:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/KJVDCDIQSJEVRONTX3TARRNC54.jpg "JetSmart, an airline interested in acquiring Viva Air, will be able to operate flights in Colombia 1")
through the Committee for the evaluation of aero-commercial projects, civil aeronautics (Aerocivil) announced on the night of Tuesday March 7 that it approved the Chilean low-cost airline’s applicationJet-Smartto cover 27 interior routes of Colombia.
“Civil Aeronautics has approved the request of the airline company JETSMART AIRLINES SAS to begin the process which allows it to obtain the operating permit to provide the domestic service of regular public transport of passengers, freight and mail in Colombia,” Aerocivil said in a statement.
According to the Colombian air authority, the Chilean airline will have its headquarters in the city of Bogotá and will use the aircraft type AIRBUS A320-271 NEO transport its passengers. It should be noted that the arrival of the airline in the country will imply that the company will introduce its model of super low pricejust as it was done in Chile, Argentina and Peru.
In total, the low-cost Chilean airline will cover 27 domestic routes in Colombia. Among them are: Bogota, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga, San Andrés, Pereira, Montería, Cúcuta, Pasto there Pereira.
Below is the complete list of routes and air frequencies that JetSmart will operate in Colombia:
It should be recalled that Aerocivil’s approval of JetSmart’s application to operate domestic flights in Colombia was announced just weeks after the low-cost airline expressed interest in buying the shares of live air.
On February 7, the Jetsmart CEO, Stuart Ortizsaid the company intended to start negotiations to acquire 100% of the shares of low-cost airline Viva Air.
“VSWe believe that a transaction between JetSmart and Viva Air will maintain the model ultra low cost in Colombia and this will allow us to continue to offer more routes A lower price. We have a long term vision of expansion in South America and we are able to continue to invest in our growth. We believe in the potential of the Colombian market. Our alternative will benefit users, enhance free competition in the sector and promote tourism and connectivity in the country.”Ortiz said at the time.
Hours after JetSmart announced its interest in buying Viva Air, low-cost spokespeople confirmed to the magazine Week that they had already received the proposal for the acquisition of the Chilean airline and that they had begun to study it.
“At this time, the organization is examining the possible implications that this announcement may have in the development of the process that is taking place today before Aerocivil, in which there is already a demand to promote integration between Viva and Avianca”spokespersons for the Bogota publication said.
For now, as long as Civil Aeronautics has not defined whether or not to approve the integration of Viva Air with Avianca, JetSmart will remain as ‘third party’ in the airline with other airlines such as Latam Airlines, Wingo, Aerolineas Argentinas and Ultra Air.
During this time, in accordance with Colombian aeronautical regulations, JetSmart will have three months from the authorization to operate domestic flights in Colombia to provide the corresponding documentation and thus certify their license to operate in the country.
“For the start of operations, the company concerned must obtain certification within a non-extendable period of two years”, specified Civil Aeronautics, specifying that the said procedure will be subject to compliance with legal requirements.