Volaris

Volaris (legally Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación S.A.B. de C.V.) is a Mexican low-cost airline based in Santa Fe, Álvaro Obregón, Mexico City with its operating bases in Cancún, Culiacán, Guadalajara, León/Del Bajío, Mexicali, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana. It is Mexico's largest airline by transported passengers[3][4] and serves domestic and international destinations within the Americas.[5] It is the leading airline in the Mexican domestic airline market with a market share of 42%.[6]

Volaris
IATA ICAO Callsign
Y4 VOI VOLARIS
FoundedAugust 2005 (2005-08)
Commenced operationsMarch 13, 2006 (2006-03-13)
AOC #Z5XF131F[1]
Operating bases
Frequent-flyer programVClub
Subsidiaries
Fleet size117
Destinations71
Parent companyVuela Compañia de Aviación
Traded asBMV: VOLAR
NYSE: VLRS
HeadquartersSanta Fe, Álvaro Obregón, Mexico City, Mexico
Key people Enrique Beltranena (CEO)
RevenueDecrease US$1,111 million (2020)
Net incomeDecrease -US$215 million (2020)[2]
Employees7,208 (2022)
Websitewww.volaris.com

History

The pre-operations phase, the founding of the legal entities and setting up of the required infrastructure, started in August 2005 under the name Vuela Airlines. The idea for the airline was formed from the proposed "Vuelamex" project.[7] Major initial shareholders of the company were Grupo Televisa (the world's biggest Spanish-language media conglomerate), Inbursa (an insurance company owned by multi-billionaire Carlos Slim), TACA Airlines and the Discovery Americas Fund. Each of these partners invested 25% of the initial cost of activities, or 100 million USD.[8]

In July 2010,[9] it was announced that Televisa and Inbursa had sold their stake in Volaris leaving the ownership of Volaris as follows: TACA Airlines with Roberto and Maria Cristina Kriete (50%), Investment fund Discovery Americas (over 25%) and Indigo Partners: Fund led by former America West CEO Bill Franke.

Ticket sales started in January 2006. Following the delivery of the airline's first aircraft, the first non-commercial flight was operated in February 2006. Scheduled revenue flights were launched on March 13, 2006, with the inaugural flight being between Toluca to Tijuana.

Volaris began service to Mexico City in September 2010 after absorbing flight routes from two defunct Mexican airlines, Aerocalifornia and Mexicana. In March 2011, the airline announced that its hub in Toluca would move to Guadalajara.

In June 2012, the airline launched a frequent flyer program called VClub.[10] It is the membership program that provides special fares, offers, last minute travel deals and other perks. Customers can save up to 40% using the VClub membership. In June 2012, PayPal became a payment alternative for the airline, enabling customers to purchase tickets directly from the airline's website.[11] In September 2012, Volaris announced a codeshare partnership with a German airline, Condor. Passengers of Condor are able to fly to more international destinations.[12]

On March 13, 2013, the airline celebrated its seventh anniversary, offering passengers 70% off all flights, it has done this every year since then.[13] Volaris announced the creation of a subsidiary, Volaris Costa Rica, in March 2016.[14][15] The subsidiary, based at Juan Santamaría International Airport in the Costa Rican capital of San José, started operations in November 2016.[16]

As of 2022, Volaris has faced multiple class-action lawsuits due to failure to properly refund flights canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17][18]

International operations

In November 2008, Volaris announced a codeshare agreement with U.S.-based low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines. In April 2009, Volaris announced the start of U.S.-bound flights out of Toluca and Guadalajara (initially to Los Angeles and Oakland) to feed into the hubs of Southwest Airlines. After Mexicana de Aviación's shutdown, Volaris took over many of Mexicana's international destinations and flights from its focus city, Guadalajara. The airline began using Guadalajara International Airport as an American gateway hub in late 2011.

In February 2013, Volaris and Southwest stopped codesharing. Southwest decided to focus more on the Mexican market with AirTran Airways, instead of codesharing with Volaris.[19][20] In January 2018, Volaris announced a codeshare agreement with American low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines.

Corporate affairs

Headquarters

The airline is headquartered in Santa Fe, Álvaro Obregón, Mexico City.[21] It formerly had its headquarters on the first floor of Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 490 in Peña Blanca, Santa Fe.[22]

Services

Volaris cabins are configured in a single class, high density layout.

