Colombia: Avianca set to buy Viva

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:54 AM ET

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An Avianca A321 prepares for its next flight at LAX. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

On the night of April 28, several rumors began to gain momentum regarding a decision that will revolutionize the Latin American airline market in general, and the Colombian market in particular: Avianca reached an agreement to acquire Viva, a domestic competitor with international projection.

According to the testimony of sources consulted by Aviacionline, we can confirm that Viva accepted the offer, and that its president informed employees of the company’s next steps in a virtual conference.

Following the various administrative processes and the necessary governmental approval, an interim board of directors will be established to work on the areas of interest of the transaction.

According to these sources, the approvals and due diligence of the deal are expected to take approximately twelve months. After that period, the companies will maintain their brands and some operational independence.

According to sources, the transaction seeks to establish an alliance, rather than a full merger. Viva’s management stresses that Avianca’s interest is a validation of the work done and a recognition that a consolidation strategy will allow it to gain strength to gain a foothold in a market as competitive as the Colombian one.

It is speculated that at midnight Colombian time, official announcements from both Avianca and Viva confirming the agreement will be made.

From two key players to a mega player

In 2021, according to information compiled by Aviacionline through Aerocivil, Avianca captured 36.1% of the domestic market in Colombia, being the market leader. Viva ranked third, with 21.8%.

This article was written by Pablo Diaz for Aviacoionline.

Jack Dawin

Peruvian Government Works to Improve Airports in Northern Peru

Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:43 AM ET

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Jack Dawin

Inside Lima's airport terminal. (Photo: VasenkaPhotography - https://www.flickr.com/photos/vasenka/8722356428/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26698429)

Aeropuertos del Perú (AdP), a concessionaire of 12 airports in Peru, announced the beginning of works at Piura airport and revealed the work progress at the Chiclayo airport.

Piura’s Airport Project

AdP signed the contract for the Technical File preparation of the project ” Capitán FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico Airport’s Passenger Terminal Construction and Aircraft Platform Expansion”. This project will cost to the Peruvian Government around $36 million investment.

In a press release, AdP’s CEO, Evans Avendaño, pointed out that “the technical file for this investment will contemplate the detailed engineering of the passenger terminal expansion with the aim of being able to increase the passengers flow, the aircraft capacity attention during peak hours, as well as improving service levels for users in general and strengthening airport security standards, within the current Concession areas”.

“This will contribute to improving Piura’s connectivity for the entire Region, by promoting tourism, trade, and business,” he concluded.

These improvements will allow Piura to host between 18 and 20 daily flights, mobilizing around one and a half million people a year. The studies also include the Environmental Management Instrument elaboration, which establishes the recommendations and mitigation measures to address the environmental impacts that may originate in the execution of the work.

This infrastructure expansion will increase passenger capacity and the number of air operations, which will increase the commercial flow in this area of the country, as well as the number of national and international tourists. It is important to remember that Piura’s airport currently has 2.5 kilometers long by 45 meters wide runway and a parking platform for aircraft measuring 140 meters by 80 meters for 2 PEA – Class C aircraft.

Chiclayo Airport Works Progress Positively

The works to improve the José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzales International Airport’s runway system and perimeter fence have been advancing positively. In a press release, the Peruvian government indicated that these works will benefit 700,000 people. These will favor passengers, merchants, operators, and other people who use the airport’s infrastructure.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), through the concessionaire Aeropuertos del Perú (AdP), has invested more than $43 million so far in the works. The objective is to expand and improve the airport’s operational capacity, with high-quality service standards, which will allow connectivity and decentralization promotion of air transport in Peru. Among the works in the execution stage is the runway’s reconstruction along its 112,500 square meters.

In addition to this, the aircraft parking platform is being rebuilt in an approximate area of 18,668 square meters. Likewise, the rehabilitation and expansion of the perimeter fence with a length of 8,513 meters are being carried out. Added to this, more than 96 thousand square meters of taxiways are being improved, as well as the drainage and sewage system, the lighting aid system, provisional signage, and definitive signage in the Peruvian Air Force area.

