The Executive Committee of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) has announced that José Ricardo Botelho will conclude his tenure as Executive Director and CEO in March 2025.Botelho took on the role in June 2020, during the height of the pandemic crisis. According to ALTA, his leadership brought significant advancements in regional air transport development, solidifying the organization's role within the aviation industry.<h3>Peter Cerdá to Take Over in March 2025</h3>ALTA has appointed Peter Cerdá, currently Vice President for the Americas at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as Botelho’s successor. Cerdá will assume the leadership of ALTA starting March 15, 2025, while continuing in his current role at IATA. This dual leadership aims to enhance cooperation between ALTA and IATA to benefit Latin American and Caribbean aviation.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/10/ALTA-Forum-Ricardo-BOtelho.jpeg" alt="ALTA Forum Ricardo BOtelho"></figure>According to ALTA, under Cerdá’s leadership, the association will focus on strengthening collaboration with regional governments and highlighting the economic and social benefits of air transport."We will work to ensure that airlines are recognized as key partners in the economic and social development of the region," ALTA stated.<h3>Acknowledging Botelho’s Contributions</h3>ALTA expressed gratitude to José Ricardo Botelho, recognizing his leadership and vision during one of the industry’s most challenging periods."His commitment allowed ALTA to solidify its role as a regional leader, with a clear mission to contribute to the sustainable development of air transport in Latin America and the Caribbean," the Executive Committee highlighted.<h3>A New Chapter for ALTA</h3>ALTA reaffirmed its support for Peter Cerdá’s leadership, emphasizing that his appointment will strengthen the association’s efforts to promote aviation in the region.With this transition, ALTA aims to further its advocacy for a more connected, efficient, and sustainable air transport industry across Latin America and the Caribbean.

ALTA Announces Leadership Change: Peter Cerdá to Replace José Ricardo Botelho as CEO

As part of its expansion strategy, LATAM Airlines will launch a recruitment process on February 14, offering nearly 900 positions in its Brazilian subsidiary. The openings include 738 cabin crew positions and 157 co-pilot roles. The information was shared by company professionals on LinkedIn.<h2>LATAM’s Largest Hiring Round Since 2024</h2>This move follows a year in which the airline hired over 1,000 new professionals in 2024. Applications for these vacancies will open on February 14, 2025, with different deadlines depending on the position. The process will be conducted via the company’s official website, according to <a href="https://aeroin.net/latam-anuncia-abertura-quase-900-vagas-para-comissarios-e-copilotos-de-aviao/#google_vignette">AEROIN</a>, our media partner.<h2>Cabin Crew Requirements</h2>To apply for cabin crew positions, candidates must:<ul><li>Be 18 years or older</li><li>Have completed secondary education</li><li>Hold a valid Aeronautical Medical Certificate</li><li>Meet additional requirements listed in the job posting</li></ul>LATAM has revised its hiring strategy in Brazil, removing fluency in English or Spanish as an eliminatory requirement. Instead, proficiency in these languages is now considered a plus, aiming to expand opportunities for a more diverse group of candidates.Additionally, 90% of the selection process will be conducted online, allowing applicants from different regions of Brazil to participate without the need for travel.<h2>Co-Pilot Requirements</h2>For co-pilot positions, the criteria are more stringent. Applicants must:<ul><li>Have a minimum of 500 flight hours</li><li>Hold a Commercial Pilot License (CPL)</li><li>Meet specific validations, which will be detailed in the job listing</li></ul>Applications for co-pilot roles will remain open until February 23, 2025.<h2>Training and LATAM’s Expansion Plans</h2>Selected cabin crew and co-pilots will undergo a training program focused on safety, service quality, and aircraft management.This recruitment drive aligns with the aviation sector’s recovery, driven by LATAM’s 13% fleet growth over the past two years and the introduction of new international routes.

