Emirates’ launch of flights to Colombia, starting in June, is the main highlight of the Latin American market in February/March.

Bogotá, the country’s capital, will become Emirates’ fourth destination in the region, which will be offered via Miami in both directions.

The Miami – Bogotá – Miami route is currently served by American Airlines, avianca and LATAM Colombia.

These are the other important developments in the Latin American market:

• Aerolíneas Argentinas will boost its services to the United States, and the cessation of operations to Cuba.

• Air Europa increases frequencies to Salvador, Brazil.

• American Airlines adds two routes to Barbados.

• Avior resumed flights between two important South American capitals.

• Azul and Goofy’s Airbus A320neo.

• Braspress Air Cargo, a new company in Brazil.

• Discover Airlines will inaugurate service to Tulum.

• Flybondi increases flights between Argentina and Brazil.

• GOL begins operations to São José dos Campos.

• JetSMART inaugurated two routes in South America.

• LATAM and the increase of flights from Brazil to Spain.

• Paranair launched flights to Córdoba, Argentina.

• Southwest reaches three routes in Belize City.

• United Airlines to add a second destination to Colombia.

• Volaris will start operations between Cancún and McAllen.

Aerolíneas Argentinas

As of June 22nd, due to the beginning of the high season, Aerolíneas Argentinas will increase to two daily flights on the Buenos Aires – Miami route. The company will resume this schedule after many years, since it had operated between 8 and 13 times per week.

Aerolíneas Argentinas performs these services with Airbus A330-200s seating 265 passengers.

Daily

• AR 1304  Buenos Aires EZE 08:05 · 16:15 MIA Miami
• AR 1303  Miami MIA 18:15 · 04:10 EZE Buenos Aires

Daily

• AR 1302  Buenos Aires EZE 22:55 · 07:05+1 MIA Miami
• AR 1305  Miami MIA 09:05 · 19:00 EZE Buenos Aires

In addition to Miami, in the United States, the airline operates three weekly to New York from Buenos Aires.

On March 1st, following a year and a half, Aerolíneas Argentinas made its last flight from Cuba. The company offered this route with Cancún, once a week.

The services were Buenos Aires – Cancún – Havana – Buenos Aires every Friday using Airbus A330 jets.

Prior to this route schedule, between June 2022 and July 2023, Aerolíneas Argentinas operated to Cuba with Boeing 737 MAX 8s making a stopover in Punta Cana in both segments.

Aerolíneas Argentinas leaves the Cuban capital for the second time in the last 8 years.

Air Europa

The Spanish airline, which has been operating to Salvador for 20 years, announced an increase in its weekly operations from/to Madrid effective June 17th. At present, Air Europa has two flights per week on Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft with 296/298 seats.

Wednesday and Saturday

• UX 83  Madrid MAD 15:25 · 20:30 SSA Salvador
• UX 84  Salvador SSA 22:55 · 11:55+1 MAD Madrid

The carrier will add a new flight on Mondays.

Air Europa in South America

Argentina

• Buenos Aires (EZE): 7 weekly
• Córdoba (COR): 3 weekly

  Bolivia

• Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI): 4 weekly

  Brazil

• Salvador (SSA): 2 weekly · currently
• Sao Paulo (GRU): 7 weekly

  Colombia

• Bogotá (BOG): 7 weekly
• Medellín (MDE): 6 weekly

  Ecuador

• Quito (UIO) – Guayaquil (GYE): 5 weekly

  Paraguay

• Asunción (ASU): 5 weekly

  Perú

• Lima (LIM): 7 weekly

  Venezuela

• Caracas (CCS): 5 weekly

Air Europa is the leading airline in the Europe – South America market based on number of connections.

American Airlines

In November, American will launch two routes to Barbados from the United States.

JFK and Philadelphia will be American’s new Bridgetown connections, joining Charlotte and Miami, its current destinations.

New York · November 5th

Daily

• AA 585  New York JFK 07:00 · 12:40 BGI Bridgetown
• AA 707  Bridgetown BGI 13:50 · 18:05 JFK New York

Philadelphia · November 9th

Saturday

• AA 205  Philadelphia PHL 08:20 · 13:55 BGI Bridgetown
• AA 205  Bridgetown BGI 15:25 · 19:35 PHL Philadelphia

Arajet

The Dominican company will boost services to Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo starting in June. According to its website, Arajet will reach a daily flight on both routes, which will be operated from/to “Las Americas Airport” in Santo Domingo.

