JetSmart Colombia Starts New Era in Domestic Air Travel with Seven Routes

JetSmart is poised to redefine the Colombian domestic air travel landscape with the launch of its operations on March 14. The airline, backed by Indigo Partners, recently secured an air operator certificate (AOC) for its new Colombian offshoot, marking a significant milestone in its expansion strategy.

JetSmart Colombia’s entry into the domestic market will commence with flights originating from Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG). The initial phase includes routes to Cartagena, Santa Marta, Medellin, and Pereira. Additionally, the airline will operate flights from Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordova International Airport to Cartagena and Santa Marta, along with a route connecting Cartagena and Pereira.

These domestic routes are a strategic complement to JetSmart’s established international network in Colombia, which features connections to Santiago, Lima, and Antofagasta from various Colombian cities. The launch of these seven domestic routes represents JetSmart’s foray into the third-largest market in Latin America and the 13th-largest globally.

JetSmart CEO Estuardo Ortiz highlights the enormous potential for low-cost air travel in Colombia, aiming to make affordable flying accessible to all Colombians and enhance international connectivity to spur development and tourism. The introduction of the ultra-low-cost model is a significant development for the Colombian aviation sector.

The Colombian domestic market had previously seen the presence of two ULCCs, Viva Air and Ultra Air, both of which ceased operations in early 2023. Since their departure, major carriers like Avianca and LATAM Airlines Colombia have been filling the connectivity void. However, as per OAG Schedules Analyser data, there is currently a gap in low-cost domestic capacity in Colombia, contrasting with the significant market shares held by LCCs in Brazil and Mexico.

JetSmart Colombia is expected to face competition on all seven of its newly announced domestic routes, indicating a challenging yet dynamic market environment. The airline’s debut is timely, coinciding with BOG’s hosting of Routes Americas 2024 from March 19-21, a key event for airline route development in the Americas.

This development marks a new chapter in Colombia’s aviation history, bringing a fresh wave of competition and options for travelers. JetSmart’s entry into the Colombian market is set to catalyze a shift in the domestic air travel dynamic, potentially influencing future trends in the region’s aviation industry.