LATAM Airlines to Open Recruitment for Nearly 900 Cabin Crew and Co-Pilot Positions in Brazil

The Civil Aeronautics Authority of Colombia (Aerocivil) announced that Frontier Airlines has requested authorization to operate flights between Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá, Colombia.If approved, this route would mark Frontier Airlines' entry into South America, with Bogotá as its first destination in the region. Additionally, it would contribute to the diversification of the air travel market between Colombia and Puerto Rico.Currently, this market is dominated by Avianca, which connects Medellín and Bogotá with San Juan. In October 2024, JetBlue also launched operations from San Juan to Medellín.According to the document submitted to Aerocivil, Frontier plans to operate two weekly flights using Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft. The airline will compete directly with Avianca, which already operates ten weekly flights between Bogotá and San Juan, using Airbus A320ceo and A320neo.Frontier has established a strong presence in San Juan, operating flights to 15 destinations in the United States and nine in the Caribbean (Antigua, Bridgetown, Port of Spain, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Santiago de los Caballeros, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. Maarten).Frontier Airlines is part of the Indigo Partners investment group, led by Bill Franke, who is considered one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, according to Forbes.With Frontier’s potential arrival in Bogotá, it would be the first time that three Indigo Partners airlines operate in the same market, as the group also controls:<ul><li>JetSMART, which has a presence in Colombia’s domestic market.</li><li>Volaris, Mexico’s largest airline, which already operates flights between Mexico City and Bogotá.</li></ul>

Frontier Airlines seeks approval to operate flights to its first South American destination

The diplomatic tension between Colombia and the United States reached a peak this Sunday, following the decision of Colombian President Gustavo Petro to refuse the entry of U.S. military planes that would repatriate a group of deported migrants. This act, motivated by the demand for a more dignified treatment of migrants, was quickly responded by President Donald Trump with a battery of economic and diplomatic threats that led to an inevitable outcome: the mobilization of the Colombian Air Force to take on the task.The crisis erupted when Petro denied the entry of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the United States Air Force (USAF), arguing that U.S. protocol did not guarantee respect for the human rights of migrants. Through his social networks, Petro insisted on the need to establish dignified treatment protocols for repatriates.<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Los EEUU no pueden tratar como delincuentes a los migrantes Colombianos. Desautorizo la entrada de aviones norteamericanos con migrantes colombianos a nuestro territorio. EEUU debe establecer un protocolo de tratamiento digno a los migrantes antes que los recibamos nosotros.— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) <a href="https://twitter.com/petrogustavo/status/1883434963057729650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Trump's response: sanctions and economic pressure</h2>It was not long before Trump reacted with a series of threats that escalated the conflict. The measures contemplated included:<ul><li>Emergency tariffs of 25% on all Colombian products, with an increase to 50% within a week.</li><li>Travel bans and revocation of visas for Colombian government officials, allies and supporters.</li><li>Visa sanctions for members of the ruling party and their family members.</li><li>Enhanced inspections of Colombian citizens and goods for “national security” reasons.</li><li>Full application of sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), affecting key sectors such as banking and finance.</li></ul>Amid the threat of economic isolation, Bogota decided to avoid an escalation and agreed to use its own resources to repatriate the migrants.Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced on Sunday that an agreement had been reached with the U.S. administration. According to his statements: “We have overcome the impasse with the U.S. government”.<h2>Colombian Air Force to the rescue</h2>The result of these negotiations is that the Colombian Air Force will be in charge of the repatriation flights. As a first step, the Colombian government made available the presidential plane, FAC-0001, for the dignified repatriation of migrants detained in the US.&nbsp;<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🔴 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Atenci%C3%B3n?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Atención</a> | El Presidente <a href="https://twitter.com/petrogustavo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PetroGustavo</a> dispone avión presidencial para el retorno digno de connacionales y liderará esfuerzos en la Asamblea Extraordinaria de la CELAC. <a href="https://t.co/6ML5c8qjOp">pic.twitter.com/6ML5c8qjOp</a>— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) <a href="https://twitter.com/infopresidencia/status/1883584285577495034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Finally, it was decided that two B737-700 aircraft will pick up the Colombian migrants. FAC-1219 will flyto San Diego, California, while FAC-1222 is bound for Houston, Texas. Highly trained military doctors will be available to accompany the passengers during the flight.<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">1/3 Desde el Comando Aéreo de Transporte Militar, una aeronave Boeing 737-700 de su <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FuerzaAeroespacial?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FuerzaAeroespacial</a>🇨🇴 se prepara para despegar rumbo a San Diego, California.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SiempreFirmes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SiempreFirmes</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdAstra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdAstra</a>🚀 <a href="https://t.co/hYpSt7LiVF">pic.twitter.com/hYpSt7LiVF</a>— Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana (@FuerzaAereaCol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FuerzaAereaCol/status/1883985661063225582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEstaHora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEstaHora</a> | Despega la segunda aeronave de la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FuerzaAeroespacial?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FuerzaAeroespacial</a>🇨🇴, el FAC 1222 con destino a Houston, Texas, para continuar con la misión de repatriar a otro grupo de connacionales. <a href="https://twitter.com/CancilleriaCol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CancilleriaCol</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MigracionCol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MigracionCol</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SiempreFirmes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SiempreFirmes</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdAstra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdAstra</a>🚀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CATAM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CATAM</a> <a href="https://t.co/B2l63hkNik">pic.twitter.com/B2l63hkNik</a>— Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana (@FuerzaAereaCol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FuerzaAereaCol/status/1884012233207996853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>An uncertain future for regional relations</h2>This episode not only highlights the fragility of the current relationship between Bogotá and Washington—historically close—but also sets a precedent for how the Trump administration exerts pressure on Latin American governments through its well-known big stick diplomacy. In addition to Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Panama have faced similar tensions, creating a climate of uncertainty in the region.