Buenos Aires

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

• DM 333  Santo Domingo SDQ 17:55 · 03:05+1 EZE Buenos Aires

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• DM 334  Buenos Aires EZE 04:25 · 11:35 SDQ Santo Domingo

New flight (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

• DM 335  Santo Domingo SDQ 10:50 · 20:00 EZE Buenos Aires
• DM 336  Buenos Aires EZE 21:15 · 04:25+1 SDQ Santo Domingo

Sao Paulo

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

• DM 269  Santo Domingo SDQ 19:20 · 03:35+1 GRU Sao Paulo

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• DM 270  Sao Paulo GRU 05:25 · 11:35 SDQ Santo Domingo

New flight (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

• DM 273  Santo Domingo SDQ 11:55 · 20:10 GRU Sao Paulo
• DM 274  Sao Paulo GRU 21:50 · 04:00+1 SDQ Santo Domingo

avianca

The carrier took delivery of a new Airbus A320neo, which left the factory on February 23rd. Based on our database, the aircraft departed Toulouse for Guatemala City via Goose Bay, Canada.

Since then, the A320neo has been at the airport, awaiting the commencement of regular operations.

avianca’s fleet

• Airbus A319-100: 7
• Airbus A320-200: 67
• Airbus A320neo: 36
• Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner: 14

Avior

The airline resumed service between Caracas and Bogotá last March 5th. Operations have been suspended for the past four years as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and restrictions in Venezuela.

In accordance with its website, Avior will offer two flights a week on Boeing 737-400 planes.

Tuesday

• 9V 1420  Caracas CCS 16:31 · 17:01 BOG Bogotá
• 9V 1421  Bogotá BOG 18:01 · 20:31 CCS Caracas

Friday

• 9V 1420  Caracas CCS 17:20 · 17:50 BOG Bogotá
• 9V 1421  Bogotá BOG 18:50 · 21:20 CCS Caracas

Azul

Last week, the first photo of a new Azul Airbus A320neo linked to Disney was released. The aircraft, which will be registered PR-YSR in the near future, has the Goofy scheme, or Pateta, as it is called in Brazil.

This is Azul’s fifth Disney-related jet:

• Airbus A320neo PR-YSH · “Mickey”

• Airbus A320neo PR-YSI · “Donald”

• Airbus A320neo PR-YSK · “Daisy”

• Airbus A321neo PR-YJF · “Minnie”

• Airbus A320neo PR-YSR · “Goofy/Pateta”

The new Airbus A320neo will arrive in Brazil shortly.  

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Braspress

Braspress, a new Brazilian cargo airline, incorporated its first Boeing 737-400(F). The jet, registered PS-BPB, landed in São José dos Campos from Liege, making stopovers in Faro, Espargos and Natal.

This Boeing 737, for now, does not have the company’s livery. However, its second aircraft, which is still in Liege, already has the Braspress Air Cargo scheme (OE-IAP future PS-BPA).

Conviasa

On March 6th, Conviasa began operations between Santo Domingo (STD) and Maturín. This domestic route will be carried out once weekly with the Venezuelan airline’s Embraer 190, configured for 104 passengers.

Wednesday

• V0 2438  Santo Domingo STD 09:15 · 11:00 MUN Maturín
• V0 2439  Maturín MUN 11:50 · 13:35 STD Santo Domingo

Conviasa’s routes to/from Maturín

• Caracas (CCS): 3 weekly
• Maracaibo (MAR): 2 weekly
• Santo Domingo (STD): 1 weekly

Conviasa’s routes from/to Santo Domingo

• Caracas (CCS): 2 weekly
• Maturín (MUN): 1 weekly
• Porlamar (PMV): 3 weekly

Discover Airlines

Tulum airport, which began regular operations three months ago, will have its first connection with Europe by the end of 2024.

Discover Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, will commence flights between Frankfurt and the Mexican city on December 12th. The airline will offer two services per week with 368-seat Airbus A330-300s.

