SJOtoLIR wrote:

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.

Yes. AS has acknowledged that service will be from LAX and SEA. I wish I could figure out how to put a photo of the instagram feed in this thread.

LightChop2Chop wrote:

AS has acknowledged that service will be from LAX and SEA. I wish I could figure out how to put a photo of the instagram feed in this thread.

The name of the JPEG/GIF/PNG image would need to be transformed as URL direction [ https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/3269/hGpEvk.jpg] by means of any compatible software like ImageShack.com.
Then, the file shall be easily loaded using the third box named insert image.
AS SEA-BZE would be so far the longest route of the airline as shown:





Regards.

we don't know yet what AS intends to use on SEA-BZE but if its a 737-800 it is likely to take a payload hit. I would guess they will use a Max for this.

I know WN isn't thinking in (major) international expansion lately but, if WN still does maintenance @ Aeroman SAL, How come WN hasn't thought of flying passenger revenue flights between HOU and SAL?
Saldadorean in Houston numbers actually make it an interesting O/D market, even if UA already in the market.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

LightChop2Chop wrote:

AS has acknowledged that service will be from LAX and SEA. I wish I could figure out how to put a photo of the instagram feed in this thread.

The name of the JPEG/GIF/PNG image would need to be transformed as URL direction [ https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/3269/hGpEvk.jpg] by means of any compatible software like ImageShack.com.
Then, the file shall be easily loaded using the third box named insert image.
AS SEA-BZE would be so far the longest route of the airline as shown:





Regards.

Actually I think that ORD-ANC will remain the longest flight in AS’s system at 2473nm.

Belize airport has only a 7100 feet long runway at sea level, could that flight (5.5 hours aprox) to Seattle be restricted if it is being operated by a 737?

Regards

BoeingGuy wrote:

Actually I think that ORD-ANC will remain the longest flight in AS’s system at 2473nm.

Point taken. AS ORD-ANC is slightly farther.



AS ORD-ANC is flown with 737 equipment.
However, I've understood the point about the limited length of the BZE runway for such long flight.
I'm still waiting for the official announcement of the commented AS SEA-BZE: schedule, equipment and so on.

Regards.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

BoeingGuy wrote:

Actually I think that ORD-ANC will remain the longest flight in AS’s system at 2473nm.

Point taken. AS ORD-ANC is slightly farther.



AS ORD-ANC is flown with 737 equipment.
However, I've understood the point about the limited length of the BZE runway for such long flight.
I'm still waiting for the official announcement of the commented AS SEA-BZE: schedule, equipment and so on.

Regards.

The runway at BZE is 9,678 feet long. You got my curiosity up so I looked it up. That seems sufficient for a 737 for a long flight, but I’m not a performance expert.

I’m interested in seeing the schedule too. Belize is on my list. I was going to fly AA though DFW, but a non-stop will be great.

I wonder if AS will also try GUA or PTY.

BoeingGuy wrote:

I wonder if AS will also try GUA or PTY.

AS to GUA from where? SEA, a San Francisco or a L.A. area airport?
SNA has F.I.S. and demand-wise might support AS flights to both GUA and SAL, runway permitting.
Almost all U.S. - PTY markets have CM already flying the route. IMHO, it's quite hard to find a suitable U.S. AS Gateway to add service to PTY and I don't see AS wishing to fly into RIH instead of PTY (unless from MIA/FLL).

BoeingGuy wrote:

SJOtoLIR wrote:

BoeingGuy wrote:

The runway at BZE is 9,678 feet long. You got my curiosity up so I looked it up. That seems sufficient for a 737 for a long flight, but I’m not a performance expert.

I’m interested in seeing the schedule too. Belize is on my list. I was going to fly AA though DFW, but a non-stop will be great.

I wonder if AS will also try GUA or PTY.

My bad, forgot the runways was expanded years ago.
I think that length would be ok for a 737 operations.

Would love to see GUA from LAX but it will be competing with Avianca, Volaris, United and Delta.

Juanchito

The eventual AS LAX-BZE might not mean the massive spread of the airline in the rest of Central America.
Related to the situation in Costa Rica, the airline is still operating AS LAX-LIR-SJO and facing to DL and UA, in such market.
AS won't be alone in Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama on the way to L.A. as non-stop flights.
As I posted in the other thread, AS must be careful with the possible LAX-BZE brand new service.
Even AA and UA are operating one sole weekly flight at this time. They started BZE-LAX in 2021.

2travel2know2 wrote:

BoeingGuy wrote:

I wonder if AS will also try GUA or PTY.

