Central American Aviation Thread, Lucky 13!

LatinPlane · Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:31 am

Quoting Juanchito (Reply 47):
Guys, there is a rumor that Carlos Slim will be buying TA, have anybody have any other information.

There is rumors that he's also interested in AeroMexico.

Del dicho al hecho, hay mucho trecho.

So, if supposedly, Carlos Slim bought a majority stake in TACA, would this mean that TACA is no longer Central American, but Mexican? Silly

LatinPlane

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:03 pm

Quoting Juanchito (Reply 47):
Guys, there is a rumor that Carlos Slim will be buying TA, have anybody have any other information.

Juanchito

I don´t know.

*******************************************
Thank you all for welcomed at Airliners.net !

News coming from Honduras:
AeroCaribbean (7L) started HAV-TGU-MGA once a week. Effective from July 18. Since 1999, 7L operates HAV-SPS twice a week. What kind of airplane in SPS and TGU… ATR-42-300, ATR-72-212…?
Sorry, the link in Spanish could be not available: http://www.larepublica.net/busqueda....0&buscar=latinegocios&idseccion=24

**********************************************

July 2007. NK increases operations in Central America:
FLL-GUA 7 times weekly
LAX-GUA 7 times weekly
FLL-SAL once a week
FLL-SJO 14 times weekly
FLL-SPS 3 times weekly. Effective: July 20.

Have a nice day !!

2travel2know · Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:52 pm

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 51):
July 2007. NK increases operations in Central America:
FLL-SAL once a week

Any specific reason why NK keeps SAL flight once per week only?

SJOtoLIR · Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:15 pm

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 52):
Any specific reason why NK keeps SAL flight once per week only?

I checked http://www.spiritair.com/welcome.aspx
It means "San Salvador, Bahamas: ZSA" not SAL.

Cheers

luisca · Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:18 am

WHEN IS NK coming to PTY?!!!!

Sure I had a horrible experience with them on a domestic flight, but they got me to ATL and back and it was cheap, I wish they would enter the market to bring prices down.

TACAA320 · Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:23 am

Great news for our Honduran brothers. Great rates with NK to FLL:

Sale Fares: To San Pedro Sula from:
Fares from
Dates Available

Fort Lauderdale
$9.00*
12/6, 12/10, 12/13, 1/12

From San Pedro Sula to:
Fares from
Dates Available

Fort Lauderdale
$9.00*
12/6, 12/7, 12/13, 1/14

Big deal!

SJOtoLIR · Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:20 pm

How is NK doing in Central America?

FROM CENTRAL AMERICA
Flight ..... Departure ....... Arrive ......... Equipment
NK335 ... SJO 00:45 ... FLL 05:20 ...... A319-132
NK756 ... SJO 12:25 ... FLL 17:13 ...... A319-132
NK144 ... GUA 07:40 ... FLL 12:05 ..... A319-132
NK863 ... GUA 19:40 ... LAX 23:50 ..... A319-132
NK826 ... SPS 01:00 ....FLL 05:20 .......... n/a
NK434 ... MGA 00:50 ....FLL 05:20 ......... n/a ...........Coming soon

TO CENTRAL AMERICA
Flight ..... Departure ....... Arrive ......... Equipment
NK336 ... FLL 10:40 ... SJO 11:35 ...... A319-132
NK338 ... FLL 23:00 ... SJO 23:45 ...... A319-132
NK143 ... FLL 18:10 ... GUA 18:50 ...... A319-132
NK864 ... LAX 00:59 ... GUA 06:45 ...... A319-132
NK829 ... FLL 23:00 ... SPS 23:25 ............ n/a
NK439 ... FLL 23:00 ... MGA 23:35 ........... n/a ......... Coming soon

Analysis:
1. I am supposed the aircraft coming FLL-GUA shift to GUA-LAX
2. I am supposed the aircraft coming LAX-GUA shift to GUA-FLL
3. Several nightly flights.
4. Nightly SJO-FLL is seasonal.
5. SPS-FLL may upgrade later to one flight daily. Same scheme when beginning at SJO.
6. New destinations in the region?
7. AA: SJO-MIA $240 round trip. Influenced by NK?

NK: I will be looking forward !!

md90fan · Sat Jul 21, 2007 4:46 pm

Hello all

Quoting Yellowtail (Reply 3):
Thank goodness we're back...I felt a little out of place in the Caribbean forum!

