Some of the most notable effects caused by the spread of covid-19 is the cancellation of at least 8,000 hotel nights in Costa Rica, and the interruption by Iberia of its flights from Madrid to Guatemala and San Salvador.
Businessmen in the region agree that due to the virus that has been spreading from China, supply chains have been interrupted, which is combined with a drop in the transit of people, causing losses to the tourism sector.
Iberia increased the weekly number of flights from 4 to 7, implying an 80% increase in the supply of seats.
According to the airline's representatives, the route between Europe and Central America has a high potential for growth, and the profile of passengers who demand flights do so for business or vacation.
Regarding the increase in the number of flights between Spain and the Central American country, Luis Gallego, president of Iberia, explained to Prensalibre.com that "... Guatemala and El Salvador are strategic for the company and since November it will operate a daily flight."
As of October 1, the airline Iberia could start operating a daily frequency between the Spanish capital and San Salvador.
Without providing details about the schedules of the new frequencies, the airline stated that the flights will probably start operating on the first day of October, and the route will be covered with the new Airbus A330-200, with capacity for 288 passengers.
Due to lack of demand, the airline Iberia has decided to postpone the start of the direct air flight between the Spanish capital and Managua, which was scheduled to start in October of this year.
The airline said that "... it will maintain connections with the Nicaraguan capital via other airports, but it is suspending the direct route because the levels of demand necessary to make it effective have not been reached."
Last year almost 228,000 visitors from Europe came to the country, 8% more than the figure recorded in 2016.
The European airlines that increased passenger revenue in 2017 were: Iberia, with a total of 69,381 passengers, some 9,501 more than in 2016, with a growth of 15.9%; and KLM, with a total of 55,519 passengers, about 2,044 more than in 2016, an increase of 3.8%.
Through an agreement with Iberia flight connections will be improved from Rome and Milan to Madrid - San José, in order to connect both cities with San Jose.
A statement from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute says that in order to improve conditions of the connections between Madrid and the Italian cities of Rome and Milan, the airline Iberia will be taking the following measures:
The airline Iberia has announced that it will establish its headquarters for Central America in Panama City.
The Spanish airline said that it will establish its territorial delegation in Panama, from where it will manage sales in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Capital.com.pa reports that "... Iberia increased its supply in the country by 40% in 2014, going from five flights a week to one direct flight a day from Panama to Madrid. "
The Ministry of Tourism in Panama has announced that the Spanish airline has chosen the country to set up its regional headquarters.
From a statement issued by the Tourism Authority of Panama:
The Spanish airline Iberia has chosen Panama as its regional headquarters and increased the number of flights to the country, said the Administrator of the ATP, Jesus Sierra Victoria in Madrid.
The Tourism Authority has announced that it will be negotiating with Alitalia and Emirates Airlines to establish flights from Rome and the United Arab Emirates, and will seek to increase the flights with Iberia and Air France.
As part of these projects to increase air connectivity in the country, the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP) is also expected to start operations soon with Aeromexico and Lufthansa.
The German airline has announced it will be ready to start operating direct flights to Panama City starting January 2015.
Adding to the interest of other European airlines and responding to the increasing number of German tourists entering Panama, Lufthansa has notified the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP ) that it is able to start direct flights to Tocumen airport in January 2015 and is looking to finalize the respective agreement under process.
TAP, BlueSky and Aeromexico are negotiating flight connections from Portugal, Grand Cayman and Mexico City to Tocumen airport.
The Mexican carrier has already made the first approaches for connections to the Tocumen International Airport. Although it has not defined when flights would start, representatives indicated that it could begin with seven a week.
A Spanish airline and the Panamanian government are negotiating an increase from 5 to 7 in the number of weekly flights between the two countries.
Iberia and the Tourism Authority of Panama are in talks to increase in the next few months the number of weekly flights carried out between Bajaras in Madrid Airport and Tocumen airport terminal.
Prensa.com reports: "The Spanish airline, which merged with British Airways established direct flights to Panama in 2010, and with the passing of the years it has increased its frequency to the country due to increased passenger flow between both destinations. "
Connectivity to the European market will increase with three direct flights per week between Charles de Gaulle and Tocumen airports.
The fact that Air France is including the country in its plans, will cost the Panama Tourism Authority $4.5 million, an amount which it will pay for three years.
"The Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), has already used this mechanism in the past.