October 14, 2026 — Reuters reports that Mexico’s competition regulator is expected to approve the merger of low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobus before the end of 2026, and with few operating restrictions. The combined group would be Mexico’s largest airline group and would be called Grupo Mas Vuelos.
What happened
In an exclusive published October 13, Reuters cited six sources who said the national antitrust commission (CNA) should sign off by year-end. The conditions are not final. According to the sources, they are likely to include:
- Keeping fares low and avoiding widespread layoffs
- Keeping the low-cost model and largely keeping current routes
- Leaving the group’s permitted number of flights at major airports unchanged
- Adding flights at Mexico City’s Felipe Ángeles airport (NLU) and at Tulum (TQO)
The deal was announced in late 2025 as a merger of equals, and both brands will be kept. It has already cleared antitrust review in the U.S. and Colombia. Viva chairman Roberto Alcántara will lead the new group.
The numbers
| Measure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Share of Mexico’s domestic flights | About three-quarters |
| Share of international flights | Under one-fifth |
| Routes both airlines fly | 85 |
| Routes where the group would be the only operator | 55 |
| Expected approval | By end of 2026 (exact date TBA) |
Most of the sources said the two airlines are already trimming some frequencies ahead of approval. The overlap is greatest at Guadalajara and Monterrey. Aeroméxico has opposed the deal. Volaris said it remains “confident in the strategic merits of the transaction.” Viva said it will keep cooperating with the authorities. The CNA did not comment, and all the conditions above come from unnamed sources, not an official ruling.
What it means for non-revs
- Fewer seats on duplicate routes. Both carriers are already cutting some frequencies. Expect fuller flights, especially on Guadalajara and Monterrey trunk routes, and on the 55 routes where one group would be the only airline left.
- Staff travel rules TBA. Nothing has been published on how Volaris and Viva employee travel or any interline/ZED agreements would be combined. If you rely on either carrier, check your pass bureau for updates after approval.
- Layoffs: According to the sources, regulators want to avoid widespread layoffs, which is good news for staff at both airlines.
Sources
- Reuters via Investing.com — Exclusive-Mexico to approve Viva-Volaris airline merger by end of 2026, sources say
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