BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

_________________________________________ 

 ) 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2011-____ 

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) ) 

 ) 

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 ) 

(Monterrey, Mexico – Orlando, Florida; ) 

Monterrey, Mexico – Miami, Florida; ) 

Guadalajara, Mexico – Houston, Texas; )

Guadalajara, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas) ) 

And Amendment to Foreign Air Carrier ) 

Permit ) 

__________________________________________) 

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V. 

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION AND 

AMENDMENT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMIT 

Communications concerning this document should be addressed to: 

David M. Kirstein 

Joanne W. Young 

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC 

1750 K Street N.W. 

Suite 200 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 331-3348 (telephone) 

(202) 331-3933 (facsimile) 

Counsel for 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

August 9, 2011 

NOTICE: Answers supporting or opposing this application must be filed with the 

Department on or before August 24, 2011. vivaAerobus will poll all carriers 

served in this application and notify the Department of the results.
BEFORE THE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

_________________________________________ 

 ) 

Application of ) 

 ) 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. ) Docket No. OST-2011-____ 

(d/b/a vivaAerobus) ) 

 ) 

For an Exemption from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 ) 

(Monterrey, Mexico – Orlando, Florida; ) 

Monterrey, Mexico – Miami, Florida; ) 

Guadalajara, Mexico – Houston, Texas; )

Guadalajara, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas) ) 

And Amendment to Foreign Air Carrier ) 

Permit ) 

__________________________________________) 

APPLICATION OF AEROENLACES NACIONALES, S.A. de C.V. 

(VIVAAEROBUS) FOR AN EXEMPTION AND 

AMENDMENT TO FOREIGN AIR CARRIER PERMIT 

Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 40109(c), Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

(“vivaAerobus”), a Mexican air carrier, respectfully applies for exemptions from provisions of 

49 U.S.C. § 41301, authorizing it to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, 

property and mail between Monterrey, Mexico and Orlando, Florida; Monterrey, Mexico and 

Miami, Florida; Guadalajara, Mexico and Houston, Texas; and Guadalajara, Mexico and San 

Antonio, Texas. vivaAerobus plans to institute services to the points in Florida on or about 

November 12, 2011, and to the points in Texas on or about December 12, 2011. 

In addition, vivaAerobus respectfully requests that the Department amend the carrier’s 

foreign air carrier permit to integrate the exemption authority requested herein and 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey-Orlando, Monterrey-Miami, Guadalajara-Houston and Guadalajara-San Antonio Exemptions 

Page 2 of 4 

vivaAerobus’s existing exemption authority (as described below) to eliminate the need to apply 

for repeated renewals of the exemption authority. 

In support of this Application, vivaAerobus states as follows: 

1. vivaAerobus was established in November 2006 as the first low-cost Mexican air 

carrier. It currently operates from its hub at General Mariano Escobedo International Airport in 

Monterrey, Mexico, to various Mexican destinations as well as to Las Vegas, Nevada; Houston, 

Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and Chicago, Illinois and from Guadalajara, Mexico to Las Vegas, 

Nevada. 

2. Beginning approximately on November 12, 2011, vivaAerobus plans to operate 

daily nonstop roundtrip flights between Monterrey, Mexico and Orlando, Florida (on a seasonal 

basis), and three weekly nonstop roundtrip flights between Monterrey, Mexico, and Miami, 

Florida (on a year-round basis). Beginning approximately on December 12, 2011, vivaAerobus 

plans to operate three weekly nonstop roundtrip flights between Guadalajara, Mexico, on the one 

hand, and Houston, Texas, and San Antonio, Texas, on the other hand. Service to Houston and 

San Antonio will be on a year-round basis. The proposed services will generate significant 

benefits for the traveling and shipping public. 

