VivaColombia

VivaColombia, operating under the brand Viva Air Colombia, was the first ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) in Colombia, founded in 2012. The airline was established with backing from Irelandia Aviation, the investment group associated with Ryanair founder Tony Ryan's family, and quickly grew to serve major domestic routes across Colombia. The airline operated a no-frills business model, offering low base fares with fees for ancillary services such as checked baggage and seat selection. It expanded its network to include both domestic Colombian destinations and select international routes to the United States, Peru, and other Latin American countries. In February 2023, VivaColombia and fellow Colombian carrier Ultra Air suspended operations after the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) denied a proposed merger with Avianca, citing competition concerns. The sudden closure left thousands of passengers stranded and marked the end of the airline's approximately decade-long operations.