The work contributes to the Peruvian economy promotion since its execution has meant the generation of 600 direct jobs and 2,400 indirect jobs. Currently, the accumulated progress of this work is at 38%.

Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio

The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.

Allegiant Air Announces New Base in Provo Utah

Chase Hagl

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:39 AM ET

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Jack Dawin

Allegiant's "Winter The Dolphin" livery departing for a flight (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

On Tuesday, ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air announced plans to open a new four-aircraft base at Provo Municipal Airport (PVU) in Utah County, Utah. Possible through an investment of $95 million, the airline is set to begin base operations on November 16th later this year, and is expected to create upwards of 157 high-wage jobs for the community.

The $95 million investment will go towards the necessary equipment, infrastructure, employees and supplies that will be needed to establish its base operations.

The base announcement comes at a time of rapid expansion and growth for the Las Vegas-based airline. Earlier this year, the carrier announced an order of 50 Boeing 737 aircraft comprising a mix of 737-7 and 737-8-200 models—with the option for a further 50 aircraft.

Allegiant Air, a subsidiary of Allegiant Travel Co., focuses on linking travelers in small to medium-sized cities to leisure destinations, thus making Provo the perfect fit.

“Unlike most airlines which operate on a hub-and-spoke system, we fly an ‘out and back’ network where crews originate at a base, do their day of flying and return to base every night. This is also a benefit for our crew members, who get to sleep in their own beds at night, see their families and truly live in their base communities,” according to Allegiant leaders.

Allegiant is no stranger to the Utah County area. Beginning operations at Provo in 2013, the carrier remains the only commercial airline operating out of the airport, currently offering eight non-stop routes – Austin and Houston, Texas; St. Pete-Clearwater, Florida; Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona; and Palm Springs, Los Angeles and Orange County, California. Since operations began, Allegiant has flown more than 700,000 passengers through Provo.

“Allegiant Air has found a following with their unique brand of travel focused on low-cost, nonstop flights to popular destinations without the hassle of layovers and connections,” said Brian Torgersen, interim Provo Airport manager. “We are pleased to launch a new era of travel at the Provo Airport, with Allegiant’s base operations expansion being key to our future success.”

Allegiant’s announcement comes just weeks before Provo is set to open its doors to its newest terminal. Breaking ground in November of 2019, the new terminal features four gates with the possibility to expand to 10 gates in the future. At a price tag of $55 million, the goal of the additional 70,000 sq ft of new terminal space is to attract some explosive growth in commercial air service.

City officials, pleased by Tuesday’s announcement, as they say Provo Airport has moved up to being the state’s second busiest airport as it grows.

“We’re delighted to grow alongside Provo, a market with phenomenal growth and convenient access to some of Utah’s most treasured destinations,” said Keith Hansen, Allegiant’s vice president of government affairs. “Allegiant understands the value of Provo Airport. Building on the success of eight existing routes at PVU, our investment means having locally-based aircraft and crews, opening the door for future new destination opportunities for residents.”

Chase Hagl

Chase Hagl grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho. His love and passion for Aviation landed him in Orem, Utah where he obtained a B.S. in Aviation Management with a minor in Business Management from Utah Valley University. Chase currently works as a flight attendant in Charleston, SC and is also the primary Inflight ASAP ERC representative for startup airline, Breeze Airways. His experience in the aviation industry spans back four years, working in areas including agriculture application, customer service, maintenance, and flight ops. In his free time, Chase enjoys road biking, astronomy, and flying.

Schiphol Airport Asks Airlines to Cancel Flights Due to Staff Shortages

John Flett

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 11:33 AM ET

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Edited By:

Jack Dawin

A KLM A330-300 touching down in Amsterdam (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

One of Europe’s busiest airports is set to have further disruption this weekend after an unannounced baggage handlers strike caused chaos last weekend. According to Reuters Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport is seeking to prevent repeat scenes at the airport similar to those experienced on 23 April by asking airlines to manage aircraft movements.

Reuters reports that due to staff shortages Schiphol has “asked airlines to reduce the number of locally departing passengers this weekend by cancelling bookings, and not accepting new bookings from Schiphol in the period from 2 to 8 May.” This period coincides with the early May holiday period in many countries within Europe.

