The Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier Viva Aerobus has launched flights from Toluca International Airport (TLC) after postponing them due to delays in the deliveries of new Airbus aircraft. Viva Aerobus now offers three domestic routes from TLC, including one new and two restored after years of non-operation.
Coming back to Toluca
Many years after leaving Toluca and moving its operations to Mexico City Benito Juárez International (MEX), Viva Aerobus has restored some connectivity on Toluca International, a smaller airport located west of Mexico City, used mainly by private aviation and aviation schools.
On Friday, Viva Aerobus restored its connectivity from Toluca by operating a first flight coming from Monterrey International Airport (MTY). This flight landed at 07:20 AM with over 100 passengers onboard. Now Viva Aerobus operates commercial services from the three airports that serve Mexico City and its surroundings, MEX, TLC, and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU).
The ultra-low-cost carrier will operate three routes from Toluca, serving the domestic destinations of Monterrey, Cancún (CUN), and Mérida (MID). The latter is a brand new service, completely uncontested. As of September 2022, there’s only one additional commercial carrier operating passenger flights in Toluca, Volaris; this airline flies to CUN, Guadalajara (GDL), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), San José del Cabo (SJD), and Tijuana (TIJ).
Viva Aerobus launched flights from Toluca International Airport yesterday. Photo: Guillermo Quiroz Martínez via @gquimar .
With the start of these three routes, Viva will be operating 180 flights per month from Toluca, thus providing passengers with more than 400 thousand seats per year.
Strengthening Toluca
The Mexican government has been promoting the use of alternative airports to ease the ongoing saturation of Mexico City International. Toluca and the Felipe Ángeles are the government’s workhorses but lack enough capacity to make an impact so far.
Nonetheless, Juan Carlos Zuazua, Viva Aerobus CEO, said that with the restart of Viva’s operations in Toluca, the carrier sets the beginning of a new stage of air connectivity for Mexico City and its surroundings. He added,
“With our operations at MEX, TLC, and NLU, we are strengthening the Metropolitan Airport System in response to the growing demand in the region for the benefit of passengers. Now, travelers have the opportunity to choose where to fly from for their convenience with an offer distinguished by point-to-point flights, new aircraft, and really low prices.”
Viva Aerobus now operates flights from Mexico City’s three airports. Photo: Guillermo Quiroz Martínez via @gquimar .
Flights from Mexico City’s three airports
In October 2022, Mexico City’s three airports will have around 3,672 weekly flights, according to data provided by Cirium. Mexico City Benito Juárez will remain the main hub in the city, with nearly 93% of all departures. The Felipe Ángeles will have 205 weekly departures (5.5%), and the remaining percentage will depart from Toluca (63 weekly flights).
Aeromexico remains the top airline in these three airports, with 1,873 weekly departures (96% from MEX, the remaining from NLU), followed by Volaris (715 departures, 84% from MEX, 9% from NLU, 7% from TLC) and Viva Aerobus (548 departures 91% from MEX, 5% from NLU, 4% from TLC).
Have you had the chance to fly from Toluca International Airport? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: simpleflying.com