What!

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 51):
AeroCaribbean (7L) started HAV-TGU-MGA once a week. Effective from July 18.

It's been operating for some time now, it flies with a Cubana code and utilizes the ATR-42 mainly because of it's range. There's even a picture of it in MGA around here somewhere.

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 52):
Any specific reason why NK keeps SAL flight once per week only?

It's to San Salvador, Bahamas (ZSA), it's basically a charter for Club Med which has a resort on the island.

Also, Copa began daily PTY-IAD (73G), 5x weekly PTY-GDL (E90) and 2x weekly PTY-PUJ (73G) on July 15th.

Cheers

SJOtoLIR · Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:46 pm

July 21: Incident at SJO with TA aircraft: Flight: TA8632. SJO-CUN
I added the link in Spanish.
http://www.aldia.co.cr/ad_ee/2007/julio/22/sucesos1176352.html
Cheers.

aer · Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:34 am

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 51):
FLL-SPS 3 times weekly. Effective: July 20.

San Pedro Sula is actually SAP

SJOtoLIR · Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:12 pm

Quoting Aer (Reply 59):
San Pedro Sula is actually SAP

Yes, it is.
Gracias !!

tomascubero · Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:55 am

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 58):
July 21: Incident at SJO with TA aircraft: Flight: TA8632. SJO-CUN

Yes, went to SJO later and saw it, Al Dia states that it was a A321 but it was actually an A320, N464TA. That one recently went back to TACA scheme after being over year with the Martinair scheme, she was replaced with EI-TAF.

As of yesterday night, it is still grounded in the TACA Maintenence ramp in SJO.

Tomas.

SJOtoLIR · Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:42 pm

Quoting Tomascubero (Reply 61):

Thank you for the information.

SJOtoLIR · Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:08 pm

I attached a new link -available in Spanish- related to the growth in Costa Rica:
http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/julio/23/economia1172897.html

Summary:
USA and PTY lead the seat capacity.

New operations:
NK: FLL-SJO 14xweekly A319
A7: Air Comet MAD-SJO
DP: First Choice Airways to LIR. Where from UK.? Aircraft?
TA: SJO-SDQ 7xweekly
TA: SJO-HAV 14xweekly
TA: SJO-GUA 21xweekly
F9: Frontier Airlines. DEN-SJO. Effective: November 30 using A319 according its website.

Quoting Aer (Reply 2):
Just to let you know, DL has quietly added a second flight to GUA. Flight is listed as operating a 757, and I assume it's seasonal.

DL 232 GUA - ATL
Dep. 9:25 am - Arr. 2:57 pm

DL 233 ATL - GUA
Dep. 7:45 pm - Arr. 9:12 pm

Quoting Yellowtail (Reply 3):
DL are bringing back the LAX-BZE 757 in Nov....the trial run for 6 weeks has been a success with loads always above 75%.

As posted above, DL is introducing new schedules in Central America. JFK-SJO and JFK-LIR will be added in 2008. Any other JFK-Central America?
It states one new U.S. as well two European airlines entering Costa Rica. Any idea?
Regards.

luisca · Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:32 pm

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 63):
JFK-Central America?

Delta has added a second ATL-PTY frequency and a new JFK-PTY starting in december

aer · Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:58 am

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 63):
Any other JFK-Central America?

JFK-GUA starts Dec. 14, 2007 with 3 flights a week

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:45 am

A7 aircraft delayed running MAD-SJO
Link in Spanish: http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/julio/25/economia1179247.html
A340-300 or A330-200 ?
wave

2travel2know · Thu Jul 26, 2007 6:44 am

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 66):
A7 aircraft delayed running MAD-SJO

Any resemblance with the former NM is just purely coincidence.

MAH4546 · Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:11 am

Rumour has it that, in response to Spirit, AA will be adding extra frequencies to Central America operating as redeyes. The flights would operate daily, departing Miami at around 11PM, turning around, and returning to Miami at around 5AM. They would use 738s and 757s, and, no surprise, be operated to Spirit's four Central American markets. That would mean three daily flights to GUA, MGA, and SAP, and a fourth daily to SJO. We'll have to wait and see if AA goes through with this plan.

