Volaris and Viva Aerobus are still separate airlines you can book today, but they have agreed to a “merger of equals” (announced December 19, 2025) that would put both brands under one new Mexican holding group, Grupo Mexicano de Aerolíneas, once approvals are finished in 2026. If you fly in Mexico for a U.S. visa appointment, consular interview, border crossing, or family trip, this matters because the two biggest low-cost carriers plan to keep routes and brands while expanding low-fare, point-to-point flying.
You don’t need to change how you buy tickets right now. You should, however, understand how Volaris and Viva differ today—because those differences affect your baggage costs, airport choices, and risk of missing a time-sensitive immigration appointment.
High-level differences that matter for immigration-related travel
Both airlines run ultra-low-cost, point-to-point networks in Mexico and also fly to the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The biggest practical difference for you usually comes down to:
- (1) departure airport options
- (2) schedule fit for same-day or time-sensitive appointments
- (3) total trip cost once bags and add-ons are included
⚠️ Important: If you’re flying for an immigration appointment, your biggest risk isn’t the airline name. It’s a tight schedule with no backup flight.
Comparison table: Volaris vs Viva Aerobus
| Feature | Option A: Volaris | Option B: Viva Aerobus |
|---|---|---|
| Main role in Mexico’s low-cost market | One of the two dominant low-cost airlines | One of the two dominant low-cost airlines |
| Recent domestic market position | 33% share of domestic traffic | 39.5% share of domestic traffic (ranked first) |
| Passenger growth (Jan–Oct 2025 vs 2024) | 7.6% growth | 5.7% growth |
| fleet size (as of dates reported) | 143 aircraft as of September 30, 2025 | 96 aircraft |
| Fleet type | Airbus fleet | Airbus fleet |
| Route style | Point-to-point flights (often fewer connections) | Point-to-point flights (often fewer connections) |
| What the announced holding-company deal means for your booking | Brands and operations stay separate under the planned structure | Brands and operations stay separate under the planned structure |
| What the airlines said about day-to-day changes | No stated change to routes, contracts, fares, or ticket purchases | Focus on lower fares and more point-to-point flights to more cities |
Option A deep dive: When Volaris is the better pick
Volaris often works well when you want a large-network feel in a low-cost package and you’re willing to pay only for what you use (bags, seat choice, priority). In Mexico, Volaris sits just behind Viva in domestic share, and it has shown strong passenger growth in 2025.
Volaris’ larger fleet size and broader schedule options can help when your appointment date is fixed and you need reliable outbound and return pairings.
You should lean toward Volaris if your trip has a hard deadline
Immigration travel tends to have “must-arrive” moments: biometrics, a consular interview, a medical exam, or a document pickup. In those situations, you usually care about:
- A schedule that gets you in the day before, not the morning of
- A return option that doesn’t force you to leave mid-process
- A realistic airport plan (time to reach the terminal, check bags, and clear security)
Volaris’ point-to-point approach helps if it offers a direct flight that reduces missed-connection risk. Fewer moving parts matters when a missed flight means a missed appointment.
Volaris is a strong fit if you’re watching aircraft scale and operational footprint
As of September 30, 2025, Volaris reported 143 aircraft. Bigger fleets often translate into more flight options across the week, which helps when your appointment date is fixed and you need a workable outbound and return pairing.
What to do before you book Volaris for an immigration appointment
Treat your ticket like part of your appointment plan:
When booking Volaris, pick an arrival date at least one day before your immigration appointment and price the whole trip (bags, seats, and extras) to avoid surprises at check-in.
- Build a buffer: Fly in at least one day early when the appointment is high stakes.
- Price the whole trip: Include carry-on, checked bag, seat selection, and any priority services you actually need.
- Choose flights that protect your documents: Keep passports, appointment letters, and original civil documents in your personal item, not in a checked bag.
Volaris and the merger of equals: what you should expect
Volaris and Viva have said the planned structure keeps separate brands, operations, and routes under a new holding company, with no impact on existing routes, contracts, fares, or ticket purchases during the transition described. For your short-term planning, treat Volaris as Volaris.
Option B deep dive: When Viva Aerobus is the better pick
Viva Aerobus is the domestic traffic leader among the two, with a 39.5% share. If your priority is finding the cheapest seat on a route you already know you need, Viva is often the first place people check.
