Volaris
A Mexican ultra-low-cost airline serving domestic and international markets across the Americas.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Volaris is the operating brand of Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican ultra-low-cost airline headquartered in Santa Fe, Mexico City. The airline was created in 2005 under the preliminary name Vuela Airlines and began commercial operations on March 13, 2006, with a route between Toluca and Tijuana. Its founding investor group included Grupo Televisa, Inbursa, TACA Airlines and the Discovery Americas investment fund, each of which initially contributed an equal share of the start-up capital described in contemporary accounts. The airline was established to provide relatively low-fare air travel in Mexico through a high-density, single-class cabin, direct online distribution and the separation of the base ticket from optional services such as checked baggage, seat selection, food and beverages. This model places Volaris in the ultra-low-cost segment rather than the traditional full-service airline category. Ancillary services include onboard purchases, baggage and seat products, subscription programs and travel-related packages. Volaris launched its first international services to the United States in 2009, initially from Toluca and Guadalajara to destinations including Los Angeles and Oakland. Guadalajara subsequently became an important international gateway. The airline expanded its presence in Mexico City in 2010 after taking over routes associated with the failures of Aerocalifornia and Mexicana de Aviación. It also developed a network of operating bases and focus cities including Cancún, Culiacán, Guadalajara, León/Del Bajío, Mexico City, Monterrey, Morelia and Tijuana. The brand has expanded beyond Mexico through partnerships and affiliated operations. Its historical commercial relationships have included codeshare or other cooperation with Southwest Airlines, Condor, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, Copa Airlines and Hainan Airlines, although individual arrangements have changed over time. Volaris Costa Rica was established as a subsidiary based at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José and began operations in 2016. Volaris operates an all-Airbus A320-family fleet. It became the first North American operator of the Airbus A320neo in 2016 and has subsequently placed substantial orders for A320neo and A321neo aircraft. Fleet modernization supports the airline's strategy of increasing capacity while seeking fuel and operating efficiencies. The company serves destinations throughout Mexico, the United States and other parts of the Americas, and has been described as Mexico's largest airline by passenger volume and as a leading participant in the Mexican domestic market. The brand identity uses a colorful pixelated star on a dark background. The name refers to Polaris, the North Star, while the visual system emphasizes navigation, movement and accessibility. Its marketing has used both Spanish and English slogans, including "Precios que te hacen viajar" and "Don't just fly, vuela." Volaris remains an active, publicly traded Mexican airline focused on low fares, dense networks, fleet growth and ancillary revenue.
History
Volaris originated in August 2005 as a proposed Mexican airline project known as Vuelamex and was initially organized under the name Vuela Airlines. The start-up was backed by a consortium comprising Grupo Televisa, Inbursa, TACA Airlines and Discovery Americas. The partners provided the capital and commercial support needed to establish the airline, obtain the required infrastructure and prepare for certification and operations. The name Volaris, adopted for the operating brand, alludes to Polaris, the North Star, and its visual identity developed around a multicolored pixelated star. Ticket sales began in January 2006. After delivery of its first aircraft, the carrier conducted a non-commercial flight in February and commenced scheduled service on March 13, 2006, between Toluca and Tijuana. Its initial proposition was built around low fares, direct sales and a simplified operating model. Volaris used a single-class, high-density cabin and unbundled services that other airlines often included in the basic fare. This approach enabled the carrier to compete for price-sensitive leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic in Mexico. The company expanded its domestic network and later entered the United States. In 2008 it announced a commercial relationship with Southwest Airlines, and in 2009 it began U.S.