In El Salvador, the Autonomous Executive Port Commission announced that in 2022 it will determine the management model for the Pacific Airport and in 2023 it will begin construction.
Currently, the Feasibility Study is being developed by the International Consortium PEYCON - ALBEN 4000.
After authorities submitted the biosecurity protocols, the Oscar Romero International Airport is scheduled to resume operations on September 4.
The plan of the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) is that as of Friday September 4, the skies of El Salvador will be open for connecting flights and as of September 19 for commercial passenger flights.
The constant resurgence of covid-19, the closure of international markets and the loss of consumer confidence, postpone the beginning of the recovery of the air industry, a process that is predicted to be long in the context of the new business reality.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in this context of business and economic crisis in a large number of countries at the global level, there is no evidence of strong growth in global demand for cargo and its progress continues to be an extraordinary challenge for airlines.
Restructuring of airlines, preference for direct flights, modifications in the routes operated and the use of smaller aircraft are some of the changes expected in the regional air market in the context of the new business normality.
Air traffic has virtually disappeared in the last three months, as governments in Central America have decided to close borders and suspend commercial flights to and from the region's airports as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
As of June 16, El Salvador will begin the gradual opening of logistics services at the Cargo Terminal at the Oscar Romero Airport, and the re-establishment of commercial flights is scheduled to begin on August 6.
As part of the return to the new normal, after eliminating the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 outbreak, the Autonomous Port Executive Commission (CEPA) informed that the Cargo Terminal of the "San Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez" International Airport will begin with the gradual reopening of its export and import logistics services under strict biosecurity protocols.
The Colombian-born airline, which operates in all Central American countries, voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the United States following the company's economic losses due to the spread of covid-19 globally.
This process was necessary due to the unpredictable impact of the covid-19 pandemic, which has caused a 90% decrease in global passenger traffic and is expected to reduce industry revenues worldwide by US$314 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the company reported.
In El Salvador, authorities decided that commercial flights at the Oscar Romero International Airport will be suspended for the next three weeks due to the health alert the country is facing.
The decision was announced by the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA), and details that this is part of the compliance with the state of emergency and Executive Decree No. 12, due to the covid-19 pandemic.
Since March 17th Avianca suspended all its flights to and from El Salvador, and United Airlines announced that as of April 1st it will no longer fly to Nicaragua.
In accordance with the directives of the government of El Salvador, all Avianca flights to and from that country are suspended from March 17 at midnight, the airline reported.
The closure of El Salvador's airport will last 15 days, which may be extended in accordance with the evolution of the pandemic, according to the document issued by Avianca.
As of February 3rd, Avianca will begin operating a new frequency between the capital of El Salvador and the U.S. city.
The new frequency will leave El Salvador at 6:55 p.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 10:35 p.m. The flight from the U.S. city will leave at 00:30 hours and will arrive in the Central American country at 7:19 hours.
Starting October 27, Interjet Airlines will increase its flights between San Salvador and the U.S. capital, reaching 14 weekly frequencies.
Representatives of the airline confirmed that with the increase in frequencies, passengers will be able to choose between morning and afternoon schedules, flights that will be operated on a daily basis.
Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador signed the Regulations for the Facilitation of Air and Airport Operations, which will allow some of the flights operating between the three countries to be considered domestic flights.
The Honduran Minister of Investment, Luis Mata, explained that "... this makes it interesting for local and regional airlines to be able to use their planes on regional flights now considered as domestic or local flights with preferential rates."
The company sold its stake in the Central American airlines Sansa in Costa Rica and La Costeña in Nicaragua, both dedicated to the operation of domestic flights.
Avianca clarified that Avianca's international routes served from Juan Santamaría International Airport in Costa Rica and Augusto Sandino International Airport in Managua, Nicaragua, will continue to operate normally.
The airline Aliana announced the cancellation of flight routes from Guatemala to the United States and Tegucigalpa, and from the capital of El Salvador to destinations in North and South America.
Some routes from Bogota, Guatemala and San Salvador will be canceled consisting of fleet changes and focus on routes with higher demand, the airline said in a statement.
Avianca, United Airlines and Copa Airlines, signed a trade agreement that will allow them to agree flight routes in the American continent.
To ensure the commercial agreement reached on November 30th becomes effective, the three airlines plan to apply for regulatory approval and a complementary antitrust immunity (ATI) subsidy in the coming weeks from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and authorities in 19 Latin American countries.
Salvadoran authorities reported that the Mexican Interjet is managing licenses to make flights between the two countries, and is expected to start operations in December.
According to representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority of El Salvador (AAC), the Mexican airline plans to make flights once granted the permission of Foreign Air Operator.
Regarding the permit management, the director president of the AAC, René López, explained to Elsalvador.com that the airline already requested the "... permission to start selling tickets, starting to operate in December. They are already closing the whole process with us."