3. vivaAerobus has been found fit, willing and able to provide foreign air 

transportation and currently holds a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled service 

between the Mexican points of Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Leon, Queretaro, and Cancun 

and Austin, Texas. See Order 2008-1-23. It also holds exemption authority for (a) Monterrey, 

Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada; (b) Monterrey, Mexico – Houston, Texas; (c) Hermosillo, Mexico 

– Las Vegas, Nevada; (d) Monterrey, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas; (e) Monterrey, Mexico - 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey-Orlando, Monterrey-Miami, Guadalajara-Houston and Guadalajara-San Antonio Exemptions 

Page 3 of 4 

Chicago, Illinois; and (f) Guadalajara, Mexico – Las Vegas, Nevada. See Notice of Action 

Taken, Docket OST-2008-0095, dated May 22, 2009; Notice of Action Taken, Docket OST2010-0082 dated April 28, 2010; Notice of Action Taken, Docket OST-2009-0298 dated 

November 24, 2009; and Notice of Action Taken, Docket OST-2011-0060 dated March 25, 

2011. There have been no material changes within the company that would affect the 

Department’s prior fitness findings. 

4. The Mexican DGCA has authorized vivaAerobus to provide these services. See 

attached authorizations/designations. 

5. vivaAerobus uses Boeing 737-300 aircraft for all its services. Mexico is a 

contracting state to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (“ICAO”) and observes all 

applicable ICAO standards. This exemption application does not raise any environmental or 

energy issues because approval of this request will not result in an increase in fuel consumption 

of ten million gallons or more in the near future. 

6. The requested authority is covered by the U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement. 

On December 12, 2005, the Governments of the United States and Mexico signed an amendment 

to the bilateral agreement broadening air transport services between the two countries and 

permitting designated Mexican carriers to operate from a “point or points in Mexico to a point or 

points in the United States” subject to limitations on the number of designations per market. 

vivaAerobus’s proposed services are within the scope of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral. The abovereferenced routes are available for service by a Mexican carrier pursuant to Annex I Paragraph 

B.5 of the 2005 Amendment. 
Application of Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

Monterrey-Orlando, Monterrey-Miami, Guadalajara-Houston and Guadalajara-San Antonio Exemptions 

Page 4 of 4 

7. Grant of the exemptions is consistent with the public interest. vivaAerobus’s 

scheduled operations will increase competition in U.S.-Mexico market and provide low-cost 

travel options to passengers. 

8. Integration of vivaAerobus’s exemption authority with its permit authority in an 

amended foreign air carrier permit is consistent with the Department’s goals of streamlining its 

carrier licensing procedures. See In the Matter of Streamlining Regulatory Procedures For 

Licensing U.S. and Foreign Air Carriers, Docket OST-2005-22228 (August 25, 2008). 

WHEREFORE, vivaAerobus respectfully requests the Department grant it exemptions 

from 49 U.S.C. § 41301 as well as such other and further relief as the Department may deem 

necessary to allow vivaAerobus to engage in scheduled foreign air transport of persons, property 

and mail between Monterrey, Mexico – Orlando, Florida; Monterrey, Mexico – Miami, Florida; 

Guadalajara, Mexico – Houston, Texas; and Guadalajara, Mexico – San Antonio, Texas. 

Respectfully Submitted, 

David M. Kirstein 

Joanne W. Young 

KIRSTEIN & YOUNG PLLC 

1750 K Street N.W. 

Suite 200 

Washington, D.C. 20006 

(202) 331-3348 (telephone) 

Counsel for 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. 

August 9, 2011

Certificate of Service 

I certify that on this 9th day of August 2011, a copy of the foregoing Application of 

Aeroenlaces Nacionales, S.A. de C.V. for Exemptions was served by email on the following: 

anbird@fedex.com

anita.mosner@hklaw.com 

benjamin_slocum@usairways.com

brian.hedberg@dot.gov 

byerlyjr@state.gov 

carl.nelson@aa.com

dan.weiss@coair.com

efaberman@wileyrein.com

george.wellington@dot.gov 

howard_kass@usairways.com

jeff.morgan@delta.com 

jennifer.nowak@hklaw.com 

jhill@dlalaw.com 

john.allen@faa.gov 

jrichardson@johnlrichardson.com

msinick@ssd.com

pmurphy@lopmurphy.com

rbkeiner@crowell.com

robert.land@jetblue.com 

rpommer@atlasair.com 

rsilverberg@sgbdc.com 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com 

slachter@lachter-clements.com

sllunsford@fedex.com 

steve.morrissey@united.com 

Lyndsey M. Grunewald