Central American Aviation Thread - 2021

Kilgen · Sat Apr 10, 2021 1:54 pm

Wingo Panama is in their final stages of certification. From Panama's AAC: https://twitter.com/aacivilpty/status/1 ... 0235943942

SJOtoLIR · Sat Apr 10, 2021 2:23 pm

Chele737 wrote:
SAP-MIA 3 weekly (MON, WED, SAT) on board A320 will start in July
AV536 - SAP 10:15 - MIA14:30
AV537 - MIA 15:55 - SAP 16:10

AV and even the former TACA scheduled their routes to MIA starting in San Salvador: SAL-MIA, SAL-MGA-MIA, SAL-TGU-MIA, SAL-GUA-MIA, SAL-TGU-SAP-MIA, SAL-SAP-MIA and so forth.
TA SAL-RTB-MIA was in service for a while on a weekly basis.
The resumption of SAP-MIA might be originated in San Salvador.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Sat Apr 10, 2021 2:35 pm

LRC315 wrote:
TUI resuming LGW-LIR

BA LGW-SJO with 772 hasn't returned to Costa Rica yet.
Same with DE FRA-SDQ-SJO. They also briefly flew DE MUC-SDQ-SJO.
The increase of frequencies on LH FRA-SJO from 3x to 5x weekly could be also influenced for the absence of Condor Flugdienst in Costa Rica.
IB SJO-MAD is also 5x weekly by now and LH has matched their weekly frequencies between Europe and Costa Rica.

Regards.

juanchito · Tue Apr 13, 2021 1:41 pm

Yesterday was Frontier first flight from MIA to GUA
The airplane was a A320 NEO with registration N338FR

LightChop2Chop · Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:36 pm

welcome to GUA F9! I hope they do well. lot of competition from SoFla to GUA. AV, AA, B6, NK, F9

juanchito · Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:13 pm

LightChop2Chop wrote:
welcome to GUA F9! I hope they do well. lot of competition from SoFla to GUA. AV, AA, B6, NK, F9

Neither AV or B6 serves or intends to serve GUA from SoFla. So competition with 3 daily flights by AA and 10 Weekly by NK.
Wish them the best on this new adventure.

Frontier starts SAL on the 15th of this month.

Juanchito

SJOtoLIR · Wed Apr 14, 2021 3:35 am

The opening of these routes is part of the expansion plans of Frontier out of Miami and heading to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
This year, the airline has announced F9 MIA-CUN, F9 MIA-STT, F9 MIA-PUJ, F9 MIA-GUA and F9 MIA-SAL.
I cannot understand why AV MIA-SAL as non-stop is no longer in service by now,

juanchito · Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:57 pm

Today Jetblue starts flight to Guatemala from JFK, flights will be operated 5 weekly with A320 equipment but it will be change on May 6 to A321NEO

Juanchito

LightChop2Chop · Thu Apr 15, 2021 7:02 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
The opening of these routes is part of the expansion plans of Frontier out of Miami and heading to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
This year, the airline has announced F9 MIA-CUN, F9 MIA-STT, F9 MIA-PUJ, F9 MIA-GUA and F9 MIA-SAL.
I cannot understand why AV MIA-SAL as non-stop is no longer in service by now,

They just added MIA NAS/SXM today too.

LRC315 · Thu Apr 15, 2021 7:03 pm

F9 just announced its return to SJO starting July 1st.

MCO-SJO 1x week
MIA-SJO 1x week

Source: https://sjoairport.com/2021/aerolinea-f ... TL4TBZX4fA

SJOtoLIR · Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:34 pm

LRC315 wrote:
F9 just announced its return to SJO starting July 1st.

MCO-SJO 1x week
MIA-SJO 1x week

They would be operated rather as 2x weekly.
Frontier did fly both F9 DEN-SJO and F9 DEN-LIR from 2007.

