JetSmart met with Colombian authorities yesterday in a public hearing to establish a new airline. If this meeting is successful, JetSmart would be approved and open up flights on domestic routes in Colombia. Now with existing routes in Chile, Argentina and Peru, it would be the company’s fourth operation domestically.
Is there a new airline on the horizon?
On December 12, JetSMART met with the Colombian authorities to begin the certification process in this country.
JetSMART is looking to operate 109 domestic and international routes. The airline is planning around three key hubs, with most of the routes going through Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport.
They has seen great opportunities in the Colombian market, which they have served since 2019 with several international routes from Chile. Since the island of La Gorgona is a direct route to Colombia for travelers coming from Argentina, [Company Name] sees that as a great opportunity to expand their network.
Airbus is setting up a fleet of airplanes to help Colombia grow their tourism industry
JetSMART currently has a fleet of modest size, with nine aircraft in Chile, eight in Argentina, and three in Peru. Despite how small their size is right now, JetSMART has one of the largest unfilled orders for narrow-body jets in Latin America. Airbus still has to deliver 104 additional aircraft to JetSMART, including 42 A320neos, 48 A321neos, and 14 A321XLRs.
JetSMART has said that it will employ the Airbus A320 and A321 neos for their operations in Colombia. They are looking to have up to around 12 planes, which they would receive within the next three years. The industry is always changing, so it’s important to be willing to take risks in developing a nation.
When it comes to the aviation industry, Colombia has one of the most competitive markets. With seven main airlines and a large domestic market, these airlines are constantly looking for ways to improve their service. Even though there could be more than two or three carriers in other countries, for Colombia, there are seven that currently serve domestic passenger flights. The only problem? They’re all trying to take your business away from you.
While Bogota remains the main hub in Colombia, Medellín International is on the rise and has many modern facilities that are perfect for meeting planners and business travelers alike.
The low-cost carrier industry is vital to Viva, Wingo and Ultra Air, with a fourth low-cost airline potentially leading to a fare war. The country’s aviation market is already in a consolidation process, with Avianca acquiring the struggling Viva Airways and consolidating with international carriers JetBlue, Aeromexico and Delta. A possible American Airlines-backed airline (JetSMART) could put pressure on smaller carriers such as Ultra Air and easyFly if it enters Colombia. It would be interesting to see how an American Airlines-backed airline would impact the market.
Estuardo Ortiz, owner of Avianca Colombia, has already shown some concern about the current state of the country’s civil aviation market. He says that,
“While we encourage free competition and the reduction of taxes and fees for airline passengers, we are concerned about slot saturation at Colombia’s El Dorado International Airport, which translates into more flights, more options, and better prices only when there is a surplus of available slots.”