Volaris (NYSE: VLRS) posts March 2026 traffic growth with 84.7% load factor
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Controladora Vuela (Volaris) reported modestly higher March 2026 traffic with a slightly stronger load factor. Total March revenue passenger miles (RPMs) rose 1.9% year-over-year to 2,609 million, while available seat miles (ASMs) increased 1.5% to 3,080 million, lifting consolidated load factor by 0.3 percentage points to 84.7%.
Domestic RPMs fell 3.9% but international RPMs grew 11.5%, showing a shift toward cross-border flying. The company carried 2.7 million passengers in March, up 4.5% from a year earlier, supported by strong demand into the Semana Santa and spring break period. Management highlighted solid demand but noted that higher jet fuel prices may drive targeted capacity and fare adjustments.
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Insights
Volaris shows slightly higher traffic and load factor, with strong international growth offsetting weaker domestic demand.
Volaris delivered a balanced March 2026 traffic picture. Total RPMs grew 1.9% on ASMs up 1.5%, nudging load factor to 84.7%. This suggests the airline filled a marginally higher share of its seats while keeping capacity growth controlled.
Domestic RPMs declined 3.9%, but international RPMs rose 11.5%, indicating growing reliance on cross-border markets. Passenger volumes increased 4.5% to 2,712 thousand, consistent with comments about solid spring demand.
Management also pointed to higher jet fuel prices and potential capacity and fare adjustments, with more detail expected on the Q1 earnings call. Overall, the data shows stable operations with a shift toward international flying rather than a major inflection.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) financial
Available seat miles (ASMs) financial
Load factor financial
ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) financial
VFR financial
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of April 2026
Commission File Number: 001-36059
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V.
(Name of Registrant)
Av. Antonio Dovalí Jaime No. 70, 13 Floor, Tower B
Colonia Zedec Santa Fe
United Mexican States, Mexico City 01210
+(52) 55-5261-6400
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): £
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): £
EXPLANATORY NOTE
On April 8, 2026, Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: VLRS) issued a press release titled “Volaris Reports March 2026 Traffic Results: Load Factor of 85%”
A copy of this press release is attached to this Form 6-K as Exhibit 99.1
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. | ||
| Date: April 8, 2026 | By: | /s/ Enrique J. Beltranena Mejicano |
| Name: | Enrique J. Beltranena Mejicano | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| By: | /s/ Jaime E. Pous Fernández | |
| Name: | Jaime E. Pous Fernández | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
Exhibit |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press release dated April 8, 2026, titled “Volaris Reports March 2026 Traffic Results: Load Factor of 85%” | |
Volaris Reports March 2026 Traffic Results:
Load Factor of 85%
Mexico City, Mexico, April 8, 2026 – Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR) (“Volaris” or “the Company”), the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) serving Mexico, the United States, Central and South America, reports its March 2026 preliminary traffic results.
In March, Volaris’ ASM capacity increased 1.5%, while RPMs for the month grew 1.9%. Mexican domestic RPMs declined 3.9%, while international RPMs increased 11.5%. Consolidated load factor increased by 0.3 percentage points year-over-year to 84.7%. During the month, Volaris transported 2.7 million passengers.
Enrique Beltranena, Volaris’ President and CEO, said: “During March, we continued to see solid demand across both domestic and international markets, including the shoulder season leading into Semana Santa and spring break travel periods. While demand for travel this Spring remains strong, we are closely monitoring the impact of higher jet fuel prices and will implement targeted capacity adjustments and gradual fare and ancillary increases as necessary. We will provide further details on these actions during our first-quarter earnings call.”
| Mar 2026 | Mar 2025 | Variance | YTD Mar 2026 | YTD Mar 2025 | Variance | |
| RPMs (million, scheduled & charter) | ||||||
| Domestic | 1,535 | 1,596 | (3.9%) | 4,383 | 4,536 | (3.4%) |
| International | 1,074 | 964 | 11.5% | 3,219 | 2,926 | 10.0% |
| Total | 2,609 | 2,560 | 1.9% | 7,601 | 7,462 | 1.9% |
| ASMs (million, scheduled & charter) | ||||||
| Domestic | 1,695 | 1,786 | (5.1%) | 4,922 | 5,108 | (3.6%) |
| International | 1,384 | 1,248 | 11.0% | 4,018 | 3,629 | 10.7% |
| Total | 3,080 | 3,034 | 1.5% | 8,940 | 8,737 | 2.3% |
| Load Factor (%, RPMs/ASMs) | ||||||
| Domestic | 90.5% | 89.4% | 1.1 pp | 89.0% | 88.8% | 0.2 pp |
| International | 77.6% | 77.2% | 0.4 pp | 80.1% | 80.6% | (0.5) pp |
| Total | 84.7% | 84.4% | 0.3 pp | 85.0% | 85.4% | (0.4) pp |
| Passengers (thousand, scheduled & charter) | ||||||
| Domestic | 1,965 | 1,932 | 1.7% | 5,513 | 5,408 | 1.9% |
| International | 747 | 663 | 12.7% | 2,237 | 2,010 | 11.3% |
| Total | 2,712 | 2,595 | 4.5% | 7,750 | 7,418 | 4.5% |
The information included in this report has not been audited and does not provide information on the Company’s future performance. Volaris’ future performance depends on several factors. It cannot be inferred that any period performance or its year-over-year comparison will indicate a similar performance in the future. Figures are rounded for convenience purposes.
Glossary
Revenue passenger miles (RPMs): Number of seats booked by passengers multiplied by the number of miles flown.
Available seat miles (ASMs): Number of seats available for passengers multiplied by the number of miles flown.
Load factor: RPMs divided by ASMs and expressed as a percentage.
Passengers: The total number of passengers booked on all flight segments.
VFR: Visiting friends and relatives.
Investor Relations Contact
Liliana Juárez / ir@volaris.com
Media Contact
Ricardo Flores / rflores@gcya.net
About Volaris
*Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Volaris” or “the Company”) (NYSE: VLRS and BMV: VOLAR) is an ultra-low-cost carrier, with point-to-point operations, serving Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America. Volaris offers low base fares to build its market, providing quality service and extensive customer choice. Since the beginning of operations in March 2006, Volaris has increased its routes from 5 to more than 255 and its fleet from 4 to 155 aircraft. Volaris offers around 500 daily flight segments on routes that connect 46 cities in Mexico and 30 cities in the United States, Central, and South America, with one of the youngest fleets in Mexico. Volaris targets passengers who are visiting friends and relatives, cost-conscious business and leisure travelers in Mexico, the United States, Central, and South America. For more information, please visit ir.volaris.com. Volaris routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its investor relations website. The Company encourages investors and potential investors to consult the Volaris website regularly for important information about Volaris.