On January 26, 2018, Flybondi’s inaugural flight took place, and whether you enjoy or despise the low-cost model, it is undeniable that that day marked a historic event for Argentine commercial aviation, which remained until then the largest Latin American market without any local company operating under it.
As a symbol of the times to come, the first flight was not from Buenos Aires, but connecting two inland cities: Cordoba and Puerto Iguazu.
In that opportunity, I took part in the inaugural flight after paying ARS 962 for the round trip ticket between both cities (about USD 52 at that time). And not only that, but I was the first passenger to be checked in the history of the company. #AvGeek treats one indulges in. After me, another 3,799,999 followed.
Arrancó el check in del primer vuelo regular de @flybondioficial…. Y quien les escribe fue el primer pasajero en ser chequeado #DespegaFlybondi pic.twitter.com/MuPH4GITyM
— Aviacionline.com (@aviacionline) January 26, 2018
No one would have imagined all that would happen in Argentine aviation, Argentina itself, and the world in the following years. But even then, the yellow low-cost carrier with an unusual name is still flying and has just recovered its pre-pandemic capacity as it prepares to double its fleet by mid-year (today it has five Boeing 737-800s).
In these photos we invite you to relive Flybondi’s first inaugural operation, and, below, the video report we made:
«We are extremely proud to celebrate 4 years since the company flew for the first time. If we look back and review our history year by year, it is really exciting and unbelievable because of everything we have experienced and achieved. The most important thing I want to highlight about this anniversary is that today, four years later, we are strong and with a very solid plan to grow backed by our passengers,» commented Mauricio Sana, CEO of Flybondi, through a statement released today in commemoration of its 4th anniversary.
«Bringing the freedom of flying to the whole country and the region continues to be our purpose of every working day. That is why every person who tells us that they were able to fly for the first time in their lives, or to know a place in the country, or to be reunited with their family or friends, is the most simple and powerful sign that we are achieving what we are looking for and that gives us immense happiness. We are striving for more options for people to fly with a quality, safe service and low fares», he added.
To celebrate this date, Flybondi launched a promotion for Flybondi Club members: it offers a 50% discount for new members and a 40% discount on tickets for all members, on flights from April to June 2022.
The ultra low-cost company currently has more than 620 employees and its network reaches 14 destinations within Argentina (Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Corrientes, Córdoba, Jujuy, Mendoza, Neuquén, Posadas, Iguazú, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Trelew, Tucumán and Ushuaia) and four abroad (Florianópolis, Río de Janeiro, São Paulo and Punta del Este).