CM767 · Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:33 am

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 68):
We'll have to wait and see if AA goes through with this plan.

If this is true what fares could be expected? Smile

2travel2know · Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:39 am

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 68):
The flights would operate daily, departing Miami at around 11PM, turning around, and returning to Miami at around 5AM.

AA knows AA red-eyes from MIA might have better yields than AA from FLL. Sadly only when AA reacts to NK FLL flight, it adds those red-eyes which were nowhere to be seen at the peak of the December-January travel season when those aircraft that will be used for GUA, SAP, MGA and SJO were lying on MIA tarmac overnight.

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 68):
That would mean three daily flights to GUA, MGA, and SAP, and a fourth daily to SJO

Is GUA open 24/7? I don't see problems with night operations or airport transfers late at night in MGA and SJO, but a transfer to/from SAP late at night may be scary.

luisca · Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:54 am

TACA is hiring FOs, I just applied, lets see what happens.

SJOtoLIR · Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:28 pm

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 56):
NK829 ... FLL 23:00 ... SAP 23:25 ............ n/a

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 56):
NK826 ... SAP 01:00 ....FLL 05:20 .......... n/a

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 70):
I don't see problems with night operations or airport transfers late at night in MGA and SJO, but a transfer to/from SAP late at night may be scary.

Since July 20 NK operated FLL-SAP flying late at night as attached above.
So, how are they doing right now ? Wink

Is anybody reading the thread who used to live in San Pedro Sula? We´d need a little help...
Regards.

aer · Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:36 pm

Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 68):

SJO is getting an AA flight to/from FLL. I don't think GUA would get a red eye, we already have 2 AA a/c on the ground at night here.

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 70):

GUA is 24/7, believe me i hear the cargo planes at 4 am. They only close for 1 hr a day or so to check the runway and maintenance.

SJOtoLIR · Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:24 am

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 70):
AA knows AA red-eyes from MIA might have better yields than AA from FLL.

I agreed with. Probably, I misunderstood the information previously listed, but not clear if the AA upcoming seasonal “red-eye” should operate either from MIA or FLL.
Central America-MIA seems to be more attractive for connecting flights due to easy and frequent connections to U.S. Mainland. Let me put it this way: some direct destinations served by NK from FLL are also linked from AA throughout MIA: ATL, BOS, DTW, LAS, MCO, DCA. Those destinations are not currently linked as a nonstop from FLL on AA. It also should be noted that AA “red-eye” operations in FLL may expect to land around 05:00 a.m. when operations may be reduced meaning higher waiting time for transit passengers.

Quoting Aer (Reply 73):
SJO is getting an AA flight to/from FLL. I don't think GUA would get a red eye, we already have 2 AA a/c on the ground at night here.

Two AA aircrafts are still grounded overnight in SJO as well: A300-600 to MIA and B757-223 to DFW.

Quoting CM767 (Reply 69):
If this is true what fares could be expected?

Here comes the best part: Wink

Highlights:
SJO-LAX: $238+
MGA-MCO: $188+
SAP-BWI: $238+
GUA-JFK: $208+
http://www.americanairlines.co.cr/co...iales/ofertas/latinQXWEBSZCA.jhtml

yellowtail · Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:51 am

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 74):
SJO-LAX: $238+
MGA-MCO: $188+
SAP-BWI: $238+
GUA-JFK: $208+

Considering BZE-MIA isUS$495+ these are steals!

aer · Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:21 pm

Just curious, but has anyone heard of Canadian service to GUA?

CM767 · Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:15 am

Quoting Luisca (Reply 71):
TACA is hiring FOs, I just applied, lets see what happens.

You traitor... just kidding good luck.

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 74):
Here comes the best part:
Highlights:
SJO-LAX: $238+
MGA-MCO: $188+
SAP-BWI: $238+
GUA-JFK: $208+

As expected, at least for a while anyhow. Thats why I am wishing that NK adds PTY.

luisca · Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:12 am

Quoting CM767 (Reply 77):
You traitor... just kidding good luck.

Oh well, I am not able to start working till January anyway and CM is not hiring (officially at least) FOs at this time.

2travel2know · Sun Jul 29, 2007 10:27 am

Quoting CM767 (Reply 77):
As expected, at least for a while anyhow. Thats why I am wishing that NK adds PTY

What I wish is to see that CM plane spending the night in MIA flying MIA-PTY-MIA at night w/ NK style fares before NK gets into PTY.

