Antonio Rama, Executive Director and Founder, revealed yesterday publicly through a note addressed to government authorities details about the upcoming airline of Uruguay, which will be called Sociedad Uruguaya de Aviación (SUA), also describing its ambitious plans.
The executive, in anticipation of presenting documents to secure airline rights, intends to operate from the Carrasco International Airport (MVD) in Montevideo as its hub.
Initially, the fleet will consist of six Airbus aircraft which will be incorporated over a period of 18 months. The airline intends to expand its Airbus fleet to ten aircraft over the next three years, projecting that this expansion will generate 300 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs in Uruguay.
Although no specific destinations were revealed in the announcement, SUA expressed a focus on Airbus models and hinted at alternative commercial projects beyond commercial flights.
SUA’s aspirations include obtaining approval to establish the first Airbus maintenance and operations center in Uruguay and the region. In addition, the airline intends to install within five years the first full flight Category D flight simulator for pilot training in the region.
Government Support and Official Announcement
Last week, the Uruguayan government hinted at the imminent launch of a new 100% private flag carrier. Tabaré Viera, Minister of Tourism, shared this progress during the International Tourism Fair in Madrid, indicating that official announcements are expected in February 2024. The government has committed to expedite the validation processes to facilitate the establishment of this upcoming national airline.
See Also: The government of Uruguay announces the launch of a flag carrier airline successor to Pluna
Antonio Rama, CEO of SUA, is an experienced entrepreneur and currently serves as a Boeing 777 captain at Qatar Airways. Previously, he founded U-Air, operating Fokker 100 aircraft between 2003 and 2005. U-Air was recognized as one of the pioneering low-cost airlines in Uruguay and the Southern Cone region.