-bound services from Toluca and Guadalajara, initially serving destinations such as Los Angeles and Oakland. The partnership with Southwest ended in 2013 as Southwest redirected its Mexican strategy. Volaris nevertheless continued to develop Guadalajara as a major international gateway, particularly after Mexicana de Aviación ceased operations and Volaris took over or introduced services on several routes associated with that airline. A major domestic development came in 2010, when Volaris started service to Mexico City. In 2011 the airline announced that its main Toluca hub would move toward Guadalajara, reflecting changes in demand and network economics. The carrier continued to establish crew bases and operating locations in cities including Cancún, Culiacán, León/Del Bajío, Monterrey, Morelia and Tijuana. Its network came to cover a broad range of Mexican destinations as well as cities in the United States and other American markets. Volaris broadened its customer proposition during the 2010s. It launched VClub in 2012, offering members preferential deals on flights, baggage and packages, and added PayPal as a website payment option. It also formed or announced interline and codeshare relationships with several international carriers. In 2016 it established Volaris Costa Rica, based at San José's Juan Santamaría International Airport, creating a Central American operating presence. The airline's commercial model relies significantly on ancillary revenue. Passengers can buy food, drinks, pillows, blankets and branded merchandise through the Entre nubes onboard program. The airline also sells baggage, seat selection and other optional services. In-flight entertainment screens that had previously been installed on much of the Airbus fleet were discontinued by 2019. VPass later provided a subscription-oriented fare product modeled on similar programs in the ultra-low-cost sector. Fleet development has centered on the Airbus A320 family. Volaris became the first North American operator of the A320neo in September 2016. In 2017, Indigo Partners announced a large Airbus narrow-body order that allocated 80 aircraft to Volaris, comprising A320neo and A321neo variants. In 2021 Volaris announced an additional order for 39 A321neo aircraft and converted part of an existing A320neo order to the larger A321neo. At the 2023 Paris Air Show, it announced another order for 25 A321neo aircraft. These commitments support higher capacity and the renewal of the carrier's single-family fleet. The company has also faced operational and legal challenges. Customers brought class-action litigation in connection with the handling of refunds for flights canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2024, a passenger's attempt to enter the cockpit led to the diversion of a Volaris flight to Guadalajara. In 2025, a temporary authorization allowing foreign pilots to operate ten Volaris aircraft prompted objections from Mexico's pilots' association. Also in 2025, Volaris and Viva announced a proposed holding-company structure intended to combine their corporate scale while retaining separate airline brands. Today, Volaris is an active publicly traded Mexican airline operating across the Americas. Its competitive identity remains based on low headline fares, dense point-to-point connectivity, Airbus narrow-body fleet commonality and paid optional services. Its principal operating bases and focus cities include Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Cancún, León/Del Bajío and Monterrey.
- 2023
Further A321neo order announced
[1]The airline announced an order for 25 additional A321neo aircraft at the Paris Air Show.
- 2021
Additional A321neo order announced
[1]Volaris announced 39 A321neo aircraft and converted part of an earlier order to the larger variant.
- 2017
Large A320neo-family order announced
[1]An Indigo Partners order allocated 80 Airbus A320neo-family aircraft to Volaris.
- 2016
Volaris becomes first North American A320neo operator
[1]The airline received and operated the Airbus A320neo, advancing its narrow-body fleet renewal.
- 2016
Volaris Costa Rica starts operations
[1]The Costa Rican subsidiary began flying from its San José base.
- 2012
VClub is launched
[1]The airline introduced a paid membership program for discounts and travel-related offers.
- 2010
Mexico City service begins
[1]Volaris entered Mexico City and expanded routes following the collapse of other Mexican carriers.
- 2008
Southwest commercial relationship announced
[1]Volaris announced a codeshare agreement with Southwest Airlines for connecting traffic.
- 2006
Commercial service begins
[1]Volaris launched scheduled revenue flights on March 13 with a Toluca–Tijuana service.
- 2005
Volaris is organized as a new Mexican airline
[1]The airline's pre-operating organization began under the Vuela Airlines name, following the proposed Vuelamex project.
Products and positioning
Ultra-low-cost airline offering low base fares with optional paid services and a high-density, single-class operating model.
Passenger air transportation · 2006
Volaris scheduled flights
Volaris sells scheduled domestic and international passenger flights using an ultra-low-cost model. The base fare is designed to provide transportation at a low headline price, while customers can select and pay separately for services such as baggage, seat selection, food and beverages. The network is concentrated in Mexico and the United States, with additional service and partnerships across the Americas.
