SKY Airline is taking formal first steps to operate in the United States by applying for permission to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate direct flights from Peru and Chile to the United States. This move marks a crucial step in the airline’s expansion plans.
While the initial operations will be carried out by SKY Peru, the long-term plan includes direct flights from Chile, once the airline incorporates the Airbus A321XLR. The company has not yet announced specific destinations in the U.S., but it is expected to target major cities with significant Latin American communities, primarily in the southern part of the country.
The current fleet of the company includes 28 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft, in addition to 10 units of the A321XLR on order and pending certification and delivery. The operator signed a contract with Airbus in December 2019, when the manufacturer’s intention was to make its first commercial flight in mid-2023.
With the certification campaign still underway, the realistic expectation of operators is to receive them in the second half of 2024.
Upon entering the US market, SKY Airline will compete with major airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, LATAM Airlines, and United Airlines. These companies currently dominate the Chile-US route with wide-body jets.
SKY already operates to Miami from Lima, and the incorporation of the eXtra Long Range would allow it to reach the city of Florida from Santiago de Chile directly, offering an alternative connection not only to Chilean travelers but also to those who choose the Low Cost to make economical trips with connections at the hubs.