In an email to the news agency, Schiphol stated, “This is an annoying but necessary measure to reduce the number of passengers.” Dutch airline KLM has its hub at the Amsterdam airport and is expected to cancel some flights on Friday. Further information on future cancellations from KLM and other airlines was not immediately forthcoming and passengers were advised to contact their airlines.

The hub nature of KLM’s operation at Schiphol means that there is potential for significant disruptions to passenger journeys. It would be assumed that cancellations will be done strategically leveraging the codeshare and alliance agreements with other carriers operating to and from Schiphol to minimize passenger disruption.

As previously reported in Airline Geeks dozens of flights were cancelled at Schiphol on 23 April when baggage handlers staged the unannounced strike. Saturday’s disruption coincided with the first day of the school holidays and overwhelmed the airport. At midday, on Saturday the airport authorities issued a statement that read: “The terminal is too full at the moment … Schiphol is calling on travellers not to come to the airport anymore.”

Delays around the airport meant that police had to close highway exits to the airport for a brief time according to Reuters. The KLM ground handlers did return to work on Saturday afternoon and though the airport did lift the temporary call for travellers not to head to the airport three hours later, passengers were still subjected to lengthy delays.

In a statement following Saturday’s disruption, KLM said, “The discussions between the management board and the employees concerned addressed topics including staff shortages, mounting work pressure and job retention in the long term. These discussions will of course continue in the coming period.”

Staff shortages resulting in flight cancellations have been a feature of the aviation industry’s post-pandemic restart around the world. Airlines, airports and associated industries have been struggling to recruit to match the upsurge in traveller demand as governments eased or removed travel restrictions with minimal notice.

John Flett

John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry. During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team who created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff balancing a mix of corporate and social content. John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. John has held the positions of course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university. In addition he is contracted as an external instructor for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and has been a member of the Heathrow Community Fund’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.

Pacific Airshow Heading Down Under

Mike Mangano

Friday, April 29, 2022 at 07:32 AM ET

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Jack Dawin

Pacific Airshow Gold Coast launch, Surfers Paradise, Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - Picture: Wings PR

Australia is set to host its biggest air show in history after Pacific Airshow announced it will head down next year. The announcement, made on a rather rainy Wednesday, April 27, stated that the massive event will take place over the sandy beaches of Surfers Paradise, Queensland in August 2023. It is the start of an initial five-year commitment that will bring an unprecedented experience from California’s Huntington Beach to Australia’s iconic Gold Coast.

Pacific Airshow, which launched six years ago at Huntington Beach in Southern California, has featured performances from display teams such as the US Navy Blue Angels, USAF Thunderbirds, and the RAF Red Arrows. A media release stated, “Pacific Airshow is all about maximizing the adrenalin rush as the world’s best aviators push to the edge of what’s possible.” The event has received wide acclaim having been the only air show in North America to host three military aerobatic jet teams from three different countries.

The unique event, which draws 3 million visitors to California each year, is welcome news for the recently resuscitated Australian tourism industry. According to analysts, Pacific Airshow injected an overall $105 million into the Huntington Beach economy in 2019 alone, a result that is expected to be similar for Pacific Airshow Gold Coast.

A Different Airshow

Binding the ties between Australia and the United States, Pacific Airshow will be the largest air show in Australian history. While Australia hosts many air shows each year, Pacific Airshow is unique. The largest air shows in Australia are often true to their definition – an event targeting an audience comprised almost exclusively of aviation enthusiasts. By contrast, Pacific Airshow aims to entertain a much broader audience that caters to entire families, capitalizing on the holiday hotspot of the Gold Coast.

Speaking to Airline Geeks, CEO of event organizer Code Four and Pacific Airshow Director Kevin Elliot stated, “this is not your grandparents’ dusty old air show,” adding that the show will include some surprises. Saying that he couldn’t elaborate on too much yet, he explained “Pacific Airshow has invited participation from all allied nations,” including the previously mentioned Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, and the United Arab Emirates Al Fursan display teams to name a few.

