The US Federal Trade Commission has cleared the proposed combination of Mexican low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobus by granting early termination of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period. The move removes one cross-border regulatory hurdle for the creation of Grupo Más Vuelos, but the transaction still needs approval from Mexico’s antitrust authority before it can close.
The US step, recorded at the end of August and reported in early September, is a procedural clearance rather than a substantive ruling on the merits of the merger. Colombia had already approved the transaction, leaving Mexico as the key remaining market regulator.
The planned tie-up would bring together the two carriers under a single holding company while leaving their brands and operations separate. Viva confirmed the FTC determination in regulatory filings, underscoring that the deal is advancing, though the final decision in Mexico remains decisive for completion.