Colombian low cost carrier Ultra Air has halted operations just 14 months after starting flights. The airline began carrying passengers in February 2022 and conducted its final flights on 29 March 2023.
Domestic, low cost focus
Ultra Air operated predominantly from its base in Medellín to cities throughout Colombia with a fleet of six (6) Airbus A320 aircraft. Their fleet had previously flown with airlines such as IndiGo, Interjet, Lauda, and TAM.
Ultra Air fleet
Industry headwinds or just running out of money?
In a statement posted to social media, the airline said it had carried more than 2 million passengers since beginning flying. It blamed the rising cost of fuel and foreign exchange rates for negative impacts to its continued operations.
The airline also laid blame for its demise on the collapse of Viva Air last month. It said that after Viva Air ceased flying, lessors and suppliers began demanding immediate payments or even pre-payments for their services.
For its part, the Colombian government has said the failure of Ultra Air is due to its inability to raise additional capital.
Not the first, hopefully the last
Ultra Air is the fourth Latin American airline to fold this year. Viva Air Colombia, Viva Air Peru, and Aeromar all ceased operations last month.