Regards,

Avianca · Mon Apr 19, 2021 6:26 am

SJOtoLIR wrote:
LRC315 wrote:
TUI resuming LGW-LIR

BA LGW-SJO with 772 hasn't returned to Costa Rica yet.
Same with DE FRA-SDQ-SJO. They also briefly flew DE MUC-SDQ-SJO.
The increase of frequencies on LH FRA-SJO from 3x to 5x weekly could be also influenced for the absence of Condor Flugdienst in Costa Rica.
IB SJO-MAD is also 5x weekly by now and LH has matched their weekly frequencies between Europe and Costa Rica.

Regards.

LH is back to 3x as from this week if I am not wrong.
anyhow I still have my big ? why LH increased during the last week the flights to 5x
Personally I have my doubts that DE Will come back during 2021.

Cheers Avianca

LRC315 · Mon Apr 19, 2021 4:46 pm

KLM officially announced the return of their operations to Costa Rica starting June 29th, as announced weeks ago by the Ministry of Tourism. The airline is flying for the first time to Costa Rica outside of the European Winter Season so their service looks now more like an all-year round one. They flew recently from October 2020 to March 2021.

3x week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays)
AMS-SJO-LIR-AMS
B772

https://ticotimes.net/2021/04/19/klm-wi ... P5sQg3ln7w

SJOtoLIR · Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:10 am

LRC315 wrote:
KLM officially announced the return of their operations to Costa Rica starting June 29th, as announced weeks ago by the Ministry of Tourism. The airline is flying for the first time to Costa Rica outside of the European Winter Season so their service looks now more like an all-year round one.

That demonstrates by itself the former hypothesis of how the European carriers are heading to the isthmus, in spite of the sanitary crisis worldwide.
I've thought it was scheduled as KL AMS-SJO and back from October 2020 to March 2021.
Let's pay attention on how this brand new 77W was nicknamed as Cocos Island National Park. This is an usual tribute taken for KLM on adding the names of selected biosfere reserves of some countries where the airline is flying: Yellowstone, Galapagos Islands, Nahanni, Sian Ka'an and so on...

Type: Boeing 777-306ER
Registration: PH-BVV
Delivery date: March 25th, 2021.

Regards

MGASJO · Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:32 pm

JetBlue announcing new routes. JFK-SAP to begin late 2021!

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/ ... g.facebook

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SJOtoLIR · Thu Apr 22, 2021 2:42 am

This caption is featuring the inaugural flight on F9 MIA-SAL 2x weekly and edited on April 15th.
After Spirit, Frontier is the first US airline offering services to El Salvador, in more than ten years.
It's remarkable how some US airlines are recently expanding their services in Central America, like Frontier and jetBlue.

SJOtoLIR · Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:21 am

Top jet-line destinations from the main Central American cities by now:

Belize City - Houston: 9x weekly flighs
UA IAH-BZE 9x

Guatemala City - Miami: 23x weekly flights
AA MIA-GUA 21x + F9 MIA-GUA 2x

San Salvador - Los Angeles: 30x weekly flights
AV LAX-SAL 14x + Q6 LAX-SAL 2x + DL LAX-SAL 7x + UA LAX-SAL 7x

Tegucigalpa - Miami: 14x weekly flights
AA MIA-TGU 14x

[San Pedro Sula - Miami + San Pedro Sula - Houston]: 14x weekly flights each
AA MIA-SAP 14x + UA IAH-SAP 14x

Roatan - Miami: 7x weekly flights
AA MIA-RTB 7x

Managua - Miami: 11x weekly
AV MIA-MIA 7x + AA MIA-MGA 4x

Panama City - Bogota: 27x weekly
CM BOG-PTY 25x + P5 BOG-BLB 2x

Liberia - Miami: 14x weekly flights
AA MIA-LIR 14x

[San Jose - Miami + San Jose - Panama City]: 21x weekly flights each
AA MIA-SJO 21x + CM PTY-SJO 21x

Edited on April 25th, 2021

MGASJO · Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:07 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
Top jet-line destinations from the main Central American cities by now:

Belize City - Houston: 9x weekly flighs
UA IAH-BZE 9x

Guatemala City - Miami: 23x weekly flights
AA MIA-GUA 21x + F9 MIA-GUA 2x

San Salvador - Los Angeles: 30x weekly flights
AV LAX-SAL 14x + Q6 LAX-SAL 2x + DL LAX-SAL 7x + UA LAX-SAL 7x

