Quick facts
IATA code:
VIV
Established:
24 February 1988
ICAO code:
FV
Ceased Operations:
March 1999
Airline History
Viva Air was a small Spanish airline founded on the 24 February 1988 by Iberia and Lufthansa. Both companies saw an opportunity to capitalize on the increasing demand for affordable holiday travel between northern Europe and Spain's popular tourist destinations. The carrier was headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, one of the most important centres of Spain's tourism industry, and was designed to operate as a leisure-oriented airline rather than a traditional full-service carrier.
Operations began in 1989, with Viva Air focusing primarily on charter and inclusive-tour flights. The airline entered service using McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 aircraft, a more fuel-efficient derivative of the DC-9 family that was widely used by European airlines during the late 1980s and 1990s. The DC-9-32 was particularly suited to the airline's business model because it offered good operating economics on medium-haul routes connecting Germany to Palma de Mallorca and other Mediterranean holiday destinations. The aircraft were configured with high-density seating to maximize passenger capacity and reduce unit costs, reflecting the carrier's emphasis on leisure travel.
Viva Air started operations in 1989 with the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 aircraft, a more fuel-efficient derivative of the DC-9 family of aircraft. (Photo: Jetphotos.com) 
Viva Air was founded on the 24 February 1988 by Iberia and Lufthansa using the DC-9-32. (Photo: Airliners.net) During its early years, Viva Air concentrated on carrying tourists from Germany, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and other northern European markets to Spanish holiday destinations. The Balearic Islands, particularly Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza, became some of the airline's most important destinations. The Canary Islands also featured prominently in its network, as did several mainland Spanish tourist centres. Viva Air primarily served the needs of tour operators, transporting package-holiday customers to resorts throughout Spain. As the destinations grew, so was the need to supplement more aircraft. The Boeing 737-300 was chosen and was incorporated soon after the original DC-9-32 in 1989.
The more modern Boeing 737-300 joined Viva Air in 1989 as European services expanded. (Photo: Jetphotos.com) The involvement of Lufthansa gave Viva Air access to expertise in airline management and operations, while Iberia provided strong domestic knowledge and market presence within Spain. As European tourism demand grew during the early 1990s, Viva Air increased its range of charter services and strengthened its presence in key vacation markets. The DC-9-32 fleet remained the backbone of operations throughout the airline's existence, providing flexibility for both short- and medium-haul routes. But it started to add more Boeing 737-300 through the early 1990's.
The airline's development took place against the backdrop of significant regulatory changes in European aviation. The gradual liberalization of the European airline market during the late 1980s and early 1990s created new opportunities for competition and expansion.
By the mid-1990s, Viva Air began operating a mixture of charter and limited scheduled services. The airline sought to broaden its commercial opportunities beyond traditional package-holiday traffic and attempted to benefit from growing demand for affordable air travel within Europe. Its routes connected Spain with a variety of European cities, particularly those that generated substantial tourist traffic. The carrier's distinctive branding and leisure-focused image helped differentiate it from the larger network airlines that dominated many European markets.
The airline's aircraft stood out with their simple and colourful Joan Miró-style livery created by Spanish school children. It was intended to symbolise the Spanish sunshine which most of its passengers sought during their holidays. After the first few years of operation, the airline was one of the first subsidiary airlines to gain a foothold into London's Heathrow Airport from where Viva Air operated several scheduled services on behalf of its parent company (Iberia) using Viva callsigns and Viva flight numbers.
After the first few years of operation, Viva Air was able to gain acess into London's Heathrow Airport, operating scheduled services on behalf of its parent company (Iberia) to Madrid. (Photo: planespotters.net) By the mid 1990's the airline grew its fleet to 10 Boeing 737-300 and the original DC-9 were retired back in 1992. Despite these efforts, the airline faced increasing challenges. The European aviation market was becoming more competitive. At the same time, charter operators were experiencing pressure from changing consumer behaviour, as travellers increasingly booked flights and accommodations separately rather than purchasing traditional package holidays.
A major turning point occurred when Lufthansa decided to withdraw from the venture. In 1992, Lufthansa sold its stake in Viva Air to Iberia, leaving the Spanish flag carrier as the principal owner. Under Iberia's control, Viva Air continued operating as a subsidiary, but its strategic importance gradually diminished as Iberia reassessed its various business activities. Throughout the 1990s, Iberia itself was undergoing restructuring and modernization efforts, leading the parent company to focus increasingly on its core operations.
As the decade progressed, Viva Air remained active in the Spanish leisure market but struggled to achieve the scale necessary to compete effectively against larger charter airlines and increasingly aggressive competitors.
The fleet expansion remained limited, with the airline continuing to rely primarily on its Boeing 737-300 aircraft rather than undertaking major fleet modernization programs.
By the late 1990s, Iberia decided to streamline its operations and reduce the number of subsidiary airlines within its corporate structure. Viva Air's activities were gradually integrated into the parent company's broader strategy. The airline eventually ceased operations in 1999, bringing an end to approximately a decade of service. Its aircraft and operational resources were absorbed into Iberia's wider organization, and the Viva Air brand disappeared from the European aviation landscape.
Although its lifespan was relatively short, Viva Air represented an important experiment in European leisure aviation. The airline reflected the efforts of major carriers such as Iberia and Lufthansa to participate in the rapidly expanding tourist travel market of the late twentieth century.
Viva Air played a notable role in supporting the growth of Spanish tourism during the 1990s before ultimately becoming a casualty of industry consolidation and intensifying competition in the European airline sector.
The airline stood out by its high contrast colours, but by 1999 Viva Air was absorbed into Iberia and ceased operations all together. 
One of the early timetables of Viva Air, which flew across cities in Europe.
Airline Factual Information
There is no widely published, destinations list for Viva Air at the time of its closure in 1999, largely because the airline operated primarily as a charter carrier whose routes varied seasonally according to tour-operator demand.
Viva Air's operations were concentrated on Spanish leisure destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, the Canary Islands, Málaga, Alicante and other tourist gateways, while its international flights connected Spain with numerous cities in Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and several other European markets.
The airline served around 10–12 foreign countries during its operations until 1999.
Aircraft Type
In Service
Configuration (F, C, P, Y)
Boeing 737-300
15
(Y) 3-3