AS to GUA from where? SEA, a San Francisco or a L.A. area airport?
SNA has F.I.S. and demand-wise might support AS flights to both GUA and SAL, runway permitting.
Almost all U.S. - PTY markets have CM already flying the route. IMHO, it's quite hard to find a suitable U.S. AS Gateway to add service to PTY and I don't see AS wishing to fly into RIH instead of PTY (unless from MIA/FLL).

In my humble opinion and being a person who has lived all his life in Panama, although I have nothing against CM since it is a good airline to travel, I would prefer that there were more variety in terms of carrier options for travelers, as well as competition. While almost all US routes are covered by CM, it would be interesting if AS launch commercial flights to PTY from its PDX and SEA hubs, as well as from its SAN focus city center. The same could be said for other airlines like SW and B6 (especially their Mint service).

Apart from this, the secondary airports in Panama such as RIH, DAV, and BLB have a lot of potential to become alternate gateway options besides PTY, regardless for year-round or seasonal operations. This taking into consideration that both RIH and DAV are strategically located in provinces that have several interesting touristic attractions, while BLB it is located more closely to the city center.

However, the problem here is that Tocumen S.A. has prioritized development at PTY over the last years and has not pushed enough in the infrastructure development efforts for the other airports in order to receive more international traffic until now…Albeit slowly. Besides that, another factor of why the other airports have not received enough momentum is that Panama’s tourism campaign efforts is mostly concentrated in the city rather than diversifying it more to the other regions.

Any info on (what seems to be a dump of an airline named) Aviatsa??

AntonioMartin wrote:

Any info on (what seems to be a dump of an airline named) Aviatsa??

They have being operating some charter flights, no schedule flights.

Juanchito

juanchito wrote:

AntonioMartin wrote:

Any info on (what seems to be a dump of an airline named) Aviatsa??

They have being operating some charter flights, no schedule flights.

Juanchito

Thanks Juanchito! I needed to know since I just started their Wikipedia article last night.

Panama's AAC grants an AOC to TOUCAN SEAPLANE SERVICES- PANAMA.

Via Twitter: https://twitter.com/aacivilpty/status/1 ... 5126845443

Elevair: https://www.flyelevair.com/

From the pictures in Twitter, it looks like the new airline will offer local services from PAC.

Lufthansa Group announced the resumption of the FRA-PTY route in March 2022.

The flights will be operated by Eurowings Discover, LH's new long-haul leisure arm, in a 3x weekly basis.

https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/newsr ... unich.html

Air Europa returns to PTY on July. https://aviacionaldia.com/2021/05/air-e ... anama.html

AntonioMartin wrote:

Any info on (what seems to be a dump of an airline named) Aviatsa??

LOL......What exactly do you need to know? I would classify them as a charter air service. They usually fly the passengers on Henry Morgan Hotel weekend packages from TGU-RTB-TGU You cannot buy a ticket to fly them commercially so that is what it is.

Though they use a very old 732; they do keep it running in good conditions.

CRMCPILOT31 wrote:

AntonioMartin wrote:

Any info on (what seems to be a dump of an airline named) Aviatsa??

LOL......What exactly do you need to know? I would classify them as a charter air service. They usually fly the passengers on Henry Morgan Hotel weekend packages from TGU-RTB-TGU You cannot buy a ticket to fly them commercially so that is what it is.

Though they use a very old 732; they do keep it running in good conditions.

Thanks! (will need to find a "reliable source" with that info though for it to be accepted on the Wiki, lol!)

While taking a look at July availability IAD-SAL, noticed a significant increase in flights of about 1000 seats a day between Washington and El Salvador between the 4 AV flights and 2 UA flights and Y4. Lots of pent up demand to travel again this summer!

As pointing out before, AV opeted in 2021 for the reinforcement of their consolidated US routes: SAL-IAD and SAL-LAX, among others.
Furthermore, in July they'll launch GUA-IAD and SAL-ONT.
The purpose is focused in the medical tourism bound to the US for those passengers trying to be fully vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Further information in Spanish language:

https://forbes.co/2021/05/20/negocios/en-pleno-auge-de-vacunacion-avianca-incrementa-sus-frecuencias-a-miami/

SJOtoLIR wrote:

As pointing out before, AV opeted in 2021 for the reinforcement of their consolidated US routes: SAL-IAD and SAL-LAX, among others.
Furthermore, in July they'll launch GUA-IAD and SAL-ONT.
The purpose is focused in the medical tourism bound to the US for those passengers trying to be fully vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Further information in Spanish language:

https://forbes.co/2021/05/20/negocios/en-pleno-auge-de-vacunacion-avianca-incrementa-sus-frecuencias-a-miami/

Interesting that they'll be competing with UA on the IAD-GUA route. I haven't seen the route announced anywhere but I'm sure it's a matter of time.

avi8 wrote:

SJOtoLIR wrote:

As pointing out before, AV opeted in 2021 for the reinforcement of their consolidated US routes: SAL-IAD and SAL-LAX, among others.
Furthermore, in July they'll launch GUA-IAD and SAL-ONT.
The purpose is focused in the medical tourism bound to the US for those passengers trying to be fully vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Further information in Spanish language:

https://forbes.co/2021/05/20/negocios/en-pleno-auge-de-vacunacion-avianca-incrementa-sus-frecuencias-a-miami/

Interesting that they'll be competing with UA on the IAD-GUA route. I haven't seen the route announced anywhere but I'm sure it's a matter of time.

