Aircraft

Mexican start-up carrier Volaris has signed a contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 16 firm A319 orders and options for 40 additional A320 family aircraft.

Volaris, a joint venture between Central American carrier Taca, Mexican bank Inbursa, investment fund Protego-Discovery and Latin American broadcaster Televisa, will start operation in March 2006 with four leased A319s. The project has until now been known as Vuela.

The Mexico City-based carrier will operate the International Aero Engines V2500-powered A319s in 144-seat single-class configuration. The aircraft will be used on Volaris’s domestic network, serving routes from its base at Toluca airport, which is Mexico City’s business aviation and secondary airport.

Volaris is one of five new start-up carriers in Mexico planning services within the next 18 months.

An Airbus artist's impression of the aircraft in Volaris livery is pictured below.