Central American Aviation Thread - 2017 (1st Half)

SJOtoLIR · Thu May 25, 2017 12:14 am

viaggiare wrote:
WN303 FLL1135 – 1330SJO 73G D
WN304 SJO1425 – 1820FLL 73G D

I couldn't imagine how profitable is that route, taking into account three carriers on the run: Spirit, jetBlue and Southwest, in the near future.
Sometimes, NK FLL-SJO used to fly up to twice daily, especially during the US summer break and Christmas season.

Regards.

viaggiare · Thu May 25, 2017 3:10 am

LTU932 wrote:
to be operated with an A320

The paper does mention "un avión A320 con capacidad para 220 pasajeros" but LATAM 320s can seat up to 162, 168 or 174 passengers, depending on configuration. In other words, 321s will likely be used.

SJOtoLIR · Thu May 25, 2017 11:28 pm

viaggiare wrote:
321s will likely be used.

I'm still puzzled about how will it work later.
The route will probably be maketed by LATAM Peru division and it would be timed to promote easy connections within Peru and the rest of South America through Lima.
I'm just waiting for the intended schedule.
Why can't LATAM fly on a daily basis from the very beggining, in order to face AV SJO-LIM 7x weekly ?
In my view, AV SJO-BOG 21x weekly is rather boosting Bogota as the new transferring center to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, La Paz and so forth. As a result, AV SJO-LIM 7x weekly is reducing their loads and LP LIM-SJO 3x weekly may take advantage of this fact.

Regards.

viaggiare · Sat May 27, 2017 2:19 am

SJOtoLIR wrote:
schedule

LA2408 LIM1250 – 1540SJO 319 257
LA2409 SJO1715 – 2205LIM 319 257

Effective 02JAN18. Operated by LATAM Airlines Perú. 144 seats in one-class Economy configuration.

SJOtoLIR wrote:
timed to promote easy connections

From/to GRU, SCL and EZE. Less conveniently from/to COR, ROS, MDZ, SLA, MVD and ASU.

juanchito · Sat May 27, 2017 4:58 pm

Tag Airlines will start flights from Puerto Barrios to Belize with Embraer E110 equipment.
GUA-PBR-BZE-PBR-GUA Sundays to Fridays starting May 31.

702 GUA 07:00 am - PBR 08:00 am
802 PBR 08:30 am - BZE 09:00 am

701 BZE 16:15 am - PBR 16:50 am
801 PBR 17:00 am - GUA 18:00 am

SJOtoLIR · Sun May 28, 2017 1:45 am

I've found this new press release from Chile about the new LA LIM-SJO 3x weekly

http://www.desdescl.com/2017/05/latam-s ... -como.html

So the flight will be operated with 319.
They're working careful to study the behavior of the demand of passengers.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Sun May 28, 2017 2:01 am

juanchito wrote:
Tag Airlines will start flights from Puerto Barrios to Belize with Embraer E110 equipment

Perhaps the new flight won't interfere with the existing commercial agreement between Tropic Air and TAG: Guatemala City - Flores - Belize City.
By the way, the Saab 340 looks nice featuring the TAG color-scheme.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Sun May 28, 2017 2:45 am

Avianca upgraded the level of service at LAX as all their flights are now operating from Tom Bradley international terminal, including AV LAX-BOG and their Central American destinations: AV LAX-SAL and AV LAX-GUA-SJO.
No more flights from terminal two.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Wed May 31, 2017 3:17 am

Cayman Airways started Roatan service as shown:

KX 884....GCM 18:50.......19:00 RTB.......Th, Sa......733
KX 885....RTB 08:00........10:10 GCM......Fr, Su.......733
Effective: March 16, 2017

Regards.

yellowtail · Fri Jun 02, 2017 10:10 pm

has TAG started their PBR BZE service yet?

yellowtail · Mon Jun 05, 2017 12:54 am

Since I am too old to figure out how to post photos here, there are photos of the inaugural WN FLL-BZE on the 9N FB page. https://www.facebook.com/TropicAir/photos/a.379400409591.162383.340653164591/10155386983784592/?type=3&theater

SJOtoLIR · Wed Jun 07, 2017 2:54 am

yellowtail wrote:
the inaugural WN FLL-BZE

It complements WN DEN-BZE, in service from March 2017.
As far as I know, WN DEN-BZE is seasonal.

Regards.

LTU932 · Wed Jun 07, 2017 8:51 am

http://www.eleconomista.net/2017/06/06/ ... ara-operar

The AAC, El Salvador's civil aviation authority, has officially revoked Veca's AOC due to them not operating for more than 90 days. They did get two extensions of their suspension for 30 days each, but a third extension for 120 days starting April 18, for continuing the restructuring process, was denied by AAC and so Veca's AOC is now null and void.

