Viva Air Colombia
Colombian ultra-low-cost airline that suspended operations in February 2023 and entered liquidation later that year.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Viva Air Colombia was a Colombian ultra-low-cost passenger airline operated by Fast Colombia S.A.S. It was established in 2009 as VivaColombia and began commercial service in 2012, helping expand the low-cost airline model in Colombia. The carrier was headquartered in the Medellín metropolitan area and based its principal operations at José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro, Antioquia. It was fully owned by Irelandia Aviation, the airline-development group associated with Declan Ryan and a number of low-cost carriers around the world. The airline’s proposition centered on low base fares, a simplified Airbus narrow-body fleet, high aircraft utilization, and additional charges for optional services. Its network initially focused on domestic Colombian travel, connecting major cities and leisure destinations that had historically been served by higher-cost airlines. Over time, Viva added international routes within Latin America and developed interline or codeshare relationships, including arrangements involving Mexico’s Viva Aerobus. Despite the shared branding and common Irelandia connection, Viva Air Colombia was not legally affiliated with Viva Aerobus. In 2017, Irelandia extended the operating model into Peru through the launch of Viva Air Perú. In April 2018, the Colombian airline adopted the Viva Air Colombia name, a change intended to support a broader Latin American identity rather than a purely Colombian one. Later that year, it opened an operating center in Santa Marta and announced service to destinations including Santa Marta, San Andrés, Bucaramanga, and Pereira. These moves reflected an effort to combine trunk routes with underserved domestic markets and to build a recognizable regional low-cost network. The airline’s financial position deteriorated after the COVID-19 pandemic, while higher fuel costs and aircraft lessor concerns added pressure. In April 2022, Avianca announced its intention to acquire Viva Air Colombia. Colombia’s civil aviation authority, Aerocivil, initially objected to the transaction because of the potential effect on competition. The unresolved merger process became increasingly important to Viva’s survival. In February 2023, the airline sought insolvency protection, and an aircraft lessor reportedly removed five aircraft from active service after unpaid fees. On February 23, 2023, group president and chief executive Felix Antelo announced his departure, citing declining health. Francisco Lalinde, previously the group’s vice president of operations, became interim president and chief executive. Four days later, Viva Air Colombia and Viva Air Perú suspended operations indefinitely and grounded their fleets, citing financial distress, rising fuel prices, and the delay in resolving the proposed Avianca transaction. Although JetSMART and LATAM Colombia separately expressed interest in acquiring the airline, no rescue transaction ultimately restored service. Aerocivil conditionally approved a possible Avianca–Viva combination in March 2023, requiring measures such as honoring or refunding affected passenger bookings, returning certain Bogotá airport slots, preserving a low-cost offering, restoring the Bogotá–Buenos Aires route, and applying fare protections on routes where the combined airline would be the sole operator. Avianca withdrew its acquisition plan in May 2023, stating that the conditions would have materially damaged the economics of the transaction. In June 2023, Colombia’s Superintendency of Corporations announced that Viva Air had entered liquidation proceedings. The brand therefore became a defunct airline after roughly eleven years of commercial operations.