Volaris does not provide complimentary meals or drinks on its flights. Passengers may purchase items on board from the "Entre nubes" buy on board program.[23] Onboard sales are an important part of the airline's ancillary revenue. Items such as snacks, pillows, blankets and Volaris-branded items are sold on board.[24] Volaris' monthly inflight magazine is called "V de Volaris".[25]

The airline had previously provided in-flight entertainment (IFE) in most aircraft, utilizing drop-down screens on its Airbus aircraft. By 2019, all use of IFE had been discontinued.[26]

Frequent flyer program

VClub is Volaris' frequent flyer program. It gives members exclusive deals on flights, baggage and packages. The airline offers individual and group memberships, with the option to pay monthly or annually. Volaris offers VPass, similar to Spirit's "$9 Fare Club". It offers a set subscription price, and charges customers only for taxes and additional services.[27] Customers can book codeshare flights and earn points through fellow ultra-low-cost carrier, Frontier Airlines.[28]

Corporate identity
New billboard-style livery of the airline, introduced in September 2017[29]
Volaris Airbus A320-200 in its former livery version.

Trivia
  • Two Volaris safety videos were made: one featured actress Claudia Lizaldi[30] while one featured young children demonstrating the safety procedures.[31] As of 2018, both videos have been retired.
  • Every new plane has a person's name on it, for example, one plane may have "Samuel" written on it, while another plane may have "Luisa" written on it. Recently, some planes have been named after families, e.g. ""Los Capistrán", or after new countries they begin service to, e.g. "Guatemala".

Brand image

The Volaris logo, since its launch in 2005, has been a colorful, pixelated star against a black background.[32] It represents the north star, Polaris, after which the airline's name is derived from.[33]

Advertising slogans

Volaris has used several slogans over the years:

  • 2005–2008 – "Lo quieres, lo tienes" (You want it, you got it.)[34][35]
  • 2008–2012 – "Vive viajando" (Live travelling)[36]
  • 2013–2017 – "Tu decides" (You decide). Launched after the introduction of the "clean fare", which no longer included the cost of food, baggage, or seat selection in the airline's ticket prices.[37]
  • 2015 – "Queremos que todo el mundo vuele" (We want the whole world to fly)[38]
  • 2015–present – "Precios que te hacen viajar" (Prices that make you travel)[39]
  • 2016 – "Avión a precio de camión" (The plane at the price of a bus)[40]
  • November 2018 – present – "Don't just fly, vuela"[41]

Destinations
Countries in which Volaris operates as of September 2023[5][42]

Volaris operates scheduled flights to Mexico and elsewhere in the Americas from its hubs at Guadalajara International Airport in Guadalajara, Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City, and Tijuana International Airport in Tijuana. Focus cities include Cancún International Airport in Cancún, Bajío International Airport in León, and Monterrey International Airport in Monterrey.

Operating bases

Volaris operates crew bases at the following airports:[43]

Codeshare agreements

Fleet

Current fleet

As of October 2023, Volaris (Mexico edition) operates the following aircraft:[46]

Volaris fleet
Aircraft In
service		 Orders Passengers Notes
Airbus A319-100 1 — 144[47]
Airbus A320-200 40 — 174[48]
179[49]
180[50]
Airbus A320neo 43 26[51] 186[52]
Airbus A321-200 10 — 220[53]
Airbus A321neo 20 117[51] 230[54]
239[55]
Total 114 143

