The planned combination of Mexican low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobus has cleared review in the United States and Colombia, and Mexico’s antitrust authority is now described as the principal outstanding hurdle. That was the position reported by Mexico Business News and PYMNTS on September 7, 2026. We have not found a dated Mexican decision since, so this post sets out what is known, what is not, and what it could mean for anyone flying to a Mexican beach resort.

What was announced

The two airlines announced the transaction in December 2025. Under the plan, both would sit under a new holding company called Grupo Mas Vuelos. Volaris and Viva would keep their own brands and separate operating certificates, so for now they would continue to sell flights and run schedules separately. The shareholder groups of each carrier would ultimately own 50 percent of the new company.

Volaris shareholders approved the deal at an extraordinary meeting in March 2026, with 91.8 percent of outstanding capital voting in favour, according to La Jornada as cited by Mexico Business News. The companies say the combination would create economies of scale, lower fleet ownership costs, improve access to capital and support low-fare expansion.

The size of the combined group

Scale is the reason regulators are looking closely. In 2025, Volaris had 155 aircraft and about 3 billion US dollars in revenue, while Viva had 108 aircraft and roughly 2.4 billion US dollars. If the deal is approved, the group would account for more than three quarters of Mexico’s domestic air market and about 27 percent of the Mexico to United States market.

Where the review stands

The United States Federal Trade Commission cleared the combination, acting under its own authority rather than on a complaint, according to Mexico Business News. The deal has also received regulatory approval in Colombia. Mexico remains the principal outstanding review, and the transaction still needs approval from Mexican antitrust authorities before it can close.

Note that the regulator has changed. Commentary published in early 2026 says the National Antimonopoly Commission, known as CNA, replaced the older COFECE and took over competition functions formerly held by the telecoms regulator. Some older articles still name COFECE, so check which body a report is actually referring to. Regulators can impose conditions, and the report says any remedies are uncertain. One commentator expects approval to come with requirements to keep existing route networks, but that is an opinion, not a decision.

What it could mean for resort travellers

Volaris and Viva together serve many of the routes that beach travellers use, including flights into Cancun and Los Cabos from US cities and from Mexican hubs such as Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. Our recent coverage includes the Viva Aerobus Monterrey to Cozumel route and the Volaris Cancun to Los Cabos flight.

For a traveller, the practical effects are not yet known. A merger can lead to fewer overlapping routes, or to more connections and more frequency, but the companies have said both brands will continue and nothing has been announced about fares, schedules or loyalty programmes. Until a decision arrives, plan as usual.

Sensible habits while the deal is pending

• Book each flight under the airline that actually operates it, and keep the confirmation from that airline.
• If you buy low-fare tickets from either carrier, read the baggage and seat rules carefully, since extras are priced separately on ultra-low-cost fares.
• If you are connecting between two airlines on separate bookings, understand that a delay on one does not protect the other. Our guide to separate tickets or one booking explains the risk.
• Check what to do if a flight is delayed or cancelled before you leave, using our guide to what to do first.

Why Mexico’s review matters most

Most of the combined group’s flying is within Mexico, which is why the Mexican authority carries the decisive vote. Domestic share above three quarters is the figure regulators will weigh against the argument that low-fare competition needs larger airlines. Travellers should expect the process to take time, and should not assume any change to routes or fares until the authority publishes its ruling.

What we do not know

We do not know when Mexico will decide, whether conditions will be attached, or whether any routes would change. The September report is the latest we could verify. Check the companies’ investor announcements and Mexican regulator notices for the current status before relying on this summary.

Sources: Mexico Business News and PYMNTS, September 7, 2026; Aviacion al Dia, March 2026. Figures are as reported by those outlets.