Finally, Colombian Civil Aeronautics (Aerocivil) authorized the start of the certification process for JetSMART Colombia, which will allow the company to operate domestic flights, although with a lower volume than initially requested by the Ultra Low Cost Carrier (ULCC).

In November 2019, the company had requested a total of 111 routes based at El Dorado International Airport (BOG), which serves Bogota, with a fleet of twelve Airbus A320ceo/neo aircraft, with capacity for 186 passengers.

The ULCC had requested to operate flights in Apartado, Arauca, Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Bogota, Cali, Cartagena, Cucuta, Florencia, Leticia, Medellin/Rionegro, Monteria, Neiva, Pasto, Pereira, Riohacha, San Andres, Santa Marta, Valledupar, Villavicencio and Yopal.

In turn, other Colombian cities would benefit from the request: Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena and San Andres will have connections to between 8 and 12 domestic destinations.

See also: JetSMART plans to launch domestic flights in Colombia

JetSMART Colombia’s new request and approval

In the last days of December, in the 105th session of Aerocivil’s Aerocommercial Projects Evaluation Committee (CEPA), it was decided to postpone the decision to authorize JetSMART to provide scheduled passenger, cargo and mail flights within Colombia.

See also: JetSMART in Colombia: Aerocivil postpones decision to authorize domestic flights

CEPA based its decision on the analysis of the petition and the observations presented by different stakeholders at the public hearing. The request included an adjustment in its route network, as it did not have enough aircraft to serve the 111 routes requested.

In the 106th session of the CEPA, held on March 2, the committee recommended the initiation of the process for the certification of JetSMART Colombia and to be able to enter with its services in 27 routes of the domestic market. This recommendation was considered and approved by the aeronautical authority on March 7.

The details of the 27 authorized routes are:

Bogota: Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Cucuta, Medellin/Rionegro, Monteria, Pasto, Pereira, San Andres and Santa Marta.
Medellín: Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, Cúcuta, Montería, Pasto, Pereira, San Andrés and Santa Marta.
Cali: Cartagena.
Cartagena: Cúcuta, Pereira and San Andrés.
Pereira: Bucaramanga and Cúcuta.
Barranquilla: Cúcuta.

In addition, it was reported that it will incorporate seven Airbus A320neo as of March 2024, although this scheme could be accelerated depending on demand.

Estuardo Ortiz, CEO and President of JetSMART, said: «It is excellent news that CEPA and AEROCIVIL have approved our application to enter 27 domestic routes, as well as the beginning of JetSMART’s certification as a Colombian airline.  With this we will immediately start the process and will work hand in hand with AEROCIVIL to be able to comply with all the requirements in the shortest time possible.»

«We have a clear and firm commitment with Colombia’s connectivity and we want to add more flights at low prices as soon as possible. We have the experience of certification in Chile, Peru and Argentina, which we comply with rigorously and in record time. We are already an established airline with more than 18 million passengers in the region since our inception, providing quality service and point-to-point routes, so we hope to be able to add aircraft and routes in 2023,» he concluded.

JetSMART’s entry into a revolutionized market

The Ultra Low Cost operates three international routes from Chile: Santiago to Bogota and Cali; and Antofagasta-Cali. In addition, JetSMART Peru was authorized to operate to seven Colombian cities from Lima, Arequipa and Cusco.

See also: JetSMART Peru requests international flights permissions to Colombian Authorities 

JetSMART’s request came at a time when local VIVA ceased operations after Aerocivil rejected its request for integration with Avianca.

During 2022, Ultra Air joined the Colombian domestic market. It currently operates six Airbus A320ceo on fifteen domestic routes and plans to launch its first international routes next year.

JetSMART fleet plans for 2023

JetSMART’s South American fleet consists of eleven Airbus A320ceo, ten A320neo and three A321neo.

In 2023, JetSMART will receive 14 additional A320neo and A321neo aircraft to be distributed among the three countries and/or an eventual fourth country.

All these aircraft are part of an order for more than 400 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 the carrier to reach destinations in Mexico, the United States and the Caribbean from its hubs in Argentina, Peru and Chile.