Those where the plans. JFK was also mention but now that Jetblue is flying who knows. Besides AV will not compete with UA, I think that they will complement that route because both of them are from Star Alliance.

Regards

avi8 wrote:

IAD-GUA route. I haven't seen the route announced anywhere but I'm sure it's a matter of time.

See reply 56 in this series.
The attached press release from March 17th, 2021 states about their intended plans for AV GUA-IAD.

Regards.

As stated by the Tourism Minister, with no specification on dates, by June Iberia will be operating daily frequencies to from MAD to SJO again while Iberojet (Evelop) will do so 2x week in the same route.

Source: https://www.ameliarueda.com/nota/aeroli ... tpolwaX4WU

Any idea how B6 and F9 are doing in GUA and SAL?

LightChop2Chop wrote:

Any idea how B6 and F9 are doing in GUA and SAL?

GUA is being flown by an A321 since early May, not sure if that's a good sign or not. F9 is switching the MIA flights to red-eyes at some point which is terrible in my opinion. I guess time will tell. Hopefully someone with real data can give us some insight.

One thing I did notice is that SJO/GUA-JFK flights on B6 now have a 2 hour connection to BOS, which is great and very competitive in my opinion.

I was booking some west coast flights today on AS website and I saw BZE had popped up there. My curiosity led me astray for awhile and I found both SEA and LAX nonstops appearing in late November. Perhaps someone with GDS access can check to see the schedules..

LightChop2Chop wrote:

I was booking some west coast flights today on AS website and I saw BZE had popped up there. My curiosity led me astray for awhile and I found both SEA and LAX nonstops appearing in late November. Perhaps someone with GDS access can check to see the schedules..

It's on their website pending for government approval.

4 weekly
AS492 - LAX 11:00 am BZE 5:30 pm
AS493 - BZE 10:00 am LAX 1:30 pm

2 weekly
AS320 SEA 8:30 am BZE 4:35 pm
AS321 BZE 11:00 am SEA 3:55 pm

SEA BZE should do really well.....LAX BZE will be harder....there are incumbents on the route already and AA, UA and WN will not allow them to steal their connecting traffic without a fight.

juanchito wrote:

LightChop2Chop wrote:

I was booking some west coast flights today on AS website and I saw BZE had popped up there. My curiosity led me astray for awhile and I found both SEA and LAX nonstops appearing in late November. Perhaps someone with GDS access can check to see the schedules..

It's on their website pending for government approval.

4 weekly
AS492 - LAX 11:00 am BZE 5:30 pm
AS493 - BZE 10:00 am LAX 1:30 pm

2 weekly
AS320 SEA 8:30 am BZE 4:35 pm
AS321 BZE 11:00 am SEA 3:55 pm

Interesting arrival timing, since many tourists are heading to the Cayes. Don't outbound flights from BZE to SPR & CUK end at about 4:30~5:30 due to lack of runway lighting at those destinations? I believe the water taxis have similarly timed last boats to the Cayes?

scrumbum wrote:

Interesting arrival timing, since many tourists are heading to the Cayes. Don't outbound flights from BZE to SPR & CUK end at about 4:30~5:30 due to lack of runway lighting at those destinations? I believe the water taxis have similarly timed last boats to the Cayes?

I follow 9Ns FB page and they have a post up that touts connections to SPR, CUK and PLJ from those flights. I quick check tells me those airports have lit runways so all should be good.

Mexico tourism secretary has finalize a negotiation with Aeromar to start operations between Tapachula to Guatemala City and Mundo Maya in Peten.

Still waiting news from the airlines to announce it.
https://www.tn23.tv/2021/05/30/anuncian ... -y-mexico/

Regards

juanchito wrote:

Mexico tourism secretary has finalize a negotiation with Aeromar to start operations between Tapachula to Guatemala City and Mundo Maya in Peten.

Still waiting news from the airlines to announce it.
https://www.tn23.tv/2021/05/30/anuncian ... -y-mexico/

Regards

Mundo Maya is how Flores FRS is called now?
Marketed with that name, maybe that airport would finally be able to sustain an IAH twice weekly Embraer RJ operation.