Thursday

• 4Y 12  Frankfurt FRA 16:45 · 22:30 TQO Tulum

Friday

• 4Y 13  Tulum TQO 00:30 · 16:20 FRA Frankfurt

Sunday

• 4Y 12  Frankfurt FRA 10:20 · 16:05 TQO Tulum
• 4Y 13  Tulum TQO 18:05 · 09:55+1 FRA Frankfurt

Emirates

One of the main announcements in the Latin American market.

The airline confirmed the start of its operations to Bogotá, Colombia, as of June 7th. According to the press release, it will perform a daily flight with 356-seat Boeing 777-300(ER) aircraft.

Emirates will offer the Dubai – Miami – Bogota route and vice versa, with traffic allowed on all segments. Services between Miami and Bogotá are already on sale, as well as those to/from Dubai.

The Colombian capital will be Emirates’ fourth destination in South America. Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are the current connections in the region.

Daily

• EK 213  Dubai DXB 02:15 · 10:05 MIA Miami
• EK 213  Miami MIA 12:35 · 15:25 BOG Bogotá

• EK 214  Bogotá BOG 17:25 · 22:15 MIA Miami
• EK 214  Miami MIA 00:45+1 · 23:00+1 DXB Dubai

Emirates in Latin America

• Buenos Aires (EZE) via GIG: 4 weekly · Boeing 777-200(LR)
• Mexico City (MEX) via BCN: 7 weekly · Boeing 777-200(LR)
• Rio de Janeiro (GIG): 4 weekly · Boeing 777-200(LR)
• Sao Paulo (GRU): 7 weekly · Airbus A380

Flybondi

The Argentine low cost carrier plans to increase its flights between Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo effective April 1st. In line with its website, Flybondi will recover the seven services a week on this route (it currently operates three).

Daily

• FO 5800  Buenos Aires EZE 22:45 · 01:50+1 GRU Sao Paulo
• FO 5801  Sao Paulo GRU 02:40 · 05:25 EZE Buenos Aires

Florianópolis and Rio de Janeiro are Flybondi’s other connections in Brazil.

GOL

Beginning July 2nd, GOL Linhas Aéreas will start flights between São José dos Campos and Salvador (SSA). The company will be the only one with services on this route, operated during the high season.

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

• São José dos Campos SJK  23:40 · 01:50+1 SSA Salvador

Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• Salvador SSA 03:30 · 05:45 SJK São José dos Campos

GOL will once again offer flights from/to Sao José dos Campos on March 27th, with the following route:

Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• G3 2116  Rio de Janeiro GIG 21:55 · 23:00 SJK São José dos Campos

Monday, Thursday and Saturday

• G3 2117  São José dos Campos SJK 06:20 · 07:25 GIG Rio de Janeiro

JetSMART

Last March 6th, JetSMART inaugurated its flights to Ecuador, with operations to/from Lima. The company will perform four weekly services on 186-seat Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Friday and Sunday

• JA 7720  Lima LIM 13:40 · 15:48 UIO Quito
• JA 7721  Quito UIO 16:40 · 18:50 LIM Lima

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perú and Uruguay are the markets in which JetSMART operates flights. In the region, the low cost carrier does not offer routes to Bolivia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.

Furthermore, the low cost resumed operations between Santiago de Chile and Mendoza, Argentina, on March 4th. Flights had last been conducted in March 2019.

JetSMART will have the following schedule:

Monday, Friday and Sunday

• JA 996  Santiago SCL 19:41 · 20:45 MDZ Mendoza
• JA 997  Mendoza MDZ 21:30 · 22:26 SCL Santiago

Saturday

• JA 990  Santiago SCL 08:05 · 09:09 MDZ Mendoza
• JA 991  Mendoza MDZ 09:54 · 10:50 SCL Santiago

KLM

The airline, which had planned to increase its services on the Amsterdam – Sint Maarten – Port of Spain – Amsterdam route in December, confirmed that the new frequency will be removed, leaving the current schedule.

KLM will continue with the four flights a week with Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A330-300.

Schedule:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• KL 777/787  Amsterdam AMS 11:20 · 15:35 SXM Sint Maarten
• KL 777/787  Sint Maarten SXM 17:05 · 18:50 POS Port of Spain
• KL 777/787  Port of Spain POS 20:30 · 10:35+1 AMS Amsterdam

LATAM

Effective May 1st, LATAM will boost its flights between Sao Paulo and Madrid, a route it currently serves seven weekly.

