Since American Airlines, Aeromexico, United Airlines and Spirit announced that they will delay their return to the country until April, local businessmen have given up hope that air connectivity will improve in the coming weeks.
Six international airlines operate in Nicaragua, but currently only Copa and Avianca are flying. The remaining four have postponed their return and according to their latest announcements, they would return until April.
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.
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.
The Bogota-based airline has announced that it will continue to negotiate a strategic and commercial alliance with United Airlines and expects to finalize an agreement to be announced at the end of the year.
From a statement issued by Avianca Holdings:
New York and Bogotá, November 29, 2017.Avianca Holdings S.A.
The private companies' association is in talks with United Airlines to promote the opening of a route that connects Nicaragua with the east coast of the United States.
Representatives from the Consejo Superior de Empresa Privada (Cosep) announced that during negotiations they have also considered the possibility of a flight connecting Nicaragua with a city on the west coast, such as San Francisco or Los Angeles.
Dismissing the proposals by the Panamanian company Copa and that of Delta, Avianca Holdings has announced it will start the process of finalizing a strategic and commercial alliance with United Airlines.
The Panamanian airline has presented a financial offer in cash and stock to acquire the second largest airline in the region after Latam Airlines.
The New York Times reported that the offer made by Copa Airlines consists of "... a merger that would value Avianca at more than $2 billion, or a 150 percent premium to its share price last week.
United Airlines has increased to 17th the number of weekly direct flights from Houston to Managua to 17 .
The airline announced that the new flight will arrive in Nicaragua's capital on Saturday, and will be repeated permanently throughout the year. Salvador Marrero, executive director of the airline, said that "..."What we did last year in high season, this year in 2015 will become a permanent service. We are constantly analyzingh what happens to our destinations and when the market demands more, we provide more seats. '"
As of December 12th United Airlines will add a fifth direct frequency between San Jose and the George Bush International Airport in Houston.
From a statement issued by United Airlines:
United Airlines has announced it will increase the frequency of nonstop flights between San José, Costa Rica and its hubs in Houston, George Bush International Airport as of December 12, 2014.
Following the example of Panama, attracting new airlines in Costa Rica has had a positive impact on the number of tourists coming into the country.
Improving a country's air connectivity is the main recipe for increasing the influx of visitors and improving the country's ranking as a destination for tourism. These elements, along with others, explain the 7% increase in the number of tourists who came to Costa Rica in January and February 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.
United Airlines will fly twice a week to Chicago and three times a week to Washington.
The airline United Airlines has announced an increase in the frequency of direct flights between Costa Rica and the U.S. From 6 to 31 March, the San Jose-Chicago route will have two flights a week, on Saturdays and Sundays, while the San Jose-Washington route will have three flights, on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada have also suspended the sale of tickets for international flights to Venezuela.
The international airlines American Airlines, United Airlines and Copa Airlines have decided to temporarily cancel the sale of air tickets in Venezuela. The measure was taken due to the uncertainty generated over a multi million-dollar debt the government holds with some airlines and the changes that have been made relating to foreign exchange.
As of April 13, United Airlines will increase its offer to Costa Rica and Guatemala flying from Washington and Chicago.
The company said through a press release that the new routes are between Washington DC and San Jose and Guatemala City, and from Chicago to San Jose, Costa Rica.