The two most popular airlines in Mexico cannot take off. Volaris and VivaAerobus announced an agreement to form a Mexican airline group with the aim of increasing low-cost air transport and connectivity domestically and abroad, according to a press release. The merger, which will remain under the name Grupo Más Flights, does not mean that it will be a single brand; each will maintain its operations separately. However, President Claudia Shienbaum said Monday that the alliance would be analyzed by the National Antitrust Commission to determine its viability under the Economic Competition Act. The two airlines account for 70% of the country’s domestic passenger traffic.
“They were there to inform me of this agreement, which I appreciate,” said the president, who added that the alliance’s goal is to invest more. “Not only to regroup, even if they maintain both brands, but to buy more planes, invest in workshops… In short, it is an important investment to increase the capacity of Mexican airlines,” he said.
The deal comes amid strong complaints about canceled flights and delays of up to 10 or 12 hours, according to some users. In addition, they have entered into agreements that violate Mexican aviation law, according to pilots and union members. Added to this are conflicts between the governments of the United States and Mexico over alleged anti-competitive agreements, as well as the cancellation of 13 routes to the northern neighbor.
On social networks, Internet users greeted the news with irony. “The worst airlines in Mexico together”, “There will no longer be an option between bad and bad, now it will be bad and bad”, “Very bad news, now they will lose luggage more easily”, “I didn’t think there could be worse airlines and now (they are) together”, are some of the messages read in X.
Over the weekend, for example, hundreds of Volaris passengers reported multiple simultaneously rescheduled flights and delays of up to 12 hours at Mexico City International Airport (AICM), east of the capital. Through a statement, the airline indicated that due to extreme weather factors, the airports of Tijuana, Toluca, Querétaro, Culiacán, Los Angeles, Fresno and Sacramento have suspended operations. “There are also other limitations regarding maintenance and expiration of crew days,” it reads. “Don’t be mistaken. My flight is delayed due to lack of crew. As little formality and professionalism, they even look new,” complained one user, also on X.
But disagreements aren’t just about customers. In November this year, EL PAÍS reported, the Association of the Mexican Pilots Union (ASPA) and the College of Aviation Pilots of Mexico accused the Ministry of Communications of granting Volaris a 43-day permit, through the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), for foreign pilots to fly the plane, which “openly violates” aviation legislation which establishes that planes must be flown exclusively by Mexican pilots.
The government of Claudia Sheinbaum defended the AFAC decision, because, it warned, if this was not done, 20 national roads would be affected during the December season, “which would generate a negative impact on the economic benefit of tourism and on the generation of jobs during this period”.
According to the Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s Office (Profeco), the main complaints against these airlines are: refusal to refund the price paid, damage or loss of baggage, flight cancellation, refusal to exchange or refund, overselling, refusal to refund the price paid.
The institution specifies that, according to the Civil Aviation Law, customers are entitled to a series of compensations: a delay of more than one hour, but less than four, deserves discounts on subsequent flights to the same destination or on food and drinks; greater than two, but less than four, a reduction of at least 7.5% in the ticket price; For a delay of more than four hours or a canceled flight, up to three options can be chosen: refund of the ticket or the unfulfilled part of the trip, plus compensation of at least 25% of the price paid, including TUA; transportation on the first available flight, food and, where applicable, accommodation and transportation to and from the airport; or another flight at a later date to the same destination.
In addition, Mexico’s aviation sector has suffered a major blow this year from the Donald Trump administration. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the liquidation of the alliance between Delta and Aeroméxico to end the persistent anti-competitive effects in the market between the North American countries, according to the DOT. The airlines took legal action in the United States to challenge the decision, which would come into force on January 1, 2026.
Likewise, the United States canceled 13 Mexican routes, alleging that Mexico allegedly failed to respect cargo routes when it shifted cargo operations with the neighboring country to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), the other airport on the city’s outskirts, built under the previous government to relieve congestion at the main airport.
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