CM767 · Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:30 pm

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 79):
What I wish is to see that CM plane spending the night in MIA flying MIA-PTY-MIA at night w/ NK style fares before NK gets into PTY.

Not a bad idea. I will put that one also on my wish list.

TACAA320 · Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:58 pm

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 67):

Any resemblance with the former NM is just purely coincidence.

I really hope so but definitely is not a good start of service. I really hope that this same situation don't happen quite often.

2travel2know · Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:37 am

CM and AM to start codeshare
Would this new code-share mean that CM will get 5th rigths on P5 PTY-MEX-PTY and that CM is one step closer to become a SkyTeam member (partner airline CO and AM already are)?

MGASJO · Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:27 am

Quoting Luisca (Reply 71):
TACA is hiring FOs, I just applied, lets see what happens.

Luisca, good luck. TACA just lost about 21 F/Os to Qatar. They are bringing down the hours needed to apply. Good luck and wait for me in the next 3 years!!

LTU932 · Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:03 am

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 63):
DP: First Choice Airways to LIR. Where from UK.? Aircraft?

I believe DP will fly to LIR from LGW. However, there is the possibility of DP starting more routes to Central and South America (including expansion into LIR or a new flight to SJO) out of GLA once the first 787s start arriving.

luisca · Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:25 am

Quoting MGASJO (Reply 83):
TACA just lost about 21 F/Os to Qatar.

God, I would never want to work there no matter how much money they pay me. What ever happened to quality of life? I wouldn't make my family move to a country were my wife and daughters are treated like second class citizens and were there are almost no personal freedoms. Id take a lower paying job at TA any day over that.

LTU932 · Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:40 am

Quoting MGASJO (Reply 83):
Luisca, good luck. TACA just lost about 21 F/Os to Qatar. They are bringing down the hours needed to apply. Good luck and wait for me in the next 3 years!!

The situation seems so desperate, that TA has openly made an advert in online jobsearch sites.

http://www.elempleo.co.cr/clientes/detalle_oportunidad.asp?ofe=19196

You don't usually see TA do that.

SJOtoLIR · Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:54 pm

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 82):
CM is one step closer to become a SkyTeam member (partner airline CO and AM already are)?

Yes: CO and AM are already members.
Conclusion: CM is one step closer from Skyteam. Smile

Not long ago, Taca and Lufthansa signed in Lima a declaration of their intentions to establish an agreement where both airlines will jointly work on the following projects:
a. Codesharing on scheduled routes.
b. Association of the frequent flyer programs.
c. Optimization of flight itineraries.
d. Access to airport lounges.
Source: "Taca and Lufthansa sign memorandum of understanding" EXPLORE magazine. Page 154. Issued: July 2007.
It was also discussed somewhere in the forum a new intention with authorities to codeshare arrangement between United and Taca.
Don´t forget both LH and UA are already members.
Conclusion: TA is one step closer from Star Alliance. Smile

SJOtoLIR · Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:08 pm

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 87):
It was also discussed somewhere in the forum a new intention with authorities to codeshare arrangement between United and Taca.

I found it: TACA/United Expand Code-share (by Laxintl Jul 21 2007 in Civil Aviation)

juanchito · Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:22 am

Guys I finally took some pictures of La Aurora on my way to Panama.

Regards

Juanchito

luisca · Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:07 pm

Quoting Juanchito (Reply 89):
Guys I finally took some pictures of La Aurora on my way to Panama.

Nice pictures, heres hoping to GUA being CMs next hub!

SJOtoLIR · Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:47 am

Quoting SJOtoLIR (Reply 74):
not clear if the AA upcoming seasonal "red-eye" should operate either from MIA or FLL.

I found the answer myself in the Caribbean forum. AA is applying FLL-SDQ because the Dominican Republic is a potential hub for NK. This is not the situation for SJO, so I still cannot understand why FLL instead MIA on AA for SJO.
AA is using a new strategy in Central America regarding schedules and fares, but currently applied in SJO, SAP, GUA and MGA.
NK is studying proposals for new destinations. Start next year from FLL.
Some of them could be certainly touching somewhere else within Central America once again...

Quoting Aer (Reply 76):
has anyone heard of Canadian service to GUA?

