In the last six months, and after the reactivation of regular flights after the first wave of COVID-19, the Colombian government through the Civil Aeronautics office (Aerocivil) has approved a total of 32 new international and 15 domestic routes with the objective of strengthening the country’s connectivity.
According to the statement issued by the agency, the detail of approved international routes is:
- Wingo: Bogotá – Lima; Medellin – Cancun; Medellin – Caracas; Cali – Mexico City; and Cali – Guayaquil; in all cases with daily frequencies.
- American Airlines: Bogotá – New York; Medellín – New York; and Cali – New York; with a weekly frequency each.
- Jetblue: Bogotá – New York; Bogotá – Fort Lauderdale; and Newark – Cartagena; each one with daily frequencies.
- JetSMART: Cúcuta – Santiago de Chile and Medellín – Santiago de Chile; with seven weekly frequencies.
- Avianca: Medellín – Cancun and Medellín – Punta Cana; each with seven weekly frequencies.
- Viva Air: Bogotá – Cancun and Bogotá – Mexico City; with seven weekly frequencies each.
- LATAM: Santiago de Chile – Bogotá – Miami; with seven weekly frequencies.
“For the Transportation Sector, it has been a priority to advance in the safe reactivation of air transport in the country, ensuring that airports, airlines and users comply with biosafety protocols. Aerocivil developed the necessary actions to continue expanding the route offer for Colombians, to continue contributing to tourism and connectivity. These 47 new options for traveling both nationally and internationally are a sign of the Government’s commitment to the air sector, fundamental for the economic recovery of the country” said Angela María Orozco, Minister of Transportation.
For his part, Juan Carlos Salazar Gómez, General Director of Civil Aeronautics and elected ICAO General Secretary, added that «with the authorization of new routes and new companies for the provision of the International Passenger Air Transport service, Mail and Cargo, the National Government and Civil Aeronautics reaffirm their commitment and the importance of maintaining and strengthening the country’s air connectivity. We understand that it is a source of reactivation of the economy, tourism and trade not only within the country but internationally, and that is why we are constantly working to provide more options».
Colombia’s international offer (in seats) for April is led by American Airlines, capturing 23%, followed by Avianca with 18% and Copa Airlines with 14%, according to data obtained by Aviacionline through Cirium, a global company of aeronautical intelligence.
Regarding domestic routes, Aerocivil approved:
- Viva Air: Medellín – Bucaramanga; Medellín – Pasto; Medellín – Pereira; Medellín – Riohacha; and Pereira – San Andrés; with seven weekly frequencies each route.
- Avianca: Bucaramanga – Santa Marta; Bucaramanga – Cartagena; Cali – Santa Marta; and Pereira – Santa Marta; in all cases with seven weekly frequencies.
- EasyFly: Bogotá – Arauca; Cali – Guapi; and Cali – Montería; with seven weekly frequencies the first two and three the last.
- LATAM: Bogotá – Armenia; Bogotá – Pasto; and Cali – Barranquilla; with 14 weekly frequencies.
The importance of cargo
From Aerocivil they also stated that with the aim of «strengthening the supply of products to different areas of the country and international trade, and thus favoring the economic reactivation of Colombia», Tampa Cargo obtained the authorization of 14 new routes with two weekly frequencies:
- Bogotá and / or Medellín and / or Barranquilla and / or Cali to Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.
- Bogotá and / or Medellín and / or Barranquilla and / or Cali to Asunción, Paraguay
- From Colombia the routes Bogotá and / or Medellín and / or Barranquilla and / or Cali to Sao Pablo (Viracopos and Guarulhos airports) and / or Curitiba and / or Manaus in Brazil.
- From Colombia the routes Bogotá and / or Medellín and / or Barranquilla and / or Cali to Montevideo, Uruguay.
- From Colombia the routes Bogotá and / or Medellín and / or Barranquilla and / or Cali to Lima, Perú.
- From Colombia the routes Bogotá and / or Medellín and / or Barranquilla and / or Cali to Quito, Ecuador.
- From Colombia the routes Bogotá and / or Medellín and / or Barranquilla and / or Cali to Santiago de Chile, Chile.
Finally, the Aerocomercial Projects Evaluation Committee (CEPA) in session 96, approved to provide the International Air Transport service of Passengers, Mail and Cargo in Colombia to the following companies:
- Viva Aerobus: Mexico – Bogotá – Mexico, with seven weekly frequencies.
- Volaris: Mexico City – Bogotá – Mexico City (four weekly frequencies); Cancún – Bogotá – Cancún (three weekly frequencies); Mexico City – Medellín – Mexico City (two weekly frequencies); and Cancún – Medellín – Cancún (with two weekly frequencies).
- Volaris Costa Rica: San José – Bogotá – San José (three weekly frequencies); and San José – Medellín – San José (two weekly frequencies).
- Caribbean Airlines: Curaçao – Medellín – Curaçao (two weekly frequencies); and Curaçao – Barranquilla – Curaçao (two weekly frequencies).