Pacific Airshow promises a vast range of demonstrations that will be of great interest to all in attendance, with less focus on static displays and more on the action up above. This will include the latest fighter jets, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35, the latest in manned and unmanned drone technology, and what could very well be a demonstration of Urban Air Mobility technology. All this will be in addition to civilian displays and, hinted to Airline Geeks, the possibility of jet-packs. In 2019, Pacific Airshow held the first jet-pack race at Huntington Beach.

Additionally, the show will feature Australian Air Race champion and former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot Matt Hall, who has been signed as the event’s first ambassador.

A Family-Friendly Event

Over its history, Pacific Airshow has garnered a family-friendly reputation. Director Kevin Elliot revealed a surprising statistic: during that history “not a single arrest has been made,” adding, “crime goes down when we look up.” Comparing Pacific Airshow to other events in Huntington Beach, he stated that not only was the event free of crime but that the location was left cleaner than at the start.

In addition to a display of aerobatics overhead, the three-day lifestyle festival will incorporate a vast entertainment and hospitality program, A-lister parties and exclusive VIP meet and greet events. “This will be an annual event that will feature the finest aerobatic teams and performers from around the globe as well as inspiring educational STEM activities, music, entertainment and much more,” Kevin Elliot added.

While the show has a reputation as the number one recruiting show for defense, it broadens its audience for all the family by increasing commercial involvement, meaning an enhanced experience that air shows of a more voluntary nature are unable to deliver.

Pacific Airshow is expected to draw attendees from around the world, with specific dates to be released in August 2022.

Mike Mangano

Mike’s love affair with flight and mechanical objects in the sky began at an early age, fascinated by space documentaries and the vintage Flight Simulator ’95. He currently works as an instructor for UAVs and is training to receive his Private Pilot Licence with the goal of working in manned flight instruction. An avid reader of all things aviation and manned space flight, Mike stays close to developments in aerospace while reminiscing and sharing the rich history of flight with others. He loves writing, engineering and science.

Chinese Aviation Market Hits Lows Not Seen Since 2003

Lei Yan

Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 07:00 AM ET

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Parker Davis

China Eastern's flagship Boeing 777-300ER at Shanghai's Pudong Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Albert Kuan)

Since April, China’s Aviation Market has been maneuvering at historical low traffic, levels the country hasn’t seen since 2003. Daily flights currently number between 1,000 and 2,000, which is not even the level of traffic during 2021 for Guangzhou’s Baiyun Airport alone.

The traffic level is comparable to that of the country’s aviation market in 2003 as it continued to recover from a SARS outbreak. The widespread Covid-19 Omicron variant and the fear brought about by the crash of China Easter MU5735 have discouraged the public from traveling in recent weeks. And as a result, several airlines are struggling to maintain their cash flow, meaning 2022 could turn out to be a worse year for China’s aviation market than 2020.

Historic Low

The nation’s aviation market has been running low since the end of March. At that time, Shanghai went into a full lockdown, driven by the spread of Covid-19. The city is the largest aviation hub in China, with two mega airports, Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport. Both airports are among the largest in the world and contribute a substantial amount of traffic to the country’s national totals.

In April, other major cities in China — including Guangzhou, Beijing, and Chengdu — have all spotted minor spread of Covid-19. Travel restrictions against the residents of those cities further decreased the confidence of the traveling public.

A China Southern Airlines Boeing 777-300ER departing from Los Angeles airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

International flights have been running at an extremely low level since the beginning of the pandemic, with less than 5% of traffic operating compared to the same period in 2019. China’s harsh quarantine requirement for international travelers and a limited number of flights would not be a positive force to help lift the market. Regional flights between mainland China and Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan were running low as well, especially after a major Covid-19 outbreak in Hong Kong in February.

A Trying Time

The carriers are experiencing extreme difficulties running their business. So far, the Chinese government has not issued any subsidy for carriers affected by the pandemic. And in addition, fuel charges, a cost that continues fluctuating alongside large swings in international oil prices, have been lifted a number of times, trending upward from $3 to up to around $20 per seat operated. Considering the extremely low traffic right now, the increase in oil fees has been marginal for troubled carriers compared to other fixed costs.

