To execute this new schedule, LATAM has based 30 Airbus A320ceo aircraft at Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport after receiving a 20% increase in slot allocation (takeoff and landing times) by the Civil Aeronautics. This expansion will allow it to operate up to 1,650 weekly flights during this season, of which 87% will be allocated to domestic routes.
The focus of this seasonal increase is on routes serving tourist and/or ethnic segments. Destinations such as San Andrés, Riohacha, Pasto, Leticia, Pereira, and Cúcuta will see an additional 42 weekly flights compared to the previous season. In the corporate route segment, Bucaramanga and Barranquilla are experiencing the most significant growth, with 14 and 11 additional weekly flights, respectively.
Santiago Álvarez, CEO of LATAM Colombia, highlighted that «Colombia has become the second most important domestic market for the LATAM Group after Brazil, thanks to the sustained growth we have achieved in the last two years. Having close to a third of the seat offering in the country is crucial for us and reaffirms LATAM’s commitment to ensuring competition and stability in the country’s aviation industry.»
More International Flights in Colombia
As for international routes for this season, the Bogotá-Caracas route will be inaugurated in early December 2023. LATAM continues to strengthen its partnership with Delta, with the launch of the Medellín-Miami route and the upcoming opening of Atlanta-Cartagena operated by Delta at the end of December. This strategic focus on improving connectivity with the United States has helped LATAM double its international passenger share in Colombia, reaching nearly 10% of the total in collaboration with Delta.
Álvarez added: «We are confident that today we have a great product and offer a superior travel experience based on three pillars: a world-class product that includes important attributes such as complimentary snacks on domestic flights, onboard WiFi, and an excellent mileage program; the personalization of the experience, giving customers the option to purchase premium cabins on all our flights; and the humanization of the service, reflected in the kindness of our staff and the individual recognition of frequent travelers with personal greetings on board, letting them know how important they are to us.»
