Jaunted

Low Cost Carriers

Mexican LCCs: Ups and Downs of Avolar

August 4, 2008 at 9:45 AM | 1 Comment

Mexican budget airline Avolar had a magnificent start to life. Most agree it was Mexico's very first low cost carrier, and it famously holds the record for the lowest airfare in Mexican history: $1.

But these days, like many Mexican LCCs, Avolar is facing an uphill battle to stay in business. It recently restructured to be a hybrid airline rather than a straight low cost carrier--that means it now sells cheapish and more expensive tickets--and at the same time sacked about half of its staff. With fewer employees around, Avolar also canceled a bunch of its routes between 17 different Mexican cities.

But Avolar doesn't sound completely doomed. Rumors abound of further aircraft orders, and more realistically, there's also gossip of Southwest Airlines teaming up with Avolar. Like we've said before, buy your tickets on a credit card and with caution.

Related Stories:
· Avolar [Official Site]
· Southwest Turns North [Consumer Affairs]
· Adventures of Link: Sorry, Mexico [Jaunted]

[Photo: Yetto]