By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
Volaris Releases 2021 Passenger Numbers, Announces New Route for 2022
Volaris — the Mexican ultra-low-cost airline — ended 2021 as the main carrier in Mexico by transporting the largest number of passengers more than Aeroméxico and Viva Aerobus.
Volaris transported 7.3 million passengers in the last quarter of 2021, increasing by 27% compared to the same quarter of 2020. Domestic passengers and international increased 29% and 19%, respectively.
For the full year 2021, Volaris reported an operating income of more than $2.09 billion, representing an increase of 29% compared to 2019 levels. This performance demonstrates Volaris’ ability to increase its offer, while improving load factors and unit revenue, despite the changing environment of demand throughout the year — due to the different COVID-19 waves and variants.
During 2021’s fourth quarter, the ultra-low-cost Volaris added seven new Airbus A320neos aircraft to its fleet.
At the end of 2021, the Volaris fleet was made up of 101 aircraft: 6 Airbus A319s, 79 Airbus A320s and 16 Airbus A321s — with an average age of 5.4 years.
On November 15, 2021, Volaris signed a new purchase order with Airbus for 39 A321neo aircraft. In addition, the ultra-low-cost carrier agreed with Airbus to convert 20 aircraft from its contract current order from A320neo to Airbus A321neos.
This year things have started just as they ended last year, with Volaris leading the Mexican aviation market with 2.3 million passengers carried in January: 1.86 million in domestic operations and 481,000 in international. Viva Aerobus carried 1.45 million passengers, with 1.27 million in domestic and 185,000 in international, and finally, Aeroméxico transported 1.27 million passengers in January.
Considering the numbers reported by Volaris in January and its current capacity, the new leading Mexican airline is expected to grow around 50% compared to the first quarter of 2021. The ultra-low-cost carrier began the year with solid traffic results — stimulating demand in major markets for leisure travel and visiting friends and family.
Volaris expects to continue with its disciplined growth strategy for the rest of the year. On the other hand, the ultra-low-cost carrier expects to end 2022 with approximately 115 aircraft.
This year, Volaris is betting on increasing its network of international destinations as well as strengthening its subsidiaries.
Volaris Costa Rica announced its arrival to South America with direct flights from Costa Rica to Lima, Peru, starting June 3.
This new route will operate 3 weekly flights, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. With this new route, the airline will contribute to consolidating the recovery of the air market in Peru, through leisure travel and commercial exchange by the demand of business travelers.
Volaris Costa Rica currently operates 4 direct routes from San José, Costa Rica. Lima is the carrier’s fourth destination from San José, after San Salvador, Guatemala; Cancún, Mexico and Mexico City. Since its start of operations in 2016, Volaris Costa Rica has transported more than 2 million passengers.
The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.