The employees of airlines and airports are also feeling the chill of the market. Multiple airlines have reportedly given to notice their employees that their salaries in April will be delayed. Additionally, many employees’ salaries are directly linked to the performance of the airline or airport they work for.

Measures are being taken by the authority to relieve the stress on carriers and airports. The government is chartering flights to transport the medical workers to assist with Covid-19 hotspots. According to internal sources, large, state-owned carriers like Air China, China Southern and China Eastern are preparing to deliver extra funds to subsidiaries that are struggling more than others. As this round of Covid-19 outbreak trends down, airlines are also hoping travelers are getting ready to get back on a plane again.

Lei Yan

Lei is from Inner Mongolia, China, and now lives in Guangzhou. He grew up in an aviation family, where his passion began. During his time at Penn State University, he studied Industrial Engineering specializing in operations research, and he graduated with an honor’s thesis on airport gate assignment optimization. Now, he is a Purchasing Manager with Procter & Gamble. In his free time, he enjoys flying, reading, and wandering around the city.

KLM Receives Blame from Unions for Strikes, Chaos at Schiphol Airport this Weekend

Putu Deny Wijaya

Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 06:00 AM ET

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Parker Davis

A KLM Boeing 747-400M at the gate in Amsterdam. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Tom Pallini)

With Dutch schools closing for the May holiday on Friday, Schiphol Airport was gearing up for its biggest weekend since Covid-19 broke out in March 2020. The Dutch airport had already advised travelers in the run-up to the weekend that they could expect large crowds and long lines throughout the airport: “Travelers can expect longer than usual waiting times due to the increased number of visitors and the paucity of employees.”

According to spokeswoman Dennis Muller, the airport is preparing to receive a comparable number of passengers as in the pre-pandemic period. Between April 23 and May 8, an average of 174,000 people per day are expected at Schiphol, with “very busy days, such as weekends, reaching up to 200,000 travelers,” according to Muller.

Unions have warned that unless KLM tackles staffing shortages, the summer will be chaotic. On Saturday, passengers confronted huge lines. Unions have warned that the tumultuous events at Schiphol airport this weekend could be repeated unless KLM resolves their issues over working conditions before the summer.

Travelers Stranded, Flights Delayed Due to KLM Strike.

However, things did not go as planned due to a strike by KLM luggage handlers, which resulted in thousands of passengers being stranded. Around 150 ground crew members staged a walkout around 6 a.m. Saturday, preventing bags from being loaded or unloaded on separate aircraft. On Saturday morning, baggage handlers launched a six-hour strike, causing two days of delays and cancellations at the start of the May school break, one of the busiest weeks of the year for the local travel industry.

Other means of transportation were impacted by the strike, with all Eurostar trains sold out and access roads to Schiphol shut down while about 150 flights were canceled over the weekend. Staff frustration boiled over, according to unions, when KLM sent out an email last week warning them of plans to outsource some baggage handling duties.

“In 2020, KLM left all the flexible workers in the lurch on the premise that they will come back,” said Michiel Wallaard, a CNV Vakmensen executive in a statement. “The management has done little to improve their attractiveness as an employer.”

Concerns about the travel industry Baggage handlers have demanded that their salary be increased from 11.50 euros ($12.14) per hour – barely above the minimum wage of 11.06 euros per hour – to 14, and their workload be reduced.

After a few hours, Schiphol advised any customers booked on flights before 3 p.m. to avoid going to the airport at all, as staff worked to compensate for the strikes’ delays. “This is an extreme and highly inconvenient precaution that Schiphol has to adopt in the interest of safety,” the airport wrote on its website.

The news that some of the employees’ duties would soon be outsourced to Viggo, an external luggage handling company, sparked the KLM walkout. According to the Dutch Trade Union Confederation (FNV), this revelation was “the final straw” for workers who had already complained about poor pay and flexible contracts and were now concerned that they would lose their jobs soon.

One of the goals of outsourcing employment, according to KLM, is to relieve stress on employees. The turbulence, along with a jump in bookings following two years of pandemic restrictions, is expected to cause problems during peak season, according to Frans Oostdam, chair of the travel trade group ANVR.

