Meagan Drillinger
Earlier this month, VivaAerobus signed an agreement
with Sabre, giving travel agents who use the GDS an easier way to book regional
travel in Mexico. The signed agreement includes access to a set of software
solutions and GDS capabilities that will be critical to improving the way the
airline automates commercial processes, sells seat inventory and manages electronic
sales channels. This agreement will give thousands of agents in Mexico, North
America, Latin America and the Caribbean the ability to sell VivaAerobus
tickets to travelers.
This will make travel to more regional and niche
destinations in Mexico easier for travelers who want to explore
off-the-beaten-path destinations. While this has always been possible from
within Mexico, travelers used to booking with travel agents have not had the ease
of exploring beyond what the typical routes are. “Passengers are demanding,
through travel agents, local travel. In the case of VivaAerobus, we started
adding distribution channels like OTAs, which work very well. Now through the
GDS offering Viva inventory, we will further expand our distribution,” said
Juan Carlos Zuazua, CEO of VivaAerobus.
From Cancun, for example, VivaAerobus flies to 11
different destinations. Now that VivaAerobus sells through the GDS, it will be
easier for agents to book additional travel in and around the regions near
Quintana Roo, giving travelers more flexibility and freedom to explore new
destinations. “Right now we have a small U.S. operation, mostly out of Houston (four flights weekly to Monterrey). We are planning to expand international growth in 2017. Having a
local service through the GDS offers Americans better inventory to help
organize their trips,” says Zuazua. VivaAerobus will be available on Sabre
after July.
But VivaAerobus isn’t alone among Mexico carriers
making a stronger play for U.S. travelers, a development that was highly
anticipated after the two countries announced a liberalized aviation agreement
in December. The new pact essentially lifted the limits on the number of
carriers that could serve any U.S.-Mexico city pair.
Volaris (www.volaris.com), a Mexican low-cost carrier
that operates in Mexico, the U.S. and Central America, announced a new route
from Culiacan, in northwestern Mexico, to Phoenix starting on May 27.
Interjet (www.interjet.com), another low-fare Mexican
airline, began offering two flights per day from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to
Mexico City on March 3. Interjet serves 49 destinations, including 37 in Mexico
and 12 cities across the U.S., Central and South America.