Since American Airlines, Aeromexico, United Airlines and Spirit announced that they will delay their return to the country until April, local businessmen have given up hope that air connectivity will improve in the coming weeks.
Six international airlines operate in Nicaragua, but currently only Copa and Avianca are flying. The remaining four have postponed their return and according to their latest announcements, they would return until April.
Arguing that the South American country is not safe, American Airlines decided to temporarily suspend flights to Caracas and Maracaibo.
"... The safety of our employees and customers is always our top priority and American will not operate to countries not considered safe," the airline explained in a statement.
Starting from June 7 American Airlines will operate a daily flight between the capital of Nicaragua and the US city of Dallas.
The new route will operate once a day departing from the International Airport in Managua, Augusto C. Sandino bound for Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport, from where it will return to Managua, in the afternoon.
The airline reported that the new flight will be available from June 7 but reservations can be made from now.
Starting July 2nd the number of frequencies to the South American country will be reduced from 48 to 10 per week and flights from New York, Dallas and San Juan, Puerto Rico will be canceled, keeping only the Miami - Caracas route.
The reason behind the decision of the U.S. airline is the $750 million that the Venezuelan government owes, as it does to other airlines in the world, such as Alitalia, Copa Airlines and Air Canada, among others.
United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada have also suspended the sale of tickets for international flights to Venezuela.
The international airlines American Airlines, United Airlines and Copa Airlines have decided to temporarily cancel the sale of air tickets in Venezuela. The measure was taken due to the uncertainty generated over a multi million-dollar debt the government holds with some airlines and the changes that have been made relating to foreign exchange.
American Airlines has withdrawn its supply to Despegar.com accusing the company of using a wholesale pricing policy which is unfair and inaccurate.
The airline has withdrawn sale of its flights by Despegar.com and from websites developed by Despegar.com, including all sites worldwide such as Decolar.com.
Now customers can purchase airline tickets at aa.com at no additional charge.
Along with an increase in the number of tourists arriving in the country, airlines have reported increases of up to 30% on certain routes.
Claudia Arenas Bianchi, international director of communications and corporate affairs at Avianca TACA, said that in 2011 "the Nicaraguan market experienced growth of ten percent,” reported Laprensa.com.ni.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers on American Airlines flights to Managua rose by 30% last year, said Juan Manuel Gomez, general manager of American Airlines in Nicaragua. This led to the airline increasing its frequency from two to three daily flights from the U.S in November.
The airline has opened a new frequency on the route Miami - Managua, making the total of three flights per day.
Juan Manuel Gomez, general manager of the airline in Managua, said that with the new frequency they estimate a 33% increase in passenger numbers from the U.S. to Nicaragua.
Elnuevodiario.com.ni quoted the executive as saying: "With this flight, the company will have a total of three in Nicaragua ...