Viva’s model aims for ultra-low fares and high seat fill, which can be ideal when your schedule is flexible and cost is the top priority.
Viva Aerobus is the better pick if your route is domestic and price leads
A lot of Mexico-based immigration travel is domestic: you may need to reach a consulate city, a border city, or a major airport hub for an international departure. If Viva has the flight time you need, its ultra-low-cost model can be a direct match for budget-focused travel.
Viva reported 5.7% passenger growth from January–October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024—evidence of a carrier actively filling seats and expanding demand.
Viva can be the smarter choice when you want point-to-point options to smaller markets
Both airlines emphasize point-to-point flying. The practical benefit for you is fewer itinerary layers. If Viva offers a nonstop or cleaner one-stop trip to the city you need, that can reduce the odds that one delay breaks your whole day.
What to do before you book Viva for an immigration appointment
Because ultra-low fares usually mean ultra-strict rules, protect yourself by planning around common friction points:
- Double-check your carry-on plan: If you bring documents and a laptop, size matters. If you’ll need a larger bag, include it in your budget now.
- Plan your airport arrival like it’s a border crossing: Get there early enough to handle check-in lines and bag drop without stress.
- Don’t schedule “same morning” arrivals for interviews: If your flight cancels or delays, you lose the appointment slot.
Viva Aerobus and the merger of equals: what you should expect
The deal is designed so both airlines remain distinct brands while a shared holding group aims to grow low-cost flying. Viva’s CEO Juan Carlos Zuazua described the intention as lower fares and more point-to-point flights to more cities, benefiting passengers and local economies. For you, the short-term planning rule stays simple: buy based on today’s schedule, price, and risk tolerance.
Which is right for you? Practical scenarios for Mexico-based immigration travel
Here’s how to choose when your travel is tied to immigration steps and deadlines.
Choose Volaris if you need more schedule “insurance”
Pick Volaris when:
- You’re traveling for a consular interview or any appointment you can’t easily reschedule.
- You can pay a bit more for the itinerary that gets you in earlier or gives you a safer return.
- You want to reduce missed-connection risk with point-to-point options.
Action you can take today: book an arrival that gives you a full night in the appointment city. That single choice saves more cases than any “travel hack.”
Choose Viva Aerobus if your plan is flexible and you’re optimizing total cost
Pick Viva when:
- You’re traveling domestically inside Mexico and the flight times match your appointment plan.
- Your schedule has slack (you arrive early, or your task can be done over multiple days).
- The fare difference still looks good after you add the bag and seat options you need.
Action you can take today: price your ticket two ways—one with only a personal item, and one with the bags you’ll truly carry. Choose the cheaper real total.
If you’re flying Mexico → U.S. for an immigration step, add one more filter
If your trip includes entry to the 🇺🇸 United States for an interview, admission, or onward travel, you must bring the right documents and meet inspection requirements at the airport or border.
Don’t assume a reserved time won’t shift. A tight same-day schedule with potential delays increases the risk of missing an immigration appointment—plan with buffers and backup options.
- Use official guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection to confirm what you need before you fly.
- Put your passport, visa (if you have one), appointment confirmation, and supporting originals in your under-seat bag.
- If your checked bag is delayed, your case still moves forward when essential documents are with you.
Action you can take today: put your passport, visa (if you have one), appointment confirmation, and supporting originals in your under-seat bag.
How the planned 2026 close can affect your planning—without changing your booking choice
The holding-company transaction is expected to close in 2026 after approvals. The combined group would operate 239 aircraft. That scale points toward more capacity over time, but it doesn’t change the best rule for immigration travel:
- Book the flight that protects your timeline, then control the costs with smart add-on choices.
If you want more immigration travel and planning guides, visit VisaVerge.com.
Volaris and Viva Aerobus are merging under a new holding company, Grupo Mexicano de Aerolíneas, with an expected 2026 completion. Despite the merger, both airlines will keep their distinct branding and operations. This consolidation aims to expand low-cost, point-to-point domestic and international routes. Travelers, especially those with immigration deadlines, must focus on schedule buffers and total costs, including baggage, when choosing between these carriers.
