high on flights in and out of Guadalajara and Monterrey. Regulators are still working out how to determine and enforce which routes the group must keep operating.
3. Deal background
The airlines account for around three-quarters of domestic flights in Mexico and have said they will retain their brands after the merger. The deal has cleared antitrust hurdles in Colombia and the United States. Viva said it would continue cooperating with authorities, while Volaris said it was cooperating and remained confident in the transaction’s strategic merits.