Is there really a market TAP-FRS?

Based on the records of the Central American aviation series, AM TAP-GUA did briefly operate as thrice a week with Embraer jets from November 2013.
This will be only the resumption of that segment.
I also found strange the justification for the TAP-FRS sector.
These routes would be operated by means of the [50-70] seater ATR equipment.

2travel2know2 wrote:

maybe that airport would finally be able to sustain an IAH twice weekly Embraer RJ operation.

Why not ?
Continental Airlines flew IAH-FRS, twice a week.
Regards.

The movements at RTB [Roatan] could be compared to FRS [Flores].
Both stations hold domestic traffic from the capital city.
Furthermore, they get leisure traffic coming from abroad.
For the case of Roatan, they're receiving scheduled flights from the United States: Houston, Miami, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Atlanta.
It's a mistake saying that FRS is only oriented for tourism purposes.
In my view, the intended TAP-FRS would be oriented for the VFR component.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

The movements at RTB [Roatan] could be compared to FRS [Flores].
Both stations hold domestic traffic from the capital city.
Furthermore, they get leisure traffic coming from abroad.
For the case of Roatan, they're receiving scheduled flights from the United States: Houston, Miami, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Atlanta.
It's a mistake saying that FRS is only oriented for tourism purposes.
In my view, the intended TAP-FRS would be oriented for the VFR component.

RTB also receives flights from MSP and YYZ.

Still Tabasco ( I assume it is Villahermosa they are referring to)? what sort of VFR traffic is there?

Some of the Central American airports should be rather grouped as shown:

N°1: David and Flores. The demand of passengers through these airports is likely focused for the VFR visiting friends and relatives traffic. They don't get scheduled flights from the United States by now. The business component is basically domestic.

N°2: Belize, Roatan and Liberia. They're essentially oriented for the leisure traffic, especially from the United States.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

Some of the Central American airports should be rather grouped as shown:

N°1: David and Flores. The demand of passengers through these airports is likely focused for the VFR visiting friends and relatives traffic. They don't get scheduled flights from the United States by now. The business component is basically domestic.

N°2: Belize, Roatan and Liberia. They're essentially oriented for the leisure traffic, especially from the United States.

IMHO, perhaps even for Thanksgiving 2021 to Easter 2022 - with B738, DAV might have somewhat of a potential market (leisure, VFR) to woo CM to stop in DAV en-route to/from MIA Mondays and Fridays.
Also, there may be some (fresh) cargo demand.
However, if DAV do already meet (or might meet) FAA and Homeland Security requirements for non-stop flights to US airports, that's another thing.
Twice/thrice weekly AA MIA-DAV, be with Embraer RJ or E175, range-wise, might be doable, but if AA has eyes on DAV, it's a guess.

What would it be the primary market on CM PTY-DAV ?

* Local business traffic related to Panama City.
* Visiting friends and relatives market between David and Panama City.
* Leisure traffic from South America.
* Leisure traffic from North America.
* Business traffic from North America.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

What would it be the primary market on CM PTY-DAV ?

* Local business traffic related to Panama City.

1

* Visiting friends and relatives market between David and Panama City.

2

* Leisure traffic from South America.

4

* Leisure traffic from North America.

3

* Business traffic from North America.

5

Based on the above argument, 7P PAC-DAV is facing CM PTY-DAV on the same domestic market.
PAC is actually closer to downtown than PTY, which could be sensitive for the choosing of either Air Panama or Copa Airlines for those passengers leaving Panama City.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

Based on the above argument, 7P PAC-DAV is facing CM PTY-DAV on the same domestic market.
PAC is actually closer to downtown than PTY, which could be sensitive for the choosing of either Air Panama or Copa Airlines for those passengers leaving Panama City.

As why passengers choose CM over 7P, even if PAC happens to be more convenient:

quite often, 7P isn't as reliable as CM
Some passengers have gotten up to CM Connect Miles Platinum (Star Alliance Gold) just by the number of PTY-DAV-PTY segments they've flown.

NK will start flying to Central America (GUA, SAL, SAP, SJO) from MIA in the 3rd quarter.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/spirit-airlines-miami/

Interesting to see they will add destinations from an airport very closely to their current major base in South Florida.

estefanovich wrote:

Interesting to see they will add destinations from an airport very closely to their current major base in South Florida.

In my view, NK would undermine the expansion of F9 in the rest of Central America from MIA.

Regards.

For the first time: Austin, Texas to Central America as scheduled flights:

AA AUS-LIR-3x weekly. Effective: November 02



Furthermore:

WN DEN-LIR 1x weekly. Effective: November 13.

It would appear Volaris Costa Rica is not doing so well. LAX and IAD have been reduced from SAL and JFK temporarily suspended.