Fleet development

See also

References
  1. "Volaris Air Operators Certificate". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  2. "2020 Quarterly Report (4Q 2020)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Volaris. March 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  3. Garbuno, Daniel Martínez (2023-07-29). "Almost 60 Million Passengers Flew Through México In First Half Of 2023". Simple Flying. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  4. Garbuno, Daniel Martínez (2023-01-17). "Volaris, Aeromexico And Viva Aerobus Carried Over 73 Million Passengers In 2022". Simple Flying. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  5. "Route map Volaris". FlightConnections. 25 September 2023.
  6. "Aeromexico leverages a unique position in Mexico's aviation market". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. https://www.icao.int/Meetings/STA10/Documents/List_LCCs.pdf
  8. https://www.icao.int/Meetings/STA10/Documents/List_LCCs.pdf
  9. "Indigo Partners buys stake in Mexico's Volaris". Flightglobal.com. 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  10. "Sala de prensa". volaris.mx. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  11. "Media Center". volaris.mx. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  12. "Press Release – Condor and the Mexican airline Volaris enter into partnership" (PDF). 17 September 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  13. Leinfelder, Andrea (11 March 2016). "Volaris celebrates 10-year anniversary with discounts". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  14. "Volaris sets up Costa Rican unit; eyes 2H launch". ch-aviation. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  15. Rodríguez, Raquel (15 March 2016). "Los precios para volar entre Centroamérica serán los más bajos" [The fares to fly in Central America will be the lowest]. La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  16. "Volaris Costa Rica commences operations". ch-aviation. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  17. Cohen, Steven (13 April 2020). "Volaris Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Denied COVID-19 Refunds". topclassactions.com. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  18. "Samantha Levey v. Volaris" (PDF). govinfo.gov. USCOURTS. March 29, 2021. pp. 1–16.
  19. "Partnership Update". www.southwest.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  20. "Southwest and Volaris to end partnership – 2/7/2013". Flight Global. 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  21. "Information about Volaris Archived 2016-04-09 at archive.today." Volaris. Retrieved in April 9, 2016. "Antonio Dovalí Jaime, No. 70, Torre B, Piso 13, Colonia Zedec Santa Fe, Delegación Álvaro Obregón, C.P. 01210, México, Distrito Federal,"
  22. "Contáctanos Archived 2013-10-16 at the Wayback Machine." Volaris. Retrieved on December 4, 2010. "Dirección de oficinas Volaris – Prolongación Paseo de la Reforma 490 piso 1 Col. Santa Fe Peña Blanca México DF, Delegación Álvaro Obregón C.P. 01210"
  23. "Entre Nubes: El mejor sabor en el aire" (PDF). Volaris.
  24. "Opcionales para tu viaje: Menú a bordo". Volaris.
  25. "V DE VOLARIS CONTACTO". V de Volaris Magazine.
  26. "The Volaris Inflight Experience". Airfarewatchdog. 11 February 2019.
  27. "Every month, a new saving opportunity". Volaris.
  28. "World's First Ultra-Low-Cost Airline Codeshare Agreement Announced Between Two Brands: U.S.-Based Frontier Airlines and Mexico's Volaris". Frontier Airlines. 16 January 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  29. "Volaris revises its livery". 23 September 2017.
  30. "Video de seguridad Volaris.mov." Volaris Official YouTube. Retrieved on November 4, 2010.
  31. "Video de seguridad Volaris con niños". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  32. "Volaris Y4 - Flights, Reviews & Cancellation Policy". KAYAK. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  33. "www.volaris.com.mx MEXICO | Airline logo, Vector logo, Volaris airlines". Pinterest.ie. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  34. "VUELOS con Volaris desde $ 108 en VIAJALA".
  35. "Comerciales mexicanos: Volaris 2006". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  36. "Volaris, un vuelo de bautismo". 10 November 2008.
  37. "Volaris launches its program "Entre Nubes" offering food, beverages and products to improve the on board experience for its customers".
  38. http://s21.q4cdn.com/752131891/files/doc_financials/2015/Volaris-Informe-Anual-2015.pdf
  39. "Volaris Slogan - Slogans for Volaris - Tagline of Volaris - SloganList".
  40. "Volaris CEO Eyes Rapid Growth in U.S., Trump Notwithstanding".
  41. "Don't JUST FLY. VUELA Trademark of Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. De C.V.. Serial Number: 88177585 :: Trademark Elite Trademarks".
  42. "Volaris Online Booking". Volaris. 25 September 2023.
  43. "Volaris - PILOT CAREER CENTRE".
  44. "Condor and the Mexican airline Volaris enter into partnership" (PDF). condor.com/us. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  45. "Volaris and Frontier Airlines Sign Codeshare Agreement". ir.volaris.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  46. "Volaris Fleet Details". airfleets.net. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  47. "SeatGuru Seat Map Volaris". www.seatguru.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  48. "Volaris Airbus A320 Seat Map - Updated 2023. Find the best seat | SeatMaps". seatmaps.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  49. "Volaris Airbus A320 Seat Map - Updated 2023. Find the best seat | SeatMaps". seatmaps.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  50. "Volaris Airbus A320 Seat Map - Updated 2023. Find the best seat | SeatMaps". seatmaps.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  51. Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), monthly updated, accessed via "Orders & deliveries". Airbus. Airbus SAS.
  52. "Volaris Airbus A320 Seat Map - Updated 2023. Find the best seat | SeatMaps". seatmaps.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  53. "SeatGuru Seat Map Volaris". www.seatguru.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  54. "Volaris Airbus A321 Seat Map - Updated 2023. Find the best seat | SeatMaps". seatmaps.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  55. "Volaris Airbus A321 Seat Map - Updated 2023. Find the best seat | SeatMaps". seatmaps.com. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  56. "Airbus delivers North America's first A320neo to Volaris". Airbus. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  57. "Airbus announces the largest order in its history: 430 aircraft" (in Spanish). EnElAire. November 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  58. "US's Indigo Partners orders 255 A321neo Family jets". ch-aviation. November 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  59. "Volaris Disclosed As Customer Of October 2022 Order For 25 Airbus A321neos". Simple Flying. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.

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