The Civil Aviation authority in Costa Rica has rejected the application made by Ticos Air to obtain the certification as an international airline because it did not meet the requirements within the required timeframe.
The Civil Aviation authority of Costa Rica notified the company that the Ticos Air that their case has been closed because of non compliance with all the "legal, technical and financial" requirements ...
Air Costa Rica has started the process of gaining certification as an international operator and plans to begin charter flights in six months.
Air Costa Rica is the new brand name of Tica Air according to the Public Registry of the airline, which has launched the second phase of a certification process and expects to receive approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation within four to six months to operate as international airline.
The abandonment of several routes by Avianca leaves, apparently, niches that could be used by new players.
An article in Elfinancierocr.com reports that "If all goes as planned, 2014 could see the start of operations by three new Central American airlines: Air Ticos, Ticas Airlines and Vuelos Económicos Centroamericanos (VECA). The new companies want to attend to the international passenger routes amid an industry dominated by giants such as Avianca, Copa Airlines, Delta and 20 other international airlines."
El Salvador's Vuelos Económicos Centroamericanos and Costa Rica's Ticos Air and Ticas Airlines are in various stages of preparation and registration to offer flights in the region.
Vuelos Económicos Centroamericanos (CASI) reported that it has leased two Airbus aircraft and will invest nearly $100 million in order to start operations in March 2014. The company is interested in creating a market in the low-cost segment and not competing with airlines such as Avianca and Copa, said Edgar Hasbun, CEO of the company.
Ticas International Airlines has filed an application with the Civil Aviation authority for approval to operate charter flights to Cancun and San Andrés.
The information was confirmed by the director of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Alvaro Vargas, adding that it is likely that an agreement will be reached with representatives of Ticas International Airlines, due to the interest shown.
With five new Airbus 319 planes Air Ticos will begin operations in late 2013 with flights from San Jose to Mexico City, Miami and New York.
Ticos Air has submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation the necessary documentation to gain a certificate of operation valid for several international destinations.
The airline is expected to begin operations in December, since this is the third phase of a process started months ago.