In order to regain Costa Rica's air safety status, which was downgraded in May, the Federal Aviation Administration requested 22 amendments, of which 17 have already been completed.
After the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducted a reevaluation in October 2018 and met with Costa Rica's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) in February 2019 to analyze the results, the final opinion lowered the rating from Category 1 to Category 2.
Beginning this week, Copa Airlines began operating the air route between the Panamanian capital and the city of Salta, in Argentina.
Representatives of the airline reported that Salta is the fifth destination that the company covers in the South American country, as they already have flights to Buenos Aires, Rosario, Cordoba and Mendoza.
Regarding the number of flights that Copa Airlines has between the Central American country and Argentina, Elcapitalfinanciero.com details that the airline operates a "... total of 51 weekly flights between the Hub of the Americas, in Panama City, and this South American country."
Because of the delay in the incorporation of an aircraft, Air Europa reported that it will delay the start of the route until June 3rd, 2019.
In September of this year, the airline reported that from February 26th, 2019 it would offer five weekly flights between the capital of the Central American country and the Spanish city of Madrid.
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."
On November 19th, flights between Guatemala City and the head of the department of Huehuetenango will begin operating three times a week.
From the statement of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism:
Guatemala, November 12th, 2018. The Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT), together with members of the Tourism Self-Management Committee (CAT) of Huehuetenango, comprised of local businessmen, announced that from November 19th direct flights will start from Guatemala City to the Huehuetenango aerodrome three times a week. The flights operated by Mundo Maya Viajes will have a 30-minute duration, with a roundtrip price of Q 1,000.00 and a one-way price of Q 750.00.
As of March 29, the Mexican airline Volaris plans to start operating two air frequencies between San Salvador and Cancun, Mexico.
The airline's representatives announced that the direct flight to the Mexican city of Cancun, will start operating from March 29, on Thursdays and Sundays.
The company took the opportunity to communicate that the flight between San Salvador and the city of Los Angeles, which will start operating next month, will add a new frequency to the two per week that hadbeen previously announced.
The number of air routes operating between Panama and Europe grew by 62% between 2013 and 2016, and the number of passengers in transit increased from 373,000 to 735,000 in the same period.
The main European destinations that could be flown to from Panama a few years ago were Paris, Madrid and Amsterdam, but recently new routes to cities such as Istanbul and Frankfurt have been added.Figures from Tocumen International Airport show that the number of passengers traveling to and from the European continent has grown steadily in recent years, as has the number of aircraft that fly.
As of March 14, flights between the two countries will be considered domestic, simplifying and expediting migration and freight procedures.
With the entry into force of the Regulation for the Development of Air and Airport Operations, flight frequencies between airports in Honduras and Guatemala will have the characteristics of domestic flights.
A company founded with Panamanian capital, led by tourism entrepreneurs, has started offering private flights on the isthmus, Mexico, northern South America and the Caribbean.
Fly Executive has started operations in Panama offering private flights with a new fleet of jets with a base of operations at the airport Marcos A. Gelabert, in Albrook.
With a runway of 1400 meters suitable for domestic flights, the airfield at Río Amarillo in Copan has started operations.
From a statement issued by the Government of Honduras:
The President Juan Orlando Hernandez opened the Río Amarillo airport, 18 kilometers from the Copan ruins, which is now the second air terminal built under his administration, after the de Gracias airport in Lempira.
An announcement has been made that the Venezuelan airline Conviasa will be operating a new route between the two cities every day except Saturdays, starting from February 5.
The Venezuelan Consortium Aircraft Industries and Air Services (Conviasa) unveiled its new air frequency to Panama, which will operate every day except Saturdays, departing from Caracas in the morning and arriving at Panama around 9:30 am
The governments of both countries signed an Open Skies agreement which allows designated airlines to fly between the two countries.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport:
The Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Carlos Segnini and his counterpart from Singapore, Lui Tuck Yew, signed a memorandum of understanding which will allow for, in the short term, a formal open skies agreement between the two countries.
The airline will have 4 flights per week from May, which will leave from the Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Costa Rica reported that starting from May, the airline TACA, a subsidiary of the holding company Avianca-TACA, will fly four times a week to Brasilia from Juan Santamaria International Airport.
Fabio Villegas, President and CEO of Avianca-TACA, arrived in Costa Rica on Friday to announce the new route at a press conference, reported Nacion.com