VivaAeroBus picks Austin
VivaAeroBus plans to launch flights in November to Austin, Texas from five Mexican cities, subject to government approval. Monterrey-based VivaAeroBus will join Click as the second Mexican low-cost carrier serving the USA. Click started flights to Los Angeles last October and also holds unused rights to Miami and Las Vegas.
Pluna plans Mercosur hub
Uruguay completed its privatisation of flag carrier Pluna at the beginning of July by transferring 75% of Pluna's shares to private investor group Leadgate. Pluna plans to retain long-haul flights to Madrid, but will create a Montevideo hub using its sixth freedoms to link cities within South America's Mercosur region. To implement this plan Pluna has ordered seven Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets.
LAB's white knight
Swiss Transatlantic Corp, a US company with South American investment ties, has tentatively agreed to inject $6 million initially and up to $80 million into Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano (LAB) in exchange for a 50.3% stake. Henry Barbey, Swiss Transatlantic's president, calls the deal a "joint venture" with LAB's unions, who hold the rest of the stock.
Source: Airline Business
