Viva Launches Medellín – São Paulo Flights Beginning In June

Colombian low-cost airline Viva has added Brazil as the sixth country in its route network, announcing three weekly flights between Medellín and São Paulo, beginning June 22. The new flights are the only connecting Medellín with the Brazilian city. Up until now, travelers have had to fly through Bogotá. Connecting through Viva’s Medellín hub creates connectivity options for travelers flying from more northerly Viva cities in México, the United States and the Dominican Republic.

Flying into the São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport, flights start at $119 one way, or $179 round trip for travel between June 22 and August 23. Viva expects to carry 50,000 passengers on this route the first year of operations.

Travelers can now fly Viva to Brazil connecting through Medellín from cities like Miami, Orlando and México City.

“Viva does not stop and proof of this are the new routes that are part of our international expansion plan. The opening of this new destination is very important for several reasons: it strengthens our HUB Medellín as a global hub, which will connect Brazilians directly with Cartagena, San Andrés, Santa Marta, among many other destinations of the domestic network and international destinations such as Cancun, Punta Cana and Mexico City; In addition,   will generate greater proximity between destinations and allow more Latin Americans to travel by plane, thanks to our ‘Super Low Cost’ model, in which we are experts,” explained Félix Antelo, Viva’s CEO.

The Medellín – São Paulo route is Viva’s second new international route, as the airline launched flights between México City and Colombia’s Caribbean tourist mecca of Cartagena. Viva now flies to México from Medellín, Bogotá and Cartagena, and also flies from the first two cities into Cancún.

Viva predicts that its entry into the Brazilian market will depress competitor pricing by up to 55%, further pressuring the other two airlines flying between Colombia and Brazil, Avianca and Latam. Viva now flies 45 domestic routes in Colombia and Peru, and eleven international routes between Colombia and the United States, México, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil.

Headline photo: Viva CEO Felix Antelo (gray blazer) looks on as Brazilian Capoeira dancers perform (courtesy Viva)