“It’s up to the airlines and Schiphol to make sure everything is in order, but I’m not convinced they’ll be able to do it,” Oostdam said told local outlet the Telegraaf. High sickness absence due to coronavirus infections is causing gaps in employee rotas and putting additional strain on coworkers, with unions FNV and De Unie threatening more strikes if the problems are not rectified quickly.

“There is a lot of discontent, but the administration appears to have little grasp of it,” said Reinier Castelein, a spokeswoman for De Unie. “This type of communication to management has widespread support throughout many divisions. It appears to be a case of corporate indifference.”

Various unions have blamed the chaotic scenes at the Netherlands’ major airport on KLM management after a workers’ strike left customers suffering substantial delays and cancelled flights at Schiphol over the weekend: “[They’re] not putting any effort into improving their employer appeal.”

KLM Management Receives Blame from Dutch Unions

The FNV has blamed KLM management for the strike and the resulting disruption, stating De Telegraaf that management lacks a “social antenna.” Michiel Wallaard of CNV Vakmensen supported this sentiment, saying, “Management is putting no energy into becoming more desirable as an employer again.” They have no idea how to make room for improvements [for workers].”

While the walkout was called off after only a few hours, KLM has yet to reach an agreement with its employees, according to FNV. Various travel organizations cautioned De Telegraaf that if these concerns and KLM’s employee shortages are not rectified immediately, it could lead to more drama and disturbance at Schiphol, particularly during the summer.

Putu Deny Wijaya

Putu Deny Wijaya was always an aviation enthusiast by heart, growing up in Indonesia where air transport is very vital. His first love is The Queen of The Skies, serving the trunk routes between Jakarta and Denpasar. He brought along this passion with him throughout college by conducting his bachelor study abroad in the Netherlands for the purpose of experiencing a nonstop 14-hour long-haul flight. For Putu the sky's the limit when talking about aviation. He hopes that he would be able to combine his passion for aviation and knowledge of finance at the same time.

Sky Airline Plans Route Network Expansion in Peru

Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 08:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A SKY Airlines A321XLR mock-up (Photo: Airbus)

Sky Airline — the Santiago, Chile-based low-cost airline — will complete three years of operations in Peru this month and currently has a 20% share of the Peruvian market. José Raúl Vargas, Sky Airline’s CEO in Peru, told Gestión that the balance in these three years of operation has been very positive despite the pandemic.

Sky has transported 3.5 million passengers since it began operations in Peru, making 23,000 flights nationwide. The airline was able to consolidate itself as the second operator in the Peruvian market 5 months after its operations began.

Currently, Sky Airline is at 80 percent recovery, which has been increasing steadily. After announcing the new route from Lima, Peru to Miami, Sky plans to continue increasing its network of national and international destinations.

Thus, Sky Airline aims to close the year in its Peruvian subsidiary by adding 10 international destinations and 3 to 4 new destinations on domestic flights. This objective will depend on how the capacity restriction progresses at airports and schedules.

The low-cost carrier has been flying to 12 destinations and the idea is to increase to 3 or 4 new destinations. According to Vargas, the decision will depend on several variables, and at least two more destinations will be added this year.

Likewise, the airline would not only be increasing new destinations but would also increase the number of daily flights from the destinations it already has in its network. Regarding international operations, Sky flies from Lima, Peru to Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires Argentina; Punta Cana, The Dominican Republic and Cancun, Mexico.

On April 30, the low-cost airline will begin operating its fifth international destination, which will be Bogotá, Colombia, and by the end of June or the beginning of July, it will be flying to Miami. In addition, the carrier will add six international routes from Lima, Peru. Now, the airline is analyzing adding between three to six international destinations.

According to Vargas, the carrier’s goal is to finish the year with at least 10 international destinations.

Sky Airline’s Fleet Plans

This year new competitors join the Peruvian market: Volaris and JetSMART. In that sense, the airline trusts that they will not be affected by the entry of new competitors to the Peruvian air market.

In regards to the carrier’s fleet, the low-cost airline expects to end the year with 13 aircraft. It is important to remember that in 2021, Sky ended with 5 aircraft.