Membership program · 2012
VClub
VClub is Volaris's membership program. It provides members with preferential offers on flights, baggage and travel packages. The program has supported the airline's strategy of building repeat business and monetizing customer relationships beyond individual ticket purchases, with individual and group membership options described in airline reference material.
Subscription travel product
VPass
VPass is a subscription-oriented fare product that allows customers to pay a recurring or set subscription price and then book eligible flights while paying applicable taxes and additional services separately. It reflects the broader ultra-low-cost practice of separating flight access from optional products.
Onboard ancillary services
Entre nubes
Entre nubes is Volaris's buy-on-board program. Passengers can purchase snacks, drinks, comfort items such as pillows and blankets, and Volaris-branded merchandise during flights. The program is part of the airline's ancillary-revenue model and replaces the complimentary meal and beverage service associated with many traditional carriers.
Airline subsidiary · 2016
Volaris Costa Rica
Volaris Costa Rica is the airline's Costa Rican subsidiary, based at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José. It was created to extend the Volaris low-cost model into Central America and began operations in November 2016.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Family reunification flights
Mexico · United States
After the United States ended its family-separation policy, Volaris announced free flights for children seeking to reunite with family members who had been deported.
Outcome. Humanitarian brand initiative
- 2013Seventh-anniversary fare promotion
Mexico
For its seventh anniversary, Volaris offered a broad flight discount promotion. The airline subsequently repeated anniversary discount activity as part of its recurring promotional calendar.
Outcome. Recurring anniversary promotion
Brand decisions
2025
Proposed holding-company combination with VivaM&ABackground
Volaris and Viva sought greater scale and potentially lower fleet costs while continuing to operate as separate airline brands.
Action taken
The two airlines signed an agreement to form a holding company.
Aftermath
The proposed structure was intended to create Mexico's largest low-cost airline group, subject to applicable processes and approvals.
2023
Order for 25 additional A321neo aircraftProduct launchBackground
Volaris continued its fleet-growth program at a time when the A321neo was central to capacity expansion in the narrow-body market.
Action taken
The airline announced an order for 25 A321neo aircraft at the Paris Air Show.
Aftermath
The order reinforced Volaris's all-Airbus fleet strategy and longer-term capacity plans.
2021
Expansion of A321neo capacityGeneration changeBackground
The airline continued moving toward larger and more efficient Airbus narrow-body aircraft.
Action taken
Volaris announced 39 A321neo aircraft and converted 20 existing A320neo commitments into A321neos.
Aftermath
The change increased the planned share of higher-capacity aircraft in the future fleet.
2017
Allocation of 80 Airbus A320neo-family aircraftProduct launchBackground
Volaris planned substantial long-term growth within its ultra-low-cost network.
Action taken
An Indigo Partners order allocated 46 A320neo and 34 A321neo aircraft to Volaris.
Aftermath
The commitment supported fleet expansion and a larger role for the A321neo in high-capacity markets.
2016
Adoption of the Airbus A320neoGeneration changeBackground
Volaris sought to renew and expand its narrow-body fleet while maintaining Airbus A320-family commonality.
Action taken
The airline became the first North American operator of the Airbus A320neo.
Aftermath
The A320neo became part of Volaris's continuing fleet-modernization and capacity strategy.
Recent events
Reported
Volaris reports third-quarter 2026 financial results[3]
Volaris reported financial results for the third quarter of 2026. The headline states revenue was $1 billion, up 32% year over year.
Reported
Volaris updates second-quarter 2021 guidance[4]
Volaris updated its second-quarter 2021 guidance, revising its projections for capacity, cash generation, TRASM and EBITDAR margin.
Reported
Volaris unveiled Wonder Woman aircraft livery[5]
Volaris and Warner Bros. Pictures cooperated on a special Wonder Woman livery for a Volaris Airbus A320neo to promote the film “Wonder Woman 1984.” The airline unveiled the livery to the public on Dec. 11.
Reported
Volaris announces San José–Mexico City nonstop service[6]
Volaris announced a new nonstop service between San José, California, and Mexico City, planned to begin on November 9, 2020, with three weekly flights.
Sources7 sources
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