Didn't we see the writing on the wall when they suspended service? Their definitive shutdown is unfortunate, but not unexpected at all. They are trying to find a new investor who is willing to buy the company, but I sincerely doubt anyone wants to have the company for anything other than whatever assets they have.

yellowtail · Wed Jun 07, 2017 12:28 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
yellowtail wrote:
the inaugural WN FLL-BZE

It complements WN DEN-BZE, in service from March 2017.
As far as I know, WN DEN-BZE is seasonal.

Regards.

Yes DEN BZE is seasonal (nov to aug). HOU / FLL are daily year round.

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:53 am

LTU932 wrote:
Didn't we see the writing on the wall when they suspended service?

See inputs 3 and 4 on this board.
From the records of the Cent Am aviation thread:

January 23, 2015: VU SAL-GUA 6x 319 + VU SAL-SJO 3x 319: NEW
February 22, 2016: VU SAL-GUA 8x 319 + VU SAL-SJO 7x 319
April 18, 2016: VU SAL-MGA 2x 319 NEW
December 01, 2016: Wingo PAC-SJO-GUA 3x 73G + PAC-SJO 4x 73G NEW
December 01, 2016: Q6 SJO-GUA 14x 320 NEW
January 11, 2017: Wingo SJO-GUA 3x 73G QUIT
January 15, 2017: VU SAL-MGA 2x 319 SUSPENDED
January 15, 2017: VU SAL-GUA-SAL-SJO-SAL-GUA-SAL 3x 319 SUSPENDED
February 17, 2017: AIR COSTA RICA SJO-GUA 733 FILED
February 20, 2017: Q6 SJO-SAL 7x 320 NEW
April 07, 2017: Q6 SJO-MGA 7x 320 NEW

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:04 am

yellowtail wrote:
HOU / FLL are daily year round.

I can't explain why didn't Spirit fly the FLL-BZE segment before ? Same with B6.
NK has a respectable Central American network from 2007 operating at GUA, SAP, MGA, PTY and SJO.

Regards.

estefanovich · Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:50 am

Seems like Q6 has discontinued one of their daily flights SJO-GUA. I see SAL-GUA on Mondays and Fridays starting June 19.

juanchito · Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:33 am

estefanovich wrote:
Seems like Q6 has discontinued one of their daily flights SJO-GUA. I see SAL-GUA on Mondays and Fridays starting June 19.

Yes, also SJO-MGA and SJO-SAL will be reduce
And SAL-MGA will begin service.

Juanchito

TheLion · Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:05 am

SJOtoLIR wrote:
British Airways did serve Panama City, in the past.
I couldn't find any reference about the last service. I think it was around 1990.
BOAC also flew to Panama City, many years ago. If I remember correctly, it was via Montego Bay, Bermuda and Nassau.

Regards.

Would you have the link? I know for sure BA could not have served PTY before the merger with BCal in 1987/88, as I've been following their route development since then.

If they ever did serve PTY it would likely have been in the 1970s or earlier, back in the BOAC days. It is possible they may have introduced it and cut it after a few weeks or a season, that said.

TheLion · Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:15 am

N292UX wrote:
Personally, I think MGA could use a longer-haul flight, most likely to MAD, as well as a nonstop to New York. I think Nicaraguans would enjoy those options along with their current ones.

Wholeheartedly agree. IB said in Summer 2015 that they were studying the route along with several others including Asunción, Brasília, Doha, Toronto & Guadalajara, plus San Juan, Tokyo & Joburg, which have subsequently been (re)launched.

Source in English: https://londonairtravel.com/2015/07/31/ ... -expansion

Source in Spanish: http://www.nacion.com/economia/empresar ... 49773.html

2travel2know2 · Wed Jun 14, 2017 1:50 pm

viaggiare wrote:
SJOtoLIR wrote:
schedule

LA2408 LIM1250 – 1540SJO 319 257
LA2409 SJO1715 – 2205LIM 319 257

Effective 02JAN18. Operated by LATAM Airlines Perú. 144 seats in one-class Economy configuration.

SJOtoLIR wrote:
timed to promote easy connections

From/to GRU, SCL and EZE. Less conveniently from/to COR, ROS, MDZ, SLA, MVD and ASU.

If LATAM wishes to start PTY that schedule wouldn't work.
What probably would work for LATAM LIM-PTY-LIM is something like midnight arrival for LIM-PTY and very early morning departure for PTY-LIM as CM isn't flying at those times.

