Ecuadorian carrier Equair, which launched operations in January last year, requested its first scheduled international routes with the Dirección General de Aviación Civil, the authority in charge of regulating the activity in the South American country.
The company currently operates charter flights between its base at Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) and airports in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. However, the addition of these routes to its scheduled network would allow it to advance its growth plans and consolidate its presence in these markets.
Routes requested by Equair
Within the framework of Decision 582 of the Andean Community, the company requested to operate scheduled commercial passenger, cargo and mail flights between Ecuador and three cities in Colombia.
Firstly, from Quito and Guayaquil to Medellin, with a frequency of up to ten weekly flights. It also requested to be able to market scheduled air services from these two cities to Cartagena and Cali, with a frequency of up to seven weekly operations.
In addition, and outside the States that make up the international organisation, the company requested to fly from Quito and Guayaquil to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with a frequency of up to ten services per week.
While the request does not in itself mean that the company will actually operate these flights on a regular basis, it does demonstrate an intention to expand its activity. No further details are yet known as to when they might begin to be marketed, should the plans go ahead.
Expansion of authorised aircraft models
Equair has applied to cover these routes with Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9 aircraft, under a dry lease arrangement. In this type of contract, the owner of the aircraft provides only the airplane, while the operating company is responsible for providing the pilots, cabin crew and the rest of the employees needed to carry out the operations.
In that sense, the required modification represents an extension of the authorised aircraft models. However, the company currently has a fleet of three Boeing 737-700.
