Summary
- JetSMART is expanding its international footprint by launching two latest routes to Ecuador in March and April 2024.
- The airline will operate the Lima-Quito and Lima-Guayaquil routes, competing against LATAM Airlines.
- JetSMART is growing rapidly and goals to surpass 25 million passengers by the top of 2023, with plans to expand domestically in Colombia and receive 96 additional planes in the long run.
The South American ultra-low-cost carrier JetSMART has announced the expansion of its international footprint and reaching an eight country within the region, Ecuador, through two latest routes set to be launched next 12 months.
Reaching Ecuador
Starting in March and April 2024, JetSMART is ready to launch two latest international routes, serving Quito International Airport (UIO) and Guayaquil International (GYE) in Ecuador.
First, the corporate will begin operating the route Lima-Quito starting in March 2024. Then, one month later, it should launch the route Lima-Guayaquil. JetSMART will compete against LATAM Airlines, which already flies on these routes, operating 14 weekly flights within the Lima-Quito segment and ten on the Lima-Guayaquil one.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock.
In an announcement, Estuardo Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder at JetSMART, said the corporate is the fastest growing airline within the region and can surpass 25 million passengers by the top of 2023 (the number is throughout its history). He added,
Where does JetSMART fly to?
The ultra-low-cost carrier has domestic branches in Chile, Peru, and Argentina. It’s seeking to launch a fourth domestic branch in Colombia in 2023, as Estuardo Ortiz told Easy Flying throughout the Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Airline Leaders Forum 2023, held last month in Cancun, Mexico.
JetSMART operates 74 routes across South America from these three countries, of which 52 are domestic and 22 international. These routes have facilitated the transportation and connectivity of over 22 million passengers in the next countries: Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay. From the Spanish-speaking South America, only Bolivia and Venezuela is not going to be directly connected by JetSMART in 2024.
Ecuador’s Minister of Tourism, Niels Olsen, said the arrival of JetSMART will allow for an interesting cultural and touristic exchange. The South American country has recovered about 95% of its international connectivity in comparison with March 2020. Olsen added,
JetSMART’s goals
The ultra-low-cost carrier is ambitious in its plans. It has one among the biggest unfilled orders for brand spanking new planes within the region, backed by the Indigo Partners group that also supports other ULCCs globally (Frontier and Volaris in North America and Wizz Air in Europe). JetSMART is seeking to receive 96 additional planes in future dates, including 36 A320neos, 46 A321neos, and 14 A321XLRs, in keeping with data from ch-aviation.
Photo: Gustavo Estacio Henao | Shutterstock.
The corporate also has a codeshare agreement with American Airlines. They recently expanded their reach, including Peru, to the agreement. Furthermore, JetSMART is seeking to join American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program in the long run.
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