The 13 planes that are planned to be added to Sky Airline’s Peruvian subsidiary. Eight would be used for domestic operations and five will be used for international flights. Vargas pointed out that, in 2024, 10 long-range Airbus aircraft will be arriving in Chile and Peru, whose greater capacity and range will allow the carrier to make long trips.

Thus, it is in the airline’s plans to fly to destinations such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orlando, Fla. Sky also plans to fly to more destinations in Mexico and Brazil.

The carrier would be the first low-cost airline in South America to receive this type of aircraft. This type of aircraft allows to travel 8,700 kilometers and fly for up to nine hours.

Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio

Qatar Airways Launches Qverse, Steps into Metaverse Realm

Victor Shalton

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 07:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

Photo: Qatar Airways

The Metaverse — an immersive world combining virtual reality and augmented reality — is where users are represented by avatars and roam virtual spaces. The virtual spaces are being built as an alternative digital world where consumers can interact and even own digital products.

The internet opened up a vast new world of opportunity, and creators and companies are hoping the Metaverse can do the same thing. The national carrier of the State of Qatar is the first global airline to introduce a MetaHuman cabin crew offering a digital interactive customer experience.

The airline recently entered the Metaverse through the launch of QVerse — a novel virtual reality experience for visitors to the airline’s website.

The website can now virtually tour and navigate the Premium Check-in area at Doha, Qatar’s Hamad International Airport, the cabin interior of the airline’s aircraft, including the carrier’s Business Class Qsuite and the Economy Class cabin, using their personal electronic devices.

In a statement to the press, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker said, “With physical boundaries beginning to be challenged by the metaverse on an increasingly larger scale, it is exciting to embrace a technology that enables all travel enthusiasts to enjoy a uniquely immersive experience of our award-winning products and services.”

“Our status as the first airline to introduce a MetaHuman cabin crew is a testament to our unwavering desire to innovate and delight our customers. We are constantly looking forward to adopting and introducing novel technologies that enhance our passengers’ complete journey,” Al Baker added.

Why Metaverse

It is no secret the coronavirus pandemic decimated the airline industry, and airlines alike needed an infusion of funds or a bailout just to survive.

The industry — faced with an existential crisis — needed to reinvent itself since more people had turned to virtual meetings and weren’t flying as much anymore. Perhaps, this could explain why we’ve seen such a sudden flux of investment into the Metaverse industry.

Emirates also plans to invest about $10 million to build its signature brand experience in the Metaverse. Meanwhile, other major competing carriers like Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa and Qantas are also trying to get a piece of the Metaverse. Some airlines are even exploring special edition NFTs.

Limitless Potential

A JP Morgan white paper stated that opportunities in the Metaverse seem “limitless.” The bank predicted that virtual worlds will “infiltrate every sector in some ways in the coming years.”

A report by Citi concluded that the Metaverse has the potential to become a $13 trillion opportunity by 2030, with total global users of between one and five billion.

The Metaverse is opening up a whole new digital economy. However, the question of whether travelers will be enticed with the Metaverse still lingers.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Monterrey Airport Seeks to Become Mexico’s Next International Hub

Albert Kuan

Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 12:02 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Monterrey International Airport in the northeast region of Mexico is seeking to become the next hub for the country and Latin America. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Albert Kuan)

Due to crowded skies stressing Mexico City’s Benito Juárez Airport, Monterrey International Airport in the northeast region of Mexico is seeking to become the next hub for the country and Latin America. The airport authority for Monterrey Airport, Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte (OMA), announced it is seeking to position the airport as the main international hub for Mexico in light of the oversaturation seen in Mexico City’s airport.

“What we are looking for is to position the Monterrey airport as an alternative (to Mexico City),” Ricardo Dueñas, OMA’s director, said in a press statement.

“The government has been clear in seeking a process of decentralization of traffic, that is why we are betting. We want to make Monterrey the most important ‘hub’ in the country, or one of the most important.”

Benito Juárez Airport has been operating at maximum capacity for the past decade and is overwhelmed in its capacity to meet the high demand for flights. Its infrastructure is not enough to continue sustaining most of Mexico’s air operations.