History
Viva Air Colombia operated under Fast Colombia S.A.S. and was created in 2009 as part of Irelandia Aviation’s program for developing low-cost airlines. Irelandia was associated with Declan Ryan, one of the founders of Ryanair, and had participated in the development of several low-cost airline businesses. The Colombian venture was designed to introduce a more aggressively unbundled fare model to the country’s domestic aviation market. The airline traded initially as VivaColombia and began flying in 2012. Its early network emphasized domestic routes from the Medellín area, using a low-cost structure built around standardized Airbus narrow-body aircraft, high utilization, and separately priced optional services. This model enabled the airline to compete with established Colombian carriers and broaden access to air travel for price-sensitive passengers. The airline later added international services and maintained interline arrangements involving Air Transat and Mexico’s Viva Aerobus. Irelandia’s regional strategy expanded in 2017 with the creation of Viva Air Perú. In April 2018, VivaColombia was renamed Viva Air Colombia. The change aligned the Colombian company with a wider Viva Air identity and supported the group’s stated ambition to develop a Latin American low-cost network. In October 2018, the company enabled a Santa Marta operating center, initially assigning two aircraft and serving destinations such as Santa Marta, San Andrés, Bucaramanga, and Pereira. The network combined major Colombian city pairs with leisure and regional markets that were not always well served by competing airlines. The company remained privately held and was wholly owned by Irelandia Aviation. Its operations were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by higher fuel costs and mounting financial pressure. In April 2022, Avianca announced plans to acquire Viva Air Colombia. Aerocivil initially opposed the proposed combination because of its potential to concentrate too much of Colombia’s airline market in one group. The regulatory review continued while Viva’s financial condition weakened. In February 2023, Viva sought insolvency protection. The airline also faced aircraft availability problems after a lessor claimed that fees had not been paid and removed five aircraft from active service. On February 23, group chief executive Felix Antelo announced that he was stepping down, citing health reasons, and called for an immediate regulatory decision. Francisco Lalinde, the group’s former vice president of operations, was appointed interim president and chief executive. On February 27, Viva Air Colombia and Viva Air Perú suspended operations indefinitely and grounded their fleets. The company attributed the decision to its financial crisis, higher fuel costs, and the delay in obtaining a decision on the Avianca transaction. The suspension stranded passengers and effectively ended the airline’s commercial service. JetSMART and LATAM Colombia separately indicated interest in acquiring the carrier, but neither proposal resulted in a successful restart. On March 21, 2023, Aerocivil announced that it would authorize an Avianca–Viva combination subject to extensive conditions. These included protecting passengers with canceled bookings, returning some slots at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport, preserving Viva’s low-cost model in Colombia, restoring the Bogotá–Buenos Aires route, imposing a fare cap on routes where the combined group would be the only operator, and maintaining a competitive market. Avianca withdrew its acquisition proposal on May 13 after reviewing the economic and technical effect of those requirements. On June 22, Colombia’s Superintendency of Corporations announced that Viva Air had entered liquidation. The brand is consequently treated as defunct.
- 2023
Insolvency filing and operational suspension
[1]Viva files for insolvency protection in February and suspends all operations on February 27.
- 2023
Conditional approval of Avianca combination
[1]Aerocivil announces conditions for a possible Avianca–Viva combination, including passenger, slot, fare, and route protections.
- 2023
Avianca withdraws acquisition proposal
[1]Avianca ends its proposed acquisition after assessing the consequences of Aerocivil’s conditions.
- 2023
Liquidation begins
[1]The Superintendency of Corporations announces the start of Viva Air’s liquidation process.
- 2022
Avianca announces intended acquisition
[1]Avianca announces plans to acquire Viva Air Colombia, triggering a competition review by Aerocivil.
- 2018
VivaColombia becomes Viva Air Colombia
[1]The Colombian airline changes its trading name to support the group’s wider Latin American expansion.
- 2018
Santa Marta operating center opens
[1]The airline enables a new Colombian operating center in Santa Marta and assigns it two aircraft initially.
- 2017
Viva Air Perú is launched
[1]Irelandia extends the Viva Air platform into Peru with a new subsidiary airline.
- 2015
Emergency landing after an engine fire
[1]An Airbus A320 returns to Bogotá for an emergency landing after an engine fire shortly after takeoff from Bogotá.
- 2012
Commercial operations begin
[1]VivaColombia begins scheduled passenger operations in Colombia using an ultra-low-cost model.
Products and positioning
Ultra-low-cost passenger airline focused on affordable domestic Colombian travel and selected Latin American routes.
Air transportation · 2012
Domestic passenger flights
Viva Air Colombia’s core offering was scheduled domestic passenger transportation within Colombia. The network connected large cities, tourism destinations, and regional markets, with fares structured around a low base price and optional charges for selected services. This approach positioned the airline as an alternative to traditional full-service Colombian carriers and supported the expansion of air travel among price-sensitive customers.
Air transportation
International Latin American flights
After establishing its Colombian network, Viva Air Colombia added selected international routes within Latin America. These services formed part of Irelandia Aviation’s broader regional expansion strategy and complemented the launch of Viva Air Perú. The international network remained focused on point-to-point low-cost travel rather than a traditional connecting hub model.
