British Airways and Viva Sign Codeshare Agreement to Expand Network Across Mexico

British Airways and Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier Viva have signed a comprehensive codeshare partnership, significantly broadening commercial connectivity between the United Kingdom, Europe, and domestic destinations throughout Mexico. The bilateral agreement enables passengers to book through-itineraries on a single ticket, linking British Airways' long-haul transatlantic operations from London to Viva's extensive domestic flight network.

The codeshare applies to travel commencing on 28 March 2027, with bookings open through British Airways digital sales channels. Under the arrangement, British Airways places its designator code on scheduled domestic flights operated by Viva from Mexico's two busiest international gateways: Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and Cancún International Airport (CUN).

Thirteen Regional Destinations Added to British Airways Network

The agreement encompasses connecting services to 13 domestic Mexican cities, providing business and leisure passengers with seamless transit beyond primary gateway airports. Through Mexico City, connecting destinations include Guadalajara (GDL), Monterrey (MTY), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), Oaxaca (OAX), Veracruz (VER), Mérida (MID), San José del Cabo (SJD), Chihuahua (CUU), Hermosillo (HMO), and Tijuana (TIJ). From Cancún, passengers can access onward flights to regional economic and cultural hubs including León (BJX), Querétaro (QRO), and Monterrey.

Single-ticket transactions allow passengers to check baggage through to their final destination in accordance with international customs regulations. Members of The British Airways Club loyalty programme will also be able to accumulate Avios and tier points when traveling on eligible codeshare flights operated by Viva, enhancing rewards value across Latin American itineraries.

Conversely, passengers originating from interior Mexican markets will gain streamlined access through Mexico City and Cancún to British Airways' global network, which connects more than 200 destinations via its hub at London Heathrow Airport.

Strategic Executive Perspectives and Network Growth

Neil Chernoff, Chief Planning and Strategy Officer at British Airways, noted that Mexico has formed an essential component of the British flag carrier's international route network for over six decades. Chernoff highlighted that partnering with Viva creates a modern bridge combining Viva's domestic footprint with British Airways' transatlantic capacity, making commercial transit between London and Mexican regional centres more efficient.

Javier Suarez, Executive Vice President and Chief Planning and Alliances Officer at Viva, emphasised that the codeshare represents an important step in expanding international passenger access. Connecting Viva's scheduled operations in Mexico City and Cancún with British Airways enables intercontinental travelers to explore regional Mexico on unified bookings while providing Mexican outbound travellers with convenient transit into Europe and beyond.

Founded two decades ago, Viva has carried over 180 million passengers across its history, operating scheduled passenger routes to more than 60 destinations across Mexico, the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Cuba. The Mexican airline operates a standardised fleet of 110 narrowbody aircraft consisting of Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 family jets.

Transatlantic Aviation Dynamics and Market Outlook

The partnership comes as European network carriers increasingly leverage low-cost point-to-point operators in Latin America to feed transatlantic long-haul flights without dedicating heavy widebody capacity to secondary domestic city pairs. By partnering with Viva, British Airways strengthens its competitive presence against continental European rivals operating into Latin America, while avoiding the operational complexity of regional aircraft deployment in Mexican airspace.

British Airways maintains daily nonstop services connecting London Heathrow to Mexico City, alongside regular scheduled operations to Cancún using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft. The integration of 13 onward connection points provides British Airways with extensive geographic distribution across central, northern, and coastal Mexico, supporting growing tourist demand and corporate travel ties between the United Kingdom and Latin America.