Mexican airlines are pressing forward with their expansion into the U.S. market, spurred by the FAA's decision to reinstate Mexico’s Category 1 safety rating, with Viva Aerobus the latest to announce a batch of new routes.

The airline in late September outlined plans to commence six services from Monterrey, connecting the city with Austin, Texas; Denver; Miami; New York; Oakland, California; and Orlando, Florida. It has now unveiled a further four routes, including the ULCC’s first flights to the U.S. from Queretaro in central Mexico.

Service from Queretaro International Airport (QRO) to San Antonio is scheduled to commence on Dec. 1, operating twice a week. Flights to Houston will follow the next day, offering four roundtrips per week. Both routes will be served using Airbus A321 aircraft.

Viva Aerobus will directly compete with United Airlines on the Queretaro-Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport sector, with the Star Alliance member currently offering a 3X-daily service between the destinations. However, Viva Aerobus will be the sole operator for flights to San Antonio.

A further two U.S. routes are being launched by the carrier from Merida International Airport (MID) in Mexico’s Yucatan state, which became the airline’s sixth base in the country last year. Operations to Orlando International Airport (MCO) will start on July 1, 2024, with three flights per week, while a 4X-weekly service to Miami International Airport (MIA) is scheduled to commence the following day. MID already receives daily service from MIA with American Airlines, but there are no other carriers currently serving MID-MCO.

The expansion of Viva Aerobus’ service between Mexico and the U.S. follows the FAA’s decision to restore Mexico to the agency’s highest safety rating in September, ending a 28-month saga that prevented Mexican airlines from adding new U.S. routes, increasing frequencies or upgauging equipment.

In late September, Aeromexico confirmed it will resume flying from Monterrey to Los Angeles International Airport from Dec. 15, becoming the 48th route operated as part of the carrier’s transborder revenue-sharing joint venture with Delta Air Lines.