Tegucigalpa - Miami: 14x weekly flights
AA MIA-TGU 14x

[San Pedro Sula - Miami + San Pedro Sula - Houston]: 14x weekly flights each
AA MIA-SAP 14x + UA IAH-SAP 14x

Roatan - Miami: 7x weekly flights
AA MIA-RTB 7x

Managua - Miami: 11x weekly
AV MIA-MIA 7x + AA MIA-MGA 4x

Panama City - Bogota: 27x weekly
CM BOG-PTY 25x + P5 BOG-BLB 2x

Liberia - Miami: 14x weekly flights
AA MIA-LIR 14x

[San Jose - Miami + San Jose - Panama City]: 21x weekly flights each
AA MIA-SJO 21x + CM PTY-SJO 21x

Edited on April 25th, 2021

AA has delayed MGA flights further back into august 2021.

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wnflyguy · Mon Apr 26, 2021 2:47 pm

WN returning to SJO and LIR seasonally June 6-September 6. So far seems like HOU daily and BWI on Saturdays only.

Flyguy

Kilgen · Mon Apr 26, 2021 4:43 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
Top jet-line destinations from the main Central American cities by now:

Panama City - Bogota: 27x weekly
CM BOG-PTY 25x + P5 BOG-BLB 2x

Edited on April 25th, 2021

I think the top destination from PTY is MIA:

CM: 21 fx per week
AA: 14 fx per week.

35 fx per week.

Edit:
I think it is CUN:
CM: 42 fx per week.

Chele737 · Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:14 pm

CM is increasing to 6X per day 42 fx per week in May. Interesting thing I saw, they are not increasing the banks during the day, but operating 2-3 flights per bank to the same destination (IE MIA out at 5am, 642am and 657am, 3 fights within minutes and 12n, 1212pm at noon) as an example, same for CUN), same applies out of PTY to these destinations..

Kilgen wrote:
SJOtoLIR wrote:
Top jet-line destinations from the main Central American cities by now:

Panama City - Bogota: 27x weekly
CM BOG-PTY 25x + P5 BOG-BLB 2x

Edited on April 25th, 2021

I think the top destination from PTY is MIA:

CM: 21 fx per week
AA: 14 fx per week.

35 fx per week.

Edit:
I think it is CUN:
CM: 42 fx per week.

SJOtoLIR · Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:11 pm

wnflyguy wrote:
WN returning to SJO and LIR seasonally June 6-September 6. So far seems like HOU daily and BWI on Saturdays only.

However, WN FLL-SJO hasn't been announced yet,
They were actively competing before with B6 FLL-SJO and NK FLL-SJO.

Regards.

2travel2know2 · Thu Apr 29, 2021 1:02 am

Chele737 wrote:
CM is increasing to 6X per day 42 fx per week in May. Interesting thing I saw, they are not increasing the banks during the day, but operating 2-3 flights per bank to the same destination (IE MIA out at 5am, 642am and 657am, 3 fights within minutes and 12n, 1212pm at noon) as an example, same for CUN), same applies out of PTY to these destinations..

While FLL only goes up to 4 per week !?
IMHO, If CM has reached demand for 6 daily flights between PTY and MIA, CM surely also does have the demand for PTY-FLL daily + 2-3 extra flights per week, specially If CM does already have the statistics which of all the PTY-MIA weekly flights might get the PTY-FLL back-up.

SJOtoLIR · Fri Apr 30, 2021 8:05 pm

Kilgen wrote:
I think the top destination from PTY is MIA:

CM: 21 fx per week
AA: 14 fx per week.

35 fx per week.

Edit:
I think it is CUN:
CM: 42 fx per week.

I did a new research and Miami is the top destination for Panama City at this time, over CUN and BOG.
Only CM PTY-MIA is more than 6x daily sometimes, adding the frequencies supplied for AA MIA-PTY 14x weekly.
We could also take into account NK FLL-PTY 1x weekly and CM FLL-PTY 4x weekly.

