Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
Aeroméxico chief says Viva Aerobus-Volaris merger would concentrate market
Viva Aerobus and Volaris are seeking to merge in Mexico, and the antitrust regulator is reviewing the proposal.
Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa said the merger would create greater market concentration than a past case involving his airline.
More than 25 years ago, regulators rejected Aeroméxico's request to sell CINTRA, a state-owned group that also owned the former Mexicana, as one company.
CINTRA was later split up in 2000 over concerns about concentration.
If approved, the combined airline would carry 75% of passengers in Mexico and have half of the country's registered aircraft.
Conesa said Aeroméxico would keep investing in its product and customer experience, regardless of whether the merger goes ahead.
A decision is expected before the end of the year.
Aeroméxico chief executive Andrés Conesa said a proposed merger between Viva Aerobus and Volaris would create greater market concentration than a past airline consolidation proposal.
Conesa said Aeroméxico was previously told it had to sell the airlines in the CINTRA consortium separately.
The proposed merger is under review by Mexico’s antitrust regulator.
If completed, the merged company would carry 75 percent of passengers in Mexico and hold half of the country’s registered aircraft.
A decision from the regulator is expected before the end of 2026.
- Who
- Aeroméxico chief executive Andrés Conesa commented on the proposed merger of Viva Aerobus and Volaris.
- What
- He said the merger would create greater market concentration than Aeroméxico’s earlier CINTRA proposal. The merger is under review by the antitrust regulator.
- When
- The article was published on October 21, 2026. The comments were made at an ALTA annual forum.
- Where
- At the annual forum of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association. The forum’s location is not stated.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The antitrust authority ordered the separation of CINTRA over concerns about market concentration.
Conesa commented on the proposed Viva Aerobus-Volaris merger at an ALTA annual forum.
A decision on the proposed merger is expected from the antitrust regulator.
- Aeroméxico chief executive
- Andrés Conesa
- Proposed merger
- Viva Aerobus and Volaris
- Projected passenger share
- 75 percent of passengers in Mexico
- Projected aircraft share
- Half of all aircraft registered in Mexico
- Expected decision
- Before the end of 2026
1 source
What people are saying
We made a request to the previous Cofece to sell CINTRA and they told us no. They said we had to sell them separately, and at that time the concentration was lower than the concentration that would result if these two merged today.
In the end, it is our job to do our work well; regardless of whether they consolidate, we have to keep investing in improving the product and offering our customers an experience.