Operations will be performed with Boeing 777-300(ER) and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.  

Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday · new

• LA 8076  Sao Paulo GRU 21:00 · 11:50+1 MAD Madrid
• LA 8075  Madrid MAD 14:10 · 19:40 GRU Sao Paulo

Daily

• LA 8066  Sao Paulo GRU 23:05 · 14:05+1 MAD Madrid
• LA 8065  Madrid MAD 23:45 · 05:05+1 GRU Sao Paulo

Barcelona, Frankfurt, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Rome are LATAM’s European destinations from/to Guarulhos.

On the other hand, LATAM schedules the following increases to the Caribbean from Lima starting July 1st:

• Aruba (AUA): from 3 to 4 weekly
• Cancún (CUN): from 19 to 21 weekly
• Punta Cana (PUJ): from 14 to 17 weekly

Paranair

The Paraguayan carrier inaugurated its services between Asunción and Córdoba on Wednesday, March 6th. Paranair will fly three times per week using CRJ-200s with a capacity for 50 passengers in single class.

Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• ZP 839  Asunción ASU 08:50 · 10:40 COR Córdoba
• ZP 838  Córdoba COR 11:25 · 13:05 ASU Asunción

After 5 years, the airline once again offers two destinations in Argentina. The last time had been in March 2019, when in addition to Buenos Aires, it operated to Salta.

Paranair’s routes to/from Asunción  

Argentina

• Buenos Aires (AEP): 13 weekly
• Córdoba (COR): 3 weekly

  Bolivia

• Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI): 7 weekly

  Paraguay

• Ciudad del Este (AGT): 4 weekly

  Uruguay

• Montevideo (MVD): 14 weekly

SKY

Beginning July 1st, SKY Airline will expand flights between Santiago de Chile and Mendoza. The low cost will increase from seven to nine weekly, which will be available until the end of September.

Daily

• H2 523  Santiago SCL 19:00 · 21:00 MDZ Mendoza
• H2 524  Mendoza MDZ 21:51 · 21:52 SCL Santiago

New flight

Friday

• H2 525  Santiago SCL 13:09 · 15:10 MDZ Mendoza
• H2 526  Mendoza MDZ 16:00 · 16:01 SCL Santiago

Sunday

• H2 525  Santiago SCL 14:34 · 16:35 MDZ Mendoza
• H2 526  Mendoza MDZ 17:30 · 17:31 SCL Santiago

Southwest

Southwest Airlines inaugurated operations between Baltimore and Belize City on March 9th. The company will offer one flight per week with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Saturday

• WN 4432  Baltimore BWI 08:30 · 11:00 BZE Belize City
• WN 4123  Belize City BZE 12:00 · 17:50 BWI Baltimore

Southwest’s routes from/to Belize City

• Baltimore (BWI): 1 weekly · Boeing 737 MAX 8
• Denver (DEN): 2 weekly · Boeing 737-700
• Houston (IAH): 8 weekly · 737/738/7M8

United

The company confirmed the launch of its second destination to Colombia.

As of October 27th, United will begin services to José María Córdova International Airport, in Medellín. Flights will be operated to/from Houston with 166-seat Boeing 737-800 jets.

United Airlines in Colombia (currently)

Bogotá

• Houston (IAH): 14 weekly · Boeing 737 MAX 8
• Newark (EWR): 7 weekly · Boeing 737 MAX 8

Volaris

Cancún – McAllen, Volaris’ new route between Mexico and the United States.

The carrier will inaugurate operations effective June 5th. In accordance with its booking site, Volaris will have two weekly flights on the 168-seat Airbus A320neo.

Tuesday and Saturday

• Y4 3642  Cancún CUN 12:15 · 14:33 MFE McAllen
• Y4 3643  McAllen MFE 16:05 · 18:05 CUN Cancún

Currently, Guatemala City and San Jose, Costa Rica are Volaris’ international connections from Cancún.

With respect to new airplanes, some Latin American airlines added brand new aircraft from the Airbus and Boeing factories.

Avianca, GOL and Volaris incorporated jets to their fleets during February and early March.

GOL’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 still has the livery of China’s Donghai Airlines, as it was scheduled to join that carrier.

In March we published the following report, related to airline routes and fleets:

• United States and Canada

Cover photo: Alex Rivera – JetPhotos (Medellín, Colombia).