New A320 marks next step towards fleet renewal for Mexico’s ultra-low-cost carrier

Ultra-low-cost carrier VivaAerobus has taken delivery of its first new A320 following the aircraft handover at the Airbus Delivery Centre in Toulouse. The A320 is the first to be delivered from an order placed in 2013 for 52 aircraft (12 A320ceo and 40 A320neo), which is the largest single deal by a Mexican customer. VivaAerobus already operates six leased A320s and will become an all Airbus operator as it completes its fleet transition from 737-300s by early 2016.

Including the first A320, all VivaAerobus’ A320ceo are powered by IAE engines. The A320neo will be powered by Pratt and Whitney engines. The aircraft will be deployed on the airline’s domestic network and international routes to the United States.

“Our new fleet of A320s will enable VivaAerobus to continue enhancing our operational efficiencies by lowering our costs and fares for our passengers, while offering a significant upgrade with the A320 cabin comfort,” said Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of VivaAerobus. “We couldn’t be more pleased to integrate this new aircraft into our growing Airbus fleet and we look forward to expanding our network and allowing even more passengers to fly for the very first time.”

“We are proud that VivaAerobus has chosen the market-leading A320 Family to renew its fleet and expand its network, taking a further step to becoming an all Airbus operator,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The A320’s unparalleled reliability, best-in-class passenger comfort and unbeatable fuel efficiency complements VivaAerobus’ business model and we are eager to see their success evolve even more with the NEO in the years to come.”

VivaAerobus, jointly owned by IAMSA, Mexico’s largest bus company, and Irelandia, a global low-cost-carrier airline developer group, has based its fleet renewal strategy on the A320 Family.  The A320’s unmatched operating economics and reliability will play a key role as the airline meets the growing demand for cost-efficient air travel in Mexico.

The A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with almost 11,700 orders to date and over 6,500 aircraft delivered to 400 customers and operators worldwide. The newest member of the A320 Family, the A320neo, incorporates many innovations including latest generation engines and Sharklet wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020. With nearly 3,800 orders received from 71 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured almost 60 percent share of the market. To date, the A320neo program has 345 firm orders from six customers in Latin America. With more than 950 aircraft sold and a backlog of nearly 500, more than 550 Airbus aircraft are in operation throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In the last 10 years, Airbus has tripled its in-service fleet, while delivering more than 60 percent of all aircraft operating in the region.

Airbus press release