Regards.

LightChop2Chop · Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:17 pm

CM is resuming PTY BZE on June 18. 1Xweekly 738 replacing pre covid 2XEjet. Not sure how attractive a 1X will be especially to biz traffic, but then again there is not much choice.

SJOtoLIR · Sat May 01, 2021 7:51 am

2travel2know2 wrote:
]While FLL only goes up to 4 per week !?

I cannot remember CM PTY-FLL operating on a daily basis before.
Probably CM PTY-MIA is loaded mostly with passengers originated in deep South America, where FLL is not a common destinations for them: SCL, MVD, ASU, EZE, GIG, CNF, POA and so on.
The current market of FLL heading to South America is focused to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and even AD VCP-FLL is still in service.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Sat May 01, 2021 7:59 am

MGASJO wrote:
AA has delayed MGA flights further back into august 2021.

I was studying the situation of Delta Air Lines in Managua.
As far as I know, the airline is not planning to return at MGA.

Regards.

MGASJO · Sat May 01, 2021 12:50 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
MGASJO wrote:
AA has delayed MGA flights further back into august 2021.

I was studying the situation of Delta Air Lines in Managua.
As far as I know, the airline is not planning to return at MGA.

Regards.

Yes, Delta called it quits last year. United is aiming for an October return, spirit has no date and like posted earlier American is saying august 17th (which I think they will eventually postpone again). Nothing will change if the government does not ease the restrictions (granted they are for show because in the country they actually push for big gatherings and the like)

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2travel2know2 · Sat May 01, 2021 2:51 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
2travel2know2 wrote:
]While FLL only goes up to 4 per week !?

I cannot remember CM PTY-FLL operating on a daily basis before.
Probably CM PTY-MIA is loaded mostly with passengers originated in deep South America, where FLL is not a common destinations for them: SCL, MVD, ASU, EZE, GIG, CNF, POA and so on.
The current market of FLL heading to South America is focused to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and even AD VCP-FLL is still in service.

Regards.

In general, if travelling to Florida for the 1st time, CM's South American passengers would prefer MIA over FLL.
Those who have flown to Miami before and their destination happened to be close to FLL (lets say, Aventura, Hallandale) would check CM to FLL and if convenient, next trip, will fly to FLL instead of MIA.
Also, there's an issue with airfares, there're times fares to FLL are cheaper than to MIA and/or MCO. Quite a number of passengers trying to save big when flying to MIA or MCO, even for the 1st time, would discover CM air-fares to FLL and chose to fly to FLL.

SJOtoLIR · Sun May 02, 2021 2:17 am

CM PTY-HAV was ranked among the top-ten routes of the airline.
However, it only displays two isolated flights a week for the time being.
I ignore about any constraints given by the Government of the island related to the travelers from abroad.

SJOtoLIR · Sun May 02, 2021 2:23 am

LightChop2Chop wrote:
CM is resuming PTY BZE on June 18.

So, the resumption of such route has been delayed 18 days from their intended plans.
BZE would recover the inbound traffic coming from the Caribbean and South America, as it was axed since March 2020.
Regards.

CRMCPILOT31 · Sun May 02, 2021 2:47 am

Has B6 given a date of initial operations into SAP? I am glad to see a new airline, but really thought DL was going to increase its presence in Honduras after more than 10yrs and they still have 1 daily ATL flight........ this was an opportunity to add a JFK service into SAP ever since AV dropped it.

SJOtoLIR · Sun May 02, 2021 3:49 pm

CRMCPILOT31 wrote:
Has B6 given a date of initial operations into SAP?.

December 2021.
There's no more known information at this time.

https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/04/jetblue-will-have-regular-flights-to-honduras-for-the-first-time/

AV and the former TACA flew SAL-SAP-JFK twice a week, if I recall correctly.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR · Thu May 06, 2021 3:55 am

AV SAL-MEX resumed their services thrice a week with 319.

LightChop2Chop · Thu May 06, 2021 12:37 pm

CM has changed their BZE PTY restart to June 2. two weeks earlier than originally planned.

avi8 · Thu May 06, 2021 2:10 pm

SJOtoLIR wrote:
AV SAL-MEX resumed their services thrice a week with 319.

