In order to have access to the vaccine against Covid-19, the number of people traveling abroad by air has increased in Guatemala in the last months, being the United States the main destination to which Guatemalans travel.
Data from the Guatemalan Institute of Migration (IGM) show that in the fifth month of the year there was an increase in the number of people who decided to travel abroad, most of them in search of access to the vaccine against the coronavirus.
In the first quarter of the year, interest in air travel increased in all Central American markets, a rise that was most evident in Honduras and Guatemala.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
Starting next April 15, the low cost airline will begin operating flights between La Aurora International Airport and the US city of New York.
In January 2020 Jet Blue announced that it had planned to start operating that route as of June 1 of that year, however, due to the health crisis the plans had to be delayed.
As of March 28th, the Colombian airline will begin to reactivate flight routes connecting Central American countries with North American and South American nations.
Due to the alert that health authorities have issued for the appearance of a new SARS-CoV-2 strain and in line with the decision made by El Salvador, the governments of Panama and Guatemala will also ban the entry of people from the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Due to the new variant of Covid-19, the National Operation Center decided to temporarily suspend as of 11:59 p.m.
In the context of the economic reopening, it was announced that as of October 15, Costa Rican air terminals will begin to receive flights carrying citizens from Central America and Panama.
Due to the covid-19 outbreak, air transport between Costa Rica and the other countries in the region has been interrupted since March. Seven months later, authorities removed the restriction and airlines will be able to begin operating these 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.
As part of the reopening of borders and the revival of commercial flights, the European Union did not include any country in the region in its initial list of markets authorized to resume commercial flights.
Because of the covid-19 outbreak, commercial flights continue to be suspended in all Central American countries; however, it is expected that in the coming weeks restrictions will be lifted and airports in the region will begin to normalize their operations.
The installation of anti-bacterial gel stations, cameras and arches for temperature control are some of the works that are pending at La Aurora Airport, so that it can operate commercial flights when the borders open.
Due to the propagation of covid-19, the Guatemalan government prohibited the arrival and departure of commercial flights in the country.
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.
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.
On January 24, the bilateral agreement known as "Open Skies" came into force, which considers flights between both countries as domestic.
The agreement reached between the two countries, which aims to promote tourism and investment, was announced by the vice presidents of Guatemala, Guillermo Castillo, and El Salvador, Felix Ulloa.
The airline Jet Blue announced that as of June 1, 2020 it will begin operating one direct flight a day between the Guatemalan capital and the U.S. city.
"... JetBlue will offer service to and from Guatemala, with daily non-stop service between Guatemala City's La Aurora International Airport (GUA) and New York (JFK). You can book those flights starting today," the airline said on Jan. 17.
From December 1, 2019, Mundo Maya Volando will begin operating flights between the country's capital and the cities of Quetzaltenango and Huehuetenango.
According to the schedules announced by the airline, flights between the three cities of the country will be available seven days a week and will be operated on three aircraft.
Juan Pablo Nieto, deputy director general of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (Inguat), told Prensalibre.com that "... the increase in the number of seats and itineraries to these two destinations requires investment by businessmen and boost the economy and tourism in these departments. Only in the Guatemala route to Huehuetenango the company registered a growth in terms of number of people above 500% and 300% in relation to the number of flights, i.e. that the business of air transport on that route is highly profitable and now with the combination surely there will be new opportunities and hopefully grow the numbers of flights."