Viva Aerobus, Mexico’s low-cost airline, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus to expand the carrier’s fleet.
According to Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of Viva Aerobus, the company has placed an order for 90 A321neo aircraft, bringing its total order of A320 family aircraft to 170.
“These 90 A321neo 240-seater aircraft will allow us to grow and renew our fleet and remain the youngest in Latin America,” said Zuazua. “The technology and operational efficiency of the A321neos will improve our operational reliability, on-time performance, and provide an unmatched passenger experience. Additionally, we expect to drive further cost savings, which will reflect in lower airfares and strengthen one of our most important advantages: having the lowest cost in the Americas. The fuel-efficiency and noise reduction that the A321neo provides will advance our sustainability efforts by delivering immediate, tangible carbon-emission reductions, thus enhancing our position as the most efficient airline in the continent.”
The A321neo is the largest member of Airbus’ A320neo family. According to the company, the combination of new generation engines and Sharklets gives the A321neo “a 50 percent noise reduction and more than a 20 percent fuel savings compared to previous single-aisle generation aircraft.”
Viva Aerobus is a longtime Airbus customer. In 2013, the airline placed an order for 52 A320 family aircraft, which was the largest Airbus order placed by a single airline in Mexico at the time. In 2018, the airline ordered 25 A321neo aircraft. To date, Viva Aerobus operates 74 A320 family aircraft.
According to Airbus, the company has sold more than 1,150 aircraft in Latin America and the Caribbean, representing a market share of nearly 60 percent of in-service passenger aircraft.