I wonder if we will see the resumption of GUA-JFK/IAD with AV as they had previously mentioned. I would also like to add GUA-MEX, the largest O/D destination to Mexico from Central America. I wonder if that's in the books.

LightChop2Chop · Thu May 06, 2021 2:24 pm

avi8 wrote:
SJOtoLIR wrote:
AV SAL-MEX resumed their services thrice a week with 319.

I wonder if we will see the resumption of GUA-JFK/IAD with AV as they had previously mentioned. I would also like to add GUA-MEX, the largest O/D destination to Mexico from Central America. I wonder if that's in the books.

Isn't Aeromexico and Volaris already on GUA MEX? I would assume they would move to consolidate and fortify their position since Interjet has gone bust and while AV is out of the market

avi8 · Thu May 06, 2021 2:30 pm

LightChop2Chop wrote:
avi8 wrote:
SJOtoLIR wrote:
AV SAL-MEX resumed their services thrice a week with 319.

I wonder if we will see the resumption of GUA-JFK/IAD with AV as they had previously mentioned. I would also like to add GUA-MEX, the largest O/D destination to Mexico from Central America. I wonder if that's in the books.

Isn't Aeromexico and Volaris already on GUA MEX? I would assume they would move to consolidate and fortify their position since Interjet has gone bust and while AV is out of the market

Yes, which why I thought Interjet's demise offered the opportunity for a new entrant. I guess we will see. AM is only operating 2 daily and Volaris 1 daily.

AM used to operate up to 4 daily flights until the MAX issues occurred while Interjet offered 2 daily flights.

juanchito · Thu May 06, 2021 3:54 pm

avi8 wrote:
LightChop2Chop wrote:
avi8 wrote:

I wonder if we will see the resumption of GUA-JFK/IAD with AV as they had previously mentioned. I would also like to add GUA-MEX, the largest O/D destination to Mexico from Central America. I wonder if that's in the books.

Isn't Aeromexico and Volaris already on GUA MEX? I would assume they would move to consolidate and fortify their position since Interjet has gone bust and while AV is out of the market

Yes, which why I thought Interjet's demise offered the opportunity for a new entrant. I guess we will see. AM is only operating 2 daily and Volaris 1 daily.

AM used to operate up to 4 daily flights until the MAX issues occurred while Interjet offered 2 daily flights.

Avianca or Taca gave up GUA-MEX because of the competition from Mexicana, Aeromexico, Volaris and Interjet.

I think Viva could start first that route, because I think Avianca will never enter this market again.

Now Volaris is flying 6 weekly and Aeromexico 2 daily.

2travel2know2 · Fri May 07, 2021 2:09 am

MIA/FLL
CM announced via its Instagram today that this month, PTY-MIA goes up to 42 flights per week while PTY-FLL goes daily (earlier was scheduled to 4 x week).
That's 7 daily flights between PTY and South East Florida.
My guess is that, sooner than later, CM will be also flying PTY-FLL evening and FLL-PTY morning flights 2-3 days per weekend plus red-eyes between PTY and MIA a couple of days per week.
I wish increased demand for PTY-FLL could be a sign there may be (one day) demand for PTY-PBI and/or PTY-RSW too.

TPA
Even if planned to operate Mondays and Fridays aiming for the weekend traffic, CM's PTY-TPA re-start has been posponed several times. Hope the route returns before year end, specially if TPA route is attractive for PTY-MCO traffic overflow.

SJOtoLIR · Fri May 07, 2021 2:59 pm

Impressive the new frequencies into the Panama City - South Florida sector !
That demonstrates the supremacy of CM in such segment, over the rest of their competitors.
If CM PTY-FLL goes to daily, these flights are being loaded with a sizeable percentage of passengers coming from abroad.
NK FLL-PTY is now barely operating on a weekly basis and following the "red-eye" pattern schedule.
On the other hand, CM PTY-FLL operates during the daylight hours and proving the success of this business model.