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:46 am

TheLion wrote:
I know for sure BA could not have served PTY before the merger with BCal in 1987/88

I had read about British Airways in Panama City somewhere on this forum before, but I couldn't find any reliable source to prove it.
The following attachments from my own collection are not showing PTY more than 25 years ago.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jun 15, 2017 3:12 am

2travel2know2 wrote:
If LATAM wishes to start PTY that schedule wouldn't work.
What probably would work for LATAM LIM-PTY-LIM is something like midnight arrival for LIM-PTY and very early morning departure for PTY-LIM

CM PTY-LIM supplies up to five daily services sometimes and LATAM [LIM-PTY] probably wouldn't operate three weekly flights, in that sector.
In my view, LATAM by means of LP chose San Jose over Panama City due to the limited services of AV SJO-LIM 7x weekly. The former TA SJO-LIM was 12x weekly, in the past.
Furthermore, the intended schedule on LATAM [SJO-LIM] matches the midnight bank once at LIM. That being said, the fictitious LATAM [PTY-LIM] must keep a similar itinerary like LATAM [LIM-SJO].

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jun 15, 2017 3:19 am

Turkish Airlines expanded the code-share partnership with Copa Airlines.
Some routes touching Mexico have been included as shown:

TK operated by CM:
Panama City - Cancun
Panama City - Guadalajara
Panama City - Mexico City
Panama City - Monterrey
Effective: June 06.

Regards.

LTU932 · Mon Jun 19, 2017 10:32 pm

http://www.ameliarueda.com/nota/aeropue ... is-turismo

Aeris and DGME are considering putting APCs for entry immigration in SJO. From what I gather, primary beneficiaries of these APCs will be Costa Rican citizens. I could still see citizens of other countries eventually benefiting from them as well, like US citizens, Canadians and EU citizens, as well as perhaps green card holders. While I find the idea absolutely great and convenient, I feel it's time to do the same thing Panama does as (to my knowledge) only other country in Central America and introduce biometric passports at the same time.

Having used the APCs myself in DFW, as well as automated passport controls in AMS, FRA and HAM, I find them very convenient and they allow you to be cleared in far less time. That said, every time I landed in SJO in the last 3 years, I never had a long line in front of me (and the last time was after AF had landed). I always breezed through.

yellowtail · Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:25 pm

APCs are a great idea.

LTU932 · Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:43 pm

yellowtail wrote:
APCs are a great idea.

Absolutely. It contributes to better border security and more convenience for all. DGME also wants to get rid of the paper forms for entry and exit as well and replace them with a biometric check.

http://www.nacion.com/nacional/servicio ... 1498104071

On a negative, the Ministry of Public Safety wants to move security checks to the gate. IMO a ridiculous idea and a step backward in terms of airport safety.

http://www.ameliarueda.com/nota/revisio ... n-ministro

SJOtoLIR · Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:03 pm

Some pics taken at Daniel Oduber International Airport, Liberia and featuring the expansion of the terminal building developed by CORIPORT S.A.

Regards.

LTU932 · Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:40 am

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/air ... e-in-1q18/

Starting January 28 until March 4, when the seasonal service ends, KL is adding a third frequency to SJO. Flights are then on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

SJOtoLIR · Mon Jun 26, 2017 11:16 pm

LTU932 wrote:
Starting January 28 until March 4, when the seasonal service ends, KL is adding a third frequency to SJO.

The seasonal AF CDG-SJO is also expanding their weekly frequencies from 2x to 3x as pointing out here, some weeks ago.
It will be effective from October 30th.
The AF/KL grouping is acting agressively in Costa Rica and based purely on the O&D market.

Regards.

SunsetLimited · Mon Jun 26, 2017 11:27 pm

CM just celebrated its two-year anniversary in MSY. Here's to many more.

juanchito · Tue Jun 27, 2017 7:18 pm

Wamos Air will start operation to GUA using a Boeing 747-400 once weekly.

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:46 pm

The Mexican low-cost carrier called Volaris started in 2015 the segments GDL-SJO 2x weekly plus CUN-SJO 2x weekly.
Both frequencies were increased to thrice a week last year.
These routes will be finally transferred to its Costa Rican division: Volaris Costa Rica. Effective: July 01.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:57 pm

juanchito wrote:
Wamos Air will start operation to GUA using a Boeing 747-400 once weekly.

The former idea spoke about the 330 instead, on the triangular route MAD-GUA-HAV-MAD; once a week.
Did Wamos already start operations at GUA ?

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jun 30, 2017 11:16 pm

SunsetLimited wrote:
CM just celebrated its two-year anniversary in MSY. Here's to many more.

CM PTY-MSY is still served with the E90 and it's not operating daily yet.
We may expect a better performance in the future, in terms of the demand of passengers.
New Orleans was the main gateway linking the United States and Central America, more than 50 years ago.

Regards.