AC uses a code share with UA covering GUA-LAX, because they are both Star Alliance members. I don´t know about any nonstop Canada-GUA.

Quoting Juanchito (Reply 89):
Guys I finally took some pictures of La Aurora on my way to Panama.

Thank you for sharing your pictures!
Next time in Guatemala I would watch carefully Antigua, Panajachel and La Aurora International Airport...

MGASJO · Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:58 am

Quoting Luisca (Reply 78):
Oh well, I am not able to start working till January anyway and CM is not hiring (officially at least) FOs at this time.

Luisca, CM is also hiring. They have some crew issues as well, some flights have been incurring in big delays due to lack of crew. My flight instructor is a pilot for La Costena and says he randomly met a CM crew manager at the airport's food court. The CM manager told him he just spoke with the owner of La Costena to get pilots for CM, with even monetary compensation for La Costena, but he declined to provide any info about his pilots. My instructor and some other 2 pilots applied, CM even dropped the age requirement (not older than 40), so good news for my instructor, I really hope he gets the job.
In other news, yesterday was my first solo flight! how cool is that?!?? Great stuff! Lovely landing! And following tradition I was given the nicest haircut ever! totally shaved!!

luisca · Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:22 am

Quoting MGASJO (Reply 92):
In other news, yesterday was my first solo flight! how cool is that?!?? Great stuff! Lovely landing! And following tradition I was given the nicest haircut ever! totally shaved!!

Congratulations, its the best felling in the world, I remember in 2004 when I looked to my right and there was no flight instructor, nothing compares to that. I was given a "bath" in eggs water soap and any crap they could find around the airport and then I ordered pizza and soda for everybody. Good luck on your training and enjoy your hair cut!

MGASJO · Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:29 am

Quoting Luisca (Reply 93):
Congratulations, its the best felling in the world, I remember in 2004 when I looked to my right and there was no flight instructor, nothing compares to that. I was given a "bath" in eggs water soap and any crap they could find around the airport and then I ordered pizza and soda for everybody. Good luck on your training and enjoy your hair cut!

Great feeling indeed! Airplane feels wonderful and not having the view blocked on the right side is great!
The good thing is that at Los Brasiles here in Nic there aren't that many students, me and some other 2, so no chance on getting stuff thrown at me; but now that I think about it i would rather have stuff thrown at me for one moment than being bold for 2 months!!

yellowtail · Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:41 am

On another note....we have had lots of people bumped off of SAL-BZE...and unavailable fights BZE-SAL for the last 2 months or so........after having absymal loads (not yields) for years.....has this route picked up? and is it time for TA to either upguage to a 320 or put a dedicated BZE flight instead of making a stop on the SAL-IAH route?.

Perhaps it is all SAL- IAH traffic..but I doubt it....I tried booking a BZE-SAL-GUA this morning and can't get on till next week....gonna drive to FRS and fly from there instead.....not lookign forward to that!

2travel2know · Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:19 am

Quoting Yellowtail (Reply 95):
put a dedicated BZE flight

Put a dedicated flight with TA means flights on ATR.

aer · Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:45 pm

Quoting Yellowtail (Reply 95):

I was just wondering, if you fly BZE-FRS and then book a FRS-GUA, is it to expensive?

TACAA320 · Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:16 pm

Quoting MGASJO (Reply 92):
In other news, yesterday was my first solo flight! how cool is that?!?? Great stuff!

Congratulations! I wish you good luck.

Quoting 2travel2know (Reply 96):
Put a dedicated flight with TA means flights on ATR.

No. TA is getting great loads [practically fully packed flights] between SAL/BZE and vice versa. Forget about any ATR in such route.

md90fan · Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:23 pm

*drumroll*

Quote:

Copa Airlines Announces New Service to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Wednesday August 1, 1:15 pm ET
Airline will offer the best connections between the Caribbean nation and Latin America

PANAMA CITY, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Copa Airlines, subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE: CPA - News), announced today that it will offer new service from Panama and connecting cities in Latin America to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, beginning December 15, 2007.

I'm guessing they got everything sorted out with the respective government, IMO this will be a valuable addition to the Port Of Spain lineup. Smart move on behalf of Copa to take initiative.

POS spotters, get used to seeing this wink

:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070801/mxw002.html?.v=74

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