Kilgen · Fri May 07, 2021 5:06 pm

Yesterday CM presented their financial statements for Q1: https://copa.gcs-web.com/news-releases/ ... arter-2021

They had their quarterly call:
https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-tran ... gn=article

One of the interesting points is that by the end of June they plan to return to 6 banks of flights per day.

SJOtoLIR · Wed May 12, 2021 7:33 pm

Alaska adds Belize to its international destinations

Alaska also announced today new nonstop service to Belize City, Belize, in Central America from the West Coast. Belize will be the fourth country Alaska flies to from its West Coast hubs, joining Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Routes and schedules to Belize will be announced when ticket sales begin in early June.

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-announces-plans-for-fleet-growth-and-route-expansion-301290067.html

SunsetLimited · Thu May 13, 2021 8:58 pm

NK is starting MSY-SAP in July. Better late than never!

LightChop2Chop · Thu May 13, 2021 9:36 pm

Based on multiple leaks through their own social Medica channels look like AS BZE service will be LAX and SEA nonstops. Will SEA BZE be the longest nonstop in their system?

REDHL · Thu May 13, 2021 10:33 pm

Wingo (P5) is starting the following new routes:

PTY-SJO: June 21st (route previously operated between December 2016 and October 2017)

BOG-LIM: June 28th

MDE-PUJ: July 3rd

CLO-CUN: July 14th
All will be operated 2x weekly.

2travel2know2 · Thu May 13, 2021 11:02 pm

REDHL wrote:
Wingo (P5) is starting the following new routes:

PTY-SJO: June 21st (route previously operated between December 2016 and October 2017)
BOG-LIM: June 28th
MDE-PUJ: July 3rd
CLO-CUN: July 14th

All will be operated 2x weekly.

CM's P5 didn't fly PTY-SJO, it flew from BLB (Howard Panamá Pacífico).
Seems P5 has no plans to return to BLB.

SJOtoLIR · Fri May 14, 2021 2:06 am

SunsetLimited wrote:
NK is starting MSY-SAP in July. Better late than never!

Nice to see Spirit once again in San Pedo Sula !
On the other hand, nothing official yet about any AS SEA-BZE.

Regards.

REDHL · Fri May 14, 2021 1:00 pm

2travel2know2 wrote:
REDHL wrote:
Wingo (P5) is starting the following new routes:

PTY-SJO: June 21st (route previously operated between December 2016 and October 2017)
BOG-LIM: June 28th
MDE-PUJ: July 3rd
CLO-CUN: July 14th

All will be operated 2x weekly.
CM's P5 didn't fly PTY-SJO, it flew from BLB (Howard Panamá Pacífico).
Seems P5 has no plans to return to BLB.

My mistake. I didn't clarify that.

Besides that and according to some annonymous sources I've consulted, BLB was temporarily shut down in order to have a better passenger entrance control through MAG and PTY airports during this pandemic, as well as to proceed to renew/upgrade the current passenger terminal facilities (following Tocumen S.A.'s master plan).

So, it would take a long while until P5 returns to BLB.

Kilgen · Fri May 14, 2021 1:35 pm

REDHL wrote:
2travel2know2 wrote:
REDHL wrote:
Wingo (P5) is starting the following new routes:

PTY-SJO: June 21st (route previously operated between December 2016 and October 2017)
BOG-LIM: June 28th
MDE-PUJ: July 3rd
CLO-CUN: July 14th

All will be operated 2x weekly.
CM's P5 didn't fly PTY-SJO, it flew from BLB (Howard Panamá Pacífico).
Seems P5 has no plans to return to BLB.

My mistake. I didn't clarify that.

Besides that and according to some annonymous sources I've consulted, BLB was temporarily shut down in order to have a better passenger entrance control through MAG and PTY airports during this pandemic, as well as to proceed to renew/upgrade the current passenger terminal facilities (following Tocumen S.A.'s master plan).

So, it would take a long while until P5 returns to BLB.

The other thing, with decrease in traffic, there is no point for the holding to have staff at 2 different locations when they can share resources at PTY. Most likely they will use PTY until it starts to get saturated again in 12 to 18 months.

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