Due to the constant restrictions in different countries regarding the limitation of entry of tourists, as well as mobility within the cities, and the high uncertainty that passengers still have, the airline decided to suspend some routes in Central America.
The airline will temporarily suspend some international routes, which will be resumed according to the evolution of the pandemic, in some cases during the first quarter of the year, in other cases during the second semester, informed the Colombian airline on March 1.
The airline completed the sale of its shareholding in the Central American companies Sansa and La Costeña, which operate domestic flights in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, respectively.
The completion took place on May 31, 2019 and is an improvement of the share purchase agreement signed on April 22 between the parties, reported Avianca in a statement.
The Salvadoran Civil Aviation Authority has temporarily suspended its operating permit and granted it a period of 90 days to decide whether or not to stay in the aviation market.
The company must decide its future in a maximum period of three months, as established by the Civil Aviation Authority of El Salvador.Its executive director, Jorge Puquirre, told Elmundo.sv that"... 'Their argument (the CASI) is based on current aircraft not being profitable under the terms of the low cost tickets offered'. However, 'they are already in talks with other operators looking to lease other smaller aircraft'. If the company decides not to stay in the market, the Civil Aviation Authority has the legal power to 'cancel the operating permit permanently'."
The beginning of operations of several regional airlines in the moderately priced sector is auspicious for trade, and in particular tourism.
EDITORIAL
The launch in San Jose this week of the ultra low cost airline Volaris Costa Rica, with a presence in Mexico, the United States and Central America, who will begin operating next month with a San Jose, Costa Rica -Guatemala City (Guatemala) route, confirms how activated the business of commercial aviation in Central America has become.
Growing regional air connectivity is creating new opportunities to maximize the potential of tourist destinations in Central America.
EDITORIAL
Flying from Ometepe Island in Nicaragua, to San Jose, Costa Rica, and then landing in Bocas del Toro in Panama, was impossible a few years ago. Increasing air connectivity among the most important tourist spots in each of the Central American countries provides a wide window of opportunity for the tourism sector in the region.
VECA Airlines has announced the start of flights from El Salvador to Guatemala and Costa Rica, with capital contributed by Empresas Alba.
$60 million is the amount that Empresas Alba has contributed as seed money to VECA Airlines, and it is expected that this will cover the operation of the company until December this year. It is expected that next year the investment will be lower, as the airline is aiming for financial self-sustainability by 2016.
With the entry of two competitors focusing on the business of low-cost fares, the airline market in Central America is preparing for a potential price war.
Panama has become the starting point for tourists looking to travel to the rest of Central America, where new airlines want to capitalize on a market which so far has been driven Copa Airlines and Avianca.
The cessation of Aeroperlas’ operations could spell an opportunity for other airlines to fill the gap left in an already consolidated market.
As a domestic airline in Panama, Aeroperlas Regional began operations in 1969. It flew to the provinces of David, Chiriquí, Changuinola, Bocas del Toro, and the island of Contadora in Las Perlas Islands, in addition to making connections with international flights.