Colombian Airline Viva Air Offers $10,000 Prize For Innovative Ideas To Support The Aviation Sector

Colombian Low Cost airline Viva Air today issued a challenge to the innovation ecosystem to find solutions that incentivize passengers to return the airways. The winning proposal, along with a successful implementation of the concept in Colombia, Peru or Miami, destinations where Viva Air flies, will win a $10,000 USD prize, provided by Viva Air and its external innovation collaborators.

With the rapid propagation of the COVID-19 virus, the Viva Air Labs team is concentrating on finding ideas to mitigate the virus propagation while at the same time, incentivizing people to return to the skies. For those interested in participating, the contest is open from today until April 16^th, and proposals may be sent by video or in writing to [email protected].

“At Viva Air Labs, we have always had a policy of openness, where every idea counts and is valued. Furthermore, we are committed to innovation and the development of strategies that benefit both travelers and the industry in general. We want to continue developing initiatives that challenge entrepreneurs, enterprises, and other members of the ecosystem, and bring benefits to the aviation sector, and to tourism. That’s why we have launched a challenge to all sources of ideas to bring our passengers the liberty of travel,” said Clyde Hutchinson, the founder of Viva Air Labs (above photo).

• Viva Air, through its “Viva Air Labs” innovation laboratory, challenges the entire innovation community to develop ideas that incentivize travelers to feel the passion to fly again.
• The winning proposal, along with a successful implementation of the concept in Viva Air’s destination countries will win $10,000 USD.
• This initiative is part of the airline’s goal to be the most innovative in Latin America, to bring connectivity and development to the entire region.

“How can we incentivize people to fly again? What can we change or improve onboard? How can we develop a new boarding procedure for our A320 aircraft? What client facing processes can we implement in the airport? How can we avoid, prevent, or identify COVID-19 carriers? These and other questions are those that we want all the innovators that want to participate to present solutions and pertinent proposals for,” said the laboratory founder.

The challenge brings to bear the efforts of the airline to confront the challenges the commercial aviation industry faces during this time of uncertainty. In this way, Viva Air has become the first airline to issue a challenge in support of the industry to benefit the wellbeing of travelers as well as finding new processes, technologies, and/or services for the benefit of passengers.

Additional information

Terms and conditions for those who wish to join and participate in the initiative #VolveremosAVolar:

• Viva Air Labs will accept proposals from anywhere in the world that can be implemented in Colombia, Peru, and/or Miami (destinations where Viva Air flies)
• Individuals, businesses, research institutes and nonprofit organizations may participate.
• Participants may submit multiple proposals
• The prize will only be paid upon successful implementation of the submitted concept, under conditions such as:
  • Low cost
  • Easy execution in a short time frame
  • Realistic
  • Practical
• The proposal is timely and cost effective.
• The prize can be divided by Viva Air in equal parts if multiple concepts and ideas submitted are implemented successfully as part of this project.
• If the same concept is presented by more than one participant, the most comprehensive and complete proposal will be recognized.
• People who work at Viva Air may also participate.

For more information, visit the website www.vivaair.com

Photo credit: Loren Moss