Colombia yields and sends military plane to repatriate migrants after Trump's threats

JetSMART and Sabre, a technology provider for the travel industry, have signed a multi-year distribution agreement to include the airline’s inventory on the Sabre Travel Marketplace platform. This partnership aims to enhance global travel agents' access to JetSMART flights and services.The collaboration involves deploying advanced technological tools for flight distribution, optimizing operations, and expanding booking options for travelers. Travel agents connected to Sabre can seamlessly incorporate these services into their offerings, tailoring them to meet the specific needs of their clients.JetSMART is currently integrating its inventory with Sabre, as part of a broader strategy to bolster its presence in Latin America and connect more destinations through low-cost services. Sabre emphasized that adding JetSMART to its network gives travel agents another option to create customized travel experiences for their customers.This agreement highlights the aviation sector's increasing reliance on technological solutions to improve flight distribution efficiency and expand airlines’ global reach.

JetSMART integrates with Sabre: Expanding low-cost services in Latin America

The German airline Condor launched its special operations in South America today with a series of charter flights from Frankfurt (FRA) to strategic cities such as Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Santiago de Chile (SCL), Montevideo (MVD), Manaus (MAO), and Lima (LIM). These routes are designed to meet the high seasonal tourist demand and connect with cruises in the region.<h3>Highlighted flights during the summer season</h3>The operation includes key flights to Rio de Janeiro, which acts as the main connection hub in South America. From there, some frequencies continue to Santiago de Chile and Montevideo.Main routes:<ul><li>Frankfurt (FRA) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG): Multiple scheduled frequencies, especially during the summer season and Carnival.</li><li>Rio de Janeiro (GIG) – Santiago (SCL): Connections aligned with cruise itineraries to the Chilean fjords and Patagonia.</li><li>Rio de Janeiro (GIG) – Montevideo (MVD): Designed for cruise passengers on the coasts of Uruguay and Brazil.</li></ul>Flight DE9416, operated with an Airbus A330-900neo registered as D-ANRI and with a capacity for 310 passengers, landed today at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago.<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2025/01/d_anri_airbus_a330_941_condor.jpg" alt="D-ANRI - Airbus A330-941 - Condor"><figcaption>&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>The airline’s operations would be as follows:<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><img src="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2025/01/table_cfg_de_condor_eng.png" alt="table CFG-DE condor ENG"></figure> In addition, the airline offers tickets exclusively through specialized travel agencies, emphasizing its focus on the leisure and tourism market.<h3>Future plans and route expansion</h3>The airline does not rule out expanding its offering to South America based on demand. Additional destinations and more frequencies could be added as bookings increase.

