A JetSMART Airbus A320 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Pablo Diaz)
On November 24, a Public Hearing by the Colombian Aeronautical Authority (Aerocivil) will be held, where it will be revealed that JetSMART requested to open a subsidiary in Colombia to operate 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, Medellin/Rionegro and San Andres.
By the end of 2022, JetSMART’s South American fleet will consist of eleven Airbus A320ceo, ten A320neo and three A321neo. By 2023, the company would receive 14 additional A320neo and A321neo aircraft to be distributed among the three countries and/or an eventual fourth country.
All these planes are part of an order for more than 430 Airbus A320 family aircraft signed in 2019 by the airline’s controlling group, Indigo Partners, from which ninety would be transferred to JetSMART. The company maintains the goal of reaching one hundred 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.
The Chilean branch of the Ultra-Low-Cost operates four international routes to Colombia: 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.
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.
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 because of the increase in the price of fuel and inflation, which puts its survival at risk if its agreement with Avianca is not approved.
This article was originally published by Gastón Sena on Aviacionline in syndication with AirlineGeeks.
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