On November 24 there will be a Public Hearing by the Colombian Aeronautical Authority (Aerocivil), where it was revealed that JetSMART requested to open a subsidiary in Colombia for domestic flights.
According to the request, the company plans to have twelve Airbus A320neo that will be incorporated over a period of three years and will be based at El Dorado International Airport (BOG), Bogota, for scheduled passenger, cargo and mail flights.
But the company also requested 111 domestic routes, where different cities will have between 10 and 12 destinations, with a focus on Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cartagena, Cali, Medellín/Rionegro and San Andrés.
By the end of 2022, JetSMART’s South American fleet will consist of eleven Airbus A320ceo, ten A320neo and three A321neo.
In 2023, JetSMART would receive 14 additional A320neo and A321neo aircraft to be distributed among the three countries and/or an eventual fourth country.
All of these aircraft are part of an order for more than 90 aircraft signed in 2019 by the airline’s controlling group, Indigo Partners. JetSMART maintains the goal of reaching 100 aircraft by 2026, including fourteen A321XLRs that will allow it to reach destinations in Mexico, the United States and the Caribbean from its bases in Argentina, Peru and Chile.
JetSMART entry into a revolutionized market
The Ultra Low Cost operates four international routes from Chile: Santiago to Bogota, Cali and Medellin; and Antofagasta-Cali. In addition, JetSMART Peru was authorized to operate to seven Colombian cities from Lima, Arequipa and Cusco.
See also: JetSMART Peru receives authorization for international flights
During 2022, Ultra Air became the newest Colombian airline and has transported more than 900,000 passengers so far this year. It currently operates with 6 Airbus A320ceo on fifteen domestic routes and plans to launch its first international routes next year.
See also: Colombia puts the brakes on Avianca and Viva integration
JetSMART’s request came at a time when the local VIVA is processing the rejection of integration with Avianca by Aerocivil. The low cost airline has stated on several occasions that it is going through a complicated financial situation as a consequence of the increase in the price of fuel and inflation, which puts its survival at risk if its agreement with Avianca is not approved.
