El Mismo Precio, a store located in the Pradera Concepción shopping center in Guatemala, has a potential market of 136 thousand consumers within a 15-minute drive, of which 13% are interested in discount stores.
Using the Geomarketing solutions we have developed for our clients, CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Team analyzed the environment of some of the main locations of low cost stores operating in Central American countries. Below is an excerpt of the study's findings.
The U.S.-based Frontier Airlines announced that as of April 2020 it will operate new frequencies to the Guatemalan capital from Miami and Los Angeles.
Pressalibre.com review that "... The routes established for Frontier Airlines will be from Ontario Airport (ONT) in Los Angeles, California to Guatemala and from Miami Airport (MIA) to Guatemala."
Starting November 2, the low-cost airline Wingo will begin operating four weekly frequencies between Panama City and Havana, Cuba.
The company reported that flights will depart from Panama Pacifico International Airport (BLB) at 12:53pm and arrive at Havana's José Martí International Airport (HAV) at 3:28 pm, and flights from the island depart at 4:28 pm and arrive in Panama City at 7:18pm.
The low-cost airline Wingo announced that it plans to open two weekly frequencies between San José and Bogotá starting in September.
The company reported that it has not yet applied for permits from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), but that flights would be operated on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and ticket prices will have prices from $130 round trip.
As of March 29, the Mexican airline Volaris plans to start operating two air frequencies between San Salvador and Cancun, Mexico.
The airline's representatives announced that the direct flight to the Mexican city of Cancun, will start operating from March 29, on Thursdays and Sundays.
The company took the opportunity to communicate that the flight between San Salvador and the city of Los Angeles, which will start operating next month, will add a new frequency to the two per week that hadbeen previously announced.
The airline Volaris has announced that starting March 15 it will begin operating three air frequencies from San Salvador to Los Angeles, New York and Washington.
The flight to Los Angeles will start operations on March 15, the airline's manager, Fernando Naranjo, told Elsalvador.com.The flight from San Salvador to New York will operate twice a week starting on April 17.
As of December 1, the ultra low cost Mexican airline Viva Aerobus will begin operating two weekly flights between Cancun and San Jose, Costa Rica.
The airline said in a statement that flights between San Jose and Cancun will only operate during the peak season.
Viva Aerobus has been operating since 2006, and today has the youngest fleet in Latin America, which includes 23 Airbus A320, including two A320neo in 87 routes to 37 different destinations.The owner is the IAMSA Group, who bought the stake from Irelandia Aviation, (responsible for the low-cost airline Ryan Air).The company is part of the group that also includes Viva Can in Colombia.
Arguing commercial reasons, the low-cost airline Wingo has announced the suspension of the flight between San José and Panama City.
This suspension follows the cancellation of the flight between Guatemala and Costa Rica, which the airline Wingo announced in January of this year.With the suspension of the flight between San José and Panama, Wingo is left almost without any operations in Costa Rica.
Flights by Wamos Air, which have been operating since June 27th between the capital of Spain and Guatemala, have been suspended due to the end of the tourist season on the European continent.
The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics of Guatemala (DGAC) reported that the operations are suspended from September 27 until June 5, 2018.
The low-cost airline Volaris has announced that from September 14 it will start operating three air frequencies per week between Juan Santamaría Airport and Mexico City.
Representatives from the airline in Costa Rica stated that the flights will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and will cost approximately $99 each way.
"... The company said that tickets can be purchased now and that the departure from San Jose leaves at 8:40 am, arriving in Mexico City at 12:45 pm. The departure from Mexico City is at 1:50 p.m., arriving in San Jose at 4:05 p.m.
During the past year 224 thousand passengers traveled from Panama to other countries using low-cost airlines, registering a 5% increase compared to 2015.
Although the growth rate is relatively low, it represents a transformation in the Central American air market.Spirit, VivaColombia and Wingo are three of the low-cost airlines that have increased their presence in the market, competing with the airlines that traditionally shared the region's market.
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 US budget accommodation group G6 Hospitality has announced that within five years it will build ten hotels in Belize, Costa Rica and Panama.
From a statement issued by G6 Hospitality:
DALLAS, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- G6 Hospitality, known for its iconic economy lodging brands, Motel 6 and Studio 6 in the U.S. and Canada, today announced that it is extending its footprint to Central America.
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.
The Honduran company CM Airlines has announced that it will fly between the airports of Ilopango and Tegucigalpa starting from Jan. 11 this year.
Flights from Tegucigalpa will leave at 9:20 am Monday through Thursday and 17:15 on Fridays. From El Salvador they will leave at 8:00 am Monday through Thursday and 14:30 on Fridays.