LTU932 · Fri Jul 07, 2017 10:03 pm

http://corporate.airfrance.com/en/news/ ... costa-rica

AF is making a major commitment to SJO. Starting April 1st 2018, they will continue flying year-round to SJO. Here's their schedule:

Winter season 2017/18:

AF 430 CDG-SJO, 13:25-17:55, Mon-Thu-Sat, 77W
AF 431 SJO-CDG, 20:15-13:30 +1

Schedule starting April 1st 2018:

AF 430 CDG-SJO, 13:10-16:50, Wed-Sun, 772
AF 431 SJO-CDG, 19:10-13:45 +1

juanchito · Sat Jul 08, 2017 2:24 am

SJOtoLIR wrote:
juanchito wrote:
Wamos Air will start operation to GUA using a Boeing 747-400 once weekly.

The former idea spoke about the 330 instead, on the triangular route MAD-GUA-HAV-MAD; once a week.
Did Wamos already start operations at GUA ?

Regards.

Yes they have started operations.

First Flight

Wamos 747-400 by Juan Manuel Galvez, on Flickr

Second Flight

Wamos 747-400 by Juan Manuel Galvez, on Flickr

SJOtoLIR · Sat Jul 08, 2017 3:25 pm

It's remarkable the incursion of secondary Spaniard airlines in Central America: Air Europa in Honduras and Wamos in Guatemala.
Both started this year.

juanchito · Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:23 pm

Today American Airlines started service between ORD and GUA, saturdays only and seasonal only.

Juanchito

SJOtoLIR · Sun Jul 09, 2017 12:03 am

Recent additions on Copa Airlines:

Equipment: Boeing 737-8V3. Delivery date: 12-01-2017. Registration: HP-1854CMP
Equipment: Boeing 737-8V3. Delivery date: 03-03-2017. Registration: HP-1855CMP

Regards.

LTU932 · Sun Jul 09, 2017 4:52 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
It's remarkable the incursion of secondary Spaniard airlines in Central America: Air Europa in Honduras and Wamos in Guatemala.
Both started this year.

Let's hope they'll do much better than Air Madrid and Air Comet did. I'm at least hopeful for Air Europa, because they're an established airline.

juanchito · Sun Jul 09, 2017 5:09 pm

Wamos Air used to be Air Pullmantur it was stablished on 2003 and it is an Tour Operator Airline.

SJOtoLIR · Sun Jul 09, 2017 9:04 pm

Air Europa is playing in a different league, unlike Wamos, Thomson, Edelweiss, Condor and other European airlines focused merely to leisure purposes.
I can almost remember some talks here about the possibility of UX in Panama, when Copa Airlines belonged to Sky Team grouping as well.
The idea never came into fruition.

Regards.

viaggiare · Thu Jul 13, 2017 6:10 pm

LH starts twice-weekly FRA–SJO–FRA nonstop A343 service, effective 29MAR18.

LH518 FRA1345 – 1755SJO 343 46
LH519 SJO1950 – 1510+1FRA 343 46

aer · Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:30 pm

viaggiare wrote:
LH starts twice-weekly FRA–SJO–FRA nonstop A343 service, effective 29MAR18.

LH518 FRA1345 – 1755SJO 343 46
LH519 SJO1950 – 1510+1FRA 343 46

So jealous, hope they codeshare to GUA with AV or CM.. or both.

LTU932 · Thu Jul 13, 2017 10:46 pm

viaggiare wrote:
LH starts twice-weekly FRA–SJO–FRA nonstop A343 service, effective 29MAR18.

LH518 FRA1345 – 1755SJO 343 46
LH519 SJO1950 – 1510+1FRA 343 46

Boy. That escalated quickly. I mean, in these last 2 years or so, we had BA, AF, Edelweiss and soon KL start nonstop service to SJO, now it's LH joining the party.

I presume the LH flights will be Jump aircraft, operated by LH Cityline like the flights to PTY.

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:01 am

LH FRA-SJO will face Condor FRA-SDQ-SJO.
In my view, leave Panama City as the connecting center for Central America on KL, LH and AF.
Their limited weekly services at SJO are unappealing for this purpose.

Regards.

viaggiare · Fri Jul 14, 2017 3:38 am

LTU932 wrote:
I presume the LH flights will be Jump aircraft, operated by LH Cityline

Correct. No First Class. Star Alliance livery.

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jul 14, 2017 4:22 am

I've already watched the video from the Costa Rican Government posted on social media and related to the new flight.
They're are promoting LH FRA-SJO as the eight European carrier in Costa Rica: Iberia, Air France, KLM, Edelweiss, Condor, Thomson, British Airways and Lufthansa.

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jul 14, 2017 5:02 am

The new thread is already running:

https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1368277

Mods, please lock this old version.

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