Felipe Ángeles Airport, which opened last month, has been planned by the Mexican government to alleviate the load on Benito Juárez Airport, but there are doubts whether that would come to fruition.

The new airport has demonstrated its operational capacity and state-of-art facilities to become a large hub for both international and domestic travel, however, the Mexican government has been unsuccessful at attracting any foreign airlines to open service to the Mexico City gateway thus far.

Travelers out of the new airport have also noted the distance, difficulty and high cost to reach the airport. The airport currently only operates a small number of flights per day to a few destinations within the country.

OMA’s Master Development Plan would invest more than 12 billion Mexican Pesos in the next five years to upgrade and expand the airport, including building a new concourse for low-cost carriers. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Albert Kuan)

Seeing this disadvantage and with already established flights to the U.S. and Europe, Monterrey Airport wants to become the next great connection center, above Mexico City, for departing, arriving and connecting travelers.

Dueñas highlighted OMA’s Master Development Plan for the airport which would invest more than 12 billion Mexican Pesos (approximately 592 million U.S. Dollars) in the next five years to upgrade and expand the airport in Mexico’s Nuevo León state.

Dueñas indicated that OMA wants to be part of the decentralization process of Benito Juárez Airport’s operations. For this reason, the group has put all its efforts into making Monterrey Airport one of the main airports in Mexico, if not the main one. Dueñas indicated that the efforts, expectations and investment plan are focused on meeting this goal.

The new infrastructure proposed by the plan for Monterrey airport would allow OMA to increase the airport’s flight slot capacity by 50 percent.

The airport authority’s plans have already been coming into fruition since last year with construction taking place to expand terminal space and facilities, widen roadways and establish fixed ground transportation to Monterrey’s city center.

Monterrey Airport will also soon be inaugurating a new concourse dedicated to low-cost carriers both domestic and international. Dueñas explained the new concourse is being dedicated to low-cost carriers as they have shown a faster recovery than full-service airlines during Covid-19, especially in Mexico.

Low-cost carriers currently represent three-quarters of the airport’s international and domestic traffic, with a majority of flights being operated by hometown carrier VivaAerobus. Volaris, the second-largest airline in Mexico, also operates a number of flights from the airport and maintains a crew base in Monterrey.

This year alone, Monterrey Airport has managed to secure twice-weekly service to Madrid, Spain through Aeromexico. In addition, two U.S. airlines – Spirit and Frontier – will start flying from Monterrey to connect with Las Vegas, Houston and Austin in June 2022. However, the airport also lost a non-stop Aeromexico connection to Seoul, South Korea, a one-way stopover from Mexico City, due to Covid-19.

With frequent service to different airports in the country, the only key player Monterrey Airport has to bring over to become a major international hub is Aeromexico. Aeromexico, however, has indicated its commitment to enhancing its position at Benito Juárez Airport and expanding its operations out of Mexico City.

However, nothing is off the table for Aeromexico as the airline has been known to reverse firm decisions made by its directors in the past. The airline at first rejected flying to Felipe Ángeles Airport saying there was virtually no demand there, but changed course a month before the airport’s opening in March, announcing flights to Mérida and Villahermosa. Subsequently, the airline announced flights to Puerto Vallarta less than a month after the airport’s opening.

Albert Kuan

Most people hate long flights or overnight layovers, but Albert loves them. The airport and flying parts of traveling are the biggest highlights of any trip for him – as this avgeek always gets a thrill from sampling different airline cabin products and checking out regional developments happening at local U.S. airports. He’s flown on almost every major carrier in the U.S. and Asia Pacific, and he hopes to try out the new A350s soon. Albert recently completed his undergraduate studies in Business Accounting at USC in Los Angeles and he is currently recruiting for a corporate analyst position at one of the U.S. legacy carriers. During his college years, he interned at LAX for Los Angeles World Airports working behind-the-scenes (and on the ramp) in public relations and accounting. Outside of writing for AirlineGeeks, he enjoys trekking the Hollywood hills, visiting new hotspots throughout SoCal, and doing the occasional weekender on Spirit Airlines.