The Bay Area's connection to Mexico grew on Monday as Viva Aerobus inaugurated its first-ever nonstop flights between the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK) and Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Announcing the new route, the airline now offers direct service twice a week, catering to both business travelers and family visitors. According to Oakland Airport's press release, the flights are scheduled to depart Monterrey at 9:35 AM and arrive in Oakland at 12:25 PM, with return flights leaving OAK at 1:55 PM and touching down in Monterrey at 6:45 PM.
With a focus on fostering economic development and closer ties between the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly the East Bay, and Nuevo León, Craig Simon, Director of Aviation at the Port of Oakland, stated, "Viva Aerobus is a win for OAK reflecting many years of effort and planning. This flight will lead to even closer ties and economic development between the San Francisco Bay Area, especially the East Bay, and Nuevo León." The route is expected to serve as a boon for tech companies like Tesla, which has a significant presence in both regions, with manufacturing plants in Monterrey and nearby Fremont, California.
In a bid to enhance its services across the US, Viva Aerobus’ CEO, Juan Carlos Zuazua, saw the new route as a key part of their major expansion strategy. "San Francisco and the Port of Oakland are key part of our major expansion strategy in the US, as this route will allow passengers to fly non-stop and low fares between these regions, plus allowing them to easily connect through our Monterrey hub to over 30 leisure and business destinations in Mexico," he said, as mentioned in the press release from Oakland Airport.
Viva Aerobus brings a point-to-point service and boasts the youngest fleet in North America, with A320 and A321Neo airliners appointed on the OAK service. Seating 186 and 240 passengers featured "Priority" and "Space +" options. Providing onboard comforts, passengers can access Wi-Fi and "Viva Play," which features movies and TV available for a nominal fee and an extensive range of food and beverages for purchase. Named “Low-Cost Airline of the Year in 2023,” the airline ensures that those flying out of Oakland on the new Monterey route can connect seamlessly at their hub in Monterrey to various destinations within Mexico.