Condor arrived in Santiago de Chile from Frankfurt

The Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Brigadier General Xavier Julián Isaac, said today that they are planning to “form a special body comprised of the three forces,” confirmed that “soon” the F-16 fighters purchased from Denmark will be in the country, and expressed feeling “reassured” by the recent vindication of the Armed Forces by the Defense Minister, Luis Petri.
“Defense is always my priority. It is always a priority even though one might have different concerns at times within the country. It’s not a utopia; it’s quite feasible to organize, and that’s what we are doing,” Isaac pointed out to Aviación on Line while participating in the inauguration of Argentina’s stand at FIDAE 2024, in Santiago, Chile.
The brigadier added that they are now “very focused on the project to recover the Patagonia transport ship, which is a central capability for our fleet&#8217;s supply, regardless of the fleet&#8217;s size, whether it has the ships in service it should have or not. But the Patagonia will be one of our priorities in this first year of administration.”
“We will work -he said- together with the head of the Navy so that it can be sailing again in full condition before the end of the year.”
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-239303 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Isaac1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="853" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1.jpg 1280w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1-630x420.jpg 630w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1-696x464.jpg 696w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/04/Isaac1-150x100.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />
Regarding his presence at FIDAE, Isaac stated that “coming to this fair is always important. One has a pre-arranged agenda, and meetings develop where different things, materials, technologies are offered to you. From the moment the FONDES appears, the level of reception that a representative of the Argentine Armed Forces receives is different.”
«In particular, with the Air Force, we have a specific agenda of certain companies, some of which are currently working with the armed forces, proposing technology contributions, and others bringing innovative things, like, for example, a communication company, with which we had never worked before, offering 7 different products,” he explained.
He detailed that “then it&#8217;s about going back home, seeing well what was discussed in each of the interviews, assessing the force&#8217;s needs, then having some deeper meetings, and basically deciding if the armed forces need any of the products offered.”
“The plans we have today in the Navy include the P3, which is obviously already underway, then see how we continue for the rest of the year and year 25 to complete the other 3. We want to see how we can recover the Fenix, of which there is only one in service, and we believe it is a capability for, at a minimum, our ships to obtain the capacity to project and perform better control of the 200-mile limit,” he detailed later.
“Then we will work from the joint, along with the Navy, to create a maintenance program via FMS for the See King, which were bought and did not have a good maintenance program, we are reassembling it and then I think the priority that the navy has with its new head is to recover the surface ship capabilities,” he highlighted.
He then referred to another initiative, such as “supporting the joint action of our Special Forces. Along with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we want the joint training, which is not only planning for an exercise once a year, I want them working together permanently, almost I would say once a month or two.”
“The Joint Special Forces Command was strictly a very limited planning organ, and I want it to be a well-trained force, as it is today, but working together. And within the FONDES, in the part that corresponds to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we have allocated a number of resources to advance in joint purchases, agreed upon with the three forces to start acting more frequently in a coordinated manner,” Isaac emphasized.
Finally, he said they are “in very good tune with the Defense Minister (Luis Petri), but I am a man of hardware, and I like when support comes with hardware. The FONDES was a success, I have no doubt. But there were other decisions that were at the political level that transcended the FONDES. The purchase of the F-16s could never have been made with FONDES alone.”
“We celebrate that the minister and the president are constantly supporting us, and what we want is to recover the armed forces that the country needs,” he remarked.
“And very soon we will have the F-16s, and many speculations from those who spoke without knowing anything will end. They come with all the equipment, the weaponry, and everything needed. And as for the in-flight refueling system, it’s something we will carefully analyze, without rush, because the planes have great autonomy, and we will see what best suits our possibilities,” he concluded.

Latin America / Caribbean