Update on VivaAerobus service.
1) They've already applied - and received approval - from DOT to begin service between Austin and Monterrey, Cancun, Puebla, Guadalajara, Leon and Queretaro. So far, they've only announced service to Monterrey and Cancun.
Up until about two weeks ago, the only other service they could have offered out of Austin was to Leon. They weren't yet flying out of Queretaro, Guadalajara or Puebla - not even to Monterrey.
I noticed today, that Queretaro has been added as a VivaAerobus destination - from Monterrey - but not from Austin (yet).
Queretaro and Leon were the only two cities out of Austin that would not have daily service. VivaAerobus was planning to fly to one of the two cities 3 times a week, the other one 4 times a week.
Maybe now that Queretaro is open, they'll go ahead and announce service to Leon and Queretaro from Austin soon.
2) VivaAerobus recently announced plans to serve Mexico from Gary, IND (near Chicago) and Las Vegas. A March 11, 2008
article in the Gary Post-Tribune mentioned:
Quote:
vivaAerobus, a Mexican version of Skybus, filed paperwork with the U.S. Department of Transportation today to begin offering direct flights daily from Monterrey, Mexico, to Gary, as well as service to Las Vegas and Austin, Texas.
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The only reason Austin would be included in this most recent DOT application would be if they were planning to add additional destinations from Austin. The six cities mentioned above have already been approved by DOT.
I can't find the link to VivaAerobus' most recent application to DOT, but someone familiar with it said that VivaAerobus is applying to serve Puerto Vallarta and Veracruz from Austin. Puerto Vallarta would be served four times a week and Veracruz would be served three times a week.
BTW, I'm flying out of ABIA later this morning. I'm not sure if you can see the low-cost terminal from the main terminal, but I'm sure going to be looking.