Honduras: SOSA Airlines received a former-Ukrainian Saab 340B

In early October, Honduran Aerolineas Sosa took delivery of a Saab 340B that belonged to a Ukrainian airline.

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The aircraft in question was built in 1991 and will have the Honduran registration HR-HJS, and previously operated for AeroJet, a company based in Odessa, Ukraine. According to the lessor, the aircraft had been in storage since June in Ostrava (OSR), Czech Republic. The delivery flight to La Ceiba Airport was completed with stopovers in the United Kingdom, Iceland, Canada, and the Bahamas.

The HR-HJS has capacity for 34 passengers and will join its first Saab 340B received at the end of 2021, increasing the seating offer considering that it has turboprops with lower capacity.

This new addition joins its three 19-passenger Jetstream 31 (HR-AYQ, HR-AYU and HR-JAS), a 19-seat Jetstream 32 (HR-AXJ) and a 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-100ER (HR-AWW).

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SOSA operates out of La Ceiba (LCE), Roatán (RTB), Tegucigalpa (TGU), San Pedro Sula (SAP) and Puerto Lempira (PLP). It is one of the oldest airlines in Central America with 45 years of history, founded by Juan Antonio Sosa with a Cessna 182.

Prior to the pandemic it operated flights to Útila, Guanaja and Guatemala.

A small country, a big battle of regional airlines

Honduras is one of the most dynamic markets in Central America, with several airlines vying for the domestic and regional market. Mostly with a variety of turboprop aircraft.

The country’s geography, which includes islands and mountain ranges, makes air travel a popular option for Honduran citizens.

The other three airlines competing in this market are:

LANHSA has Jetstream 31 and 41 aircraft with which it connects Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, Roatán, Guanaja (GJA), Puerto Lempira and Utila. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in La Ceiba.

CM Airlines is the most developed company in its thirteen-year history: it operates with LET 410, Embraer 110 and Saab 340B aircraft. It flies to Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, Roatán, Guanaja, Útila (UII), San Pedro Sula and Catacamas in Honduras, in addition to operating in Guatemala and San Salvador. It also has a code share with Air Europa that allows it to reach destinations in the old continent.

Aviatsa Honduras has two Boeing 737-200, operating between Tegucigalpa and Roatán and for charter flights.