Travel services · 2012
Ancillary airline services
The airline’s ultra-low-cost structure separated the base airfare from selected optional services. Passengers could purchase additional services associated with baggage, seating, and other aspects of the journey. Unbundling these features allowed the advertised fare to remain low while giving travelers the option to pay for services according to their needs.
Brand decisions
2023
Suspend the entire operationOtherBackground
The airline faced insolvency, higher fuel costs, aircraft lessor pressure, and continued uncertainty over regulatory approval of its proposed combination with Avianca.
Action taken
Viva Air Colombia and Viva Air Perú suspended operations indefinitely on February 27 and grounded their fleets.
Aftermath
The airline did not resume service and subsequently entered liquidation proceedings.
2023
Withdraw the proposed Avianca acquisitionM&ABackground
Aerocivil conditionally approved the proposed combination but imposed requirements intended to protect passengers and preserve competition.
Action taken
Avianca withdrew its acquisition proposal in May after reviewing the financial and technical consequences of the conditions.
Aftermath
Without the transaction, Viva Air had no announced rescue that could restore operations, and liquidation followed.
2022
Pursue an Avianca acquisitionM&ABackground
Avianca announced an intention to acquire Viva Air Colombia while the Colombian airline faced the effects of the pandemic and a difficult operating environment.
Action taken
Avianca and Viva pursued a combination subject to review by Colombia’s civil aviation authority.
Aftermath
Aerocivil initially objected on competition grounds, and the unresolved transaction became a major factor in the airline’s later financial crisis.
- JetSMART — JetSMART announced interest in acquiring Viva Air as an alternative to the Avianca transaction.
- LATAM Colombia — LATAM Colombia separately expressed interest in acquiring Viva Air.
2018
Adopt the Viva Air Colombia identityStrategyBackground
The company sought to align its Colombian operation with Irelandia Aviation’s developing Latin American low-cost airline platform.
Action taken
VivaColombia changed its trading name to Viva Air Colombia and continued regional network expansion, including the Santa Marta operating center.
Aftermath
The rebrand created a common identity with the group’s Peruvian operation and other Viva-branded activities.
Recent events
- 2023
Viva Air Colombia files for insolvency protection[1]
Bankruptcy
The airline sought insolvency protection amid financial pressure linked to the pandemic’s effects, higher fuel prices, fleet-related costs, and uncertainty surrounding the proposed Avianca transaction.
- 2023
Viva Air suspends all operations[1]
Bankruptcy · Regulation · Other
Viva Air Colombia and Viva Air Perú suspended operations indefinitely on February 27 and grounded their fleets after the company said its financial situation had become unsustainable.
- 2023
Aerocivil conditionally approves a possible Avianca–Viva combination[1]
M&A · Regulation
Aerocivil announced conditions intended to protect passengers and competition, including honoring or refunding canceled bookings, returning some Bogotá slots, maintaining low-cost service, and applying safeguards on monopoly routes.
- 2023
Avianca withdraws its proposed Viva Air acquisition[1]
M&A
Avianca abandoned the proposed acquisition after assessing the financial and technical consequences of Aerocivil’s conditions.
- 2023
Viva Air Colombia enters liquidation[1]
Bankruptcy
Colombia’s Superintendency of Corporations announced that Viva Air had begun liquidation proceedings after the airline failed to resume operations.
- 2022
Avianca announces plans to acquire Viva Air Colombia[1]
M&A · Regulation
Avianca announced an intended acquisition of Viva Air Colombia. Aerocivil subsequently reviewed the transaction because of concerns that it could reduce competition in Colombia.
- 2018
Viva Air Colombia changes its name to Viva Air Colombia[1]
Other
The airline adopted the Viva Air Colombia name as part of a broader Latin American expansion strategy and established a new operating center in Santa Marta later that year.
- 2015
Viva Air Airbus A320 makes an emergency landing after engine fire[1]
Other
An Airbus A320 operating from Bogotá to Medellín experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff and returned for an emergency landing at El Dorado International Airport. Aerocivil reported that passengers were not exposed to a serious situation.
Sources1 sources
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