Summary
- JetSMART made history as the primary South American carrier to receive an aircraft manufactured within the Airbus factory in Mobile, Alabama.
- Once the brand new branch is permitted, the aircraft is about to operate domestic flights for JetSMART Colombia.
- JetSMART’s CEO expressed pride in receiving the aircraft, emphasizing the carrier’s commitment to growth and its role in South America’s aviation landscape.
In a major milestone for aviation and cross-continental manufacturing collaboration, JetSMART has etched its name in history by becoming the primary South American carrier to receive an aircraft manufactured within the Airbus factory in Mobile, Alabama, in the USA. The delivery of the Airbus A320neo marks an achievement for regional aviation and underscores the growing range of the European OEM.
Receiving a brand new aircraft
The event occurred on August 24, as JetSMART welcomed its twenty sixth aircraft to its fleet. The aircraft, adorned with a Scarlet Macaw image on its tail, not only signifies the carrier’s distinctive tradition of incorporating South American fauna but additionally stands as an emblem of the ties between North America and South America within the aviation industry.
Photo: JetSMART
For the Mobile, Alabama, factory, renowned for its Airbus production, this delivery also marks a momentous occasion. The factory in Mobile has been a hub of Airbus production, churning out aircraft to serve carriers mainly in the USA. Nonetheless, this marks the primary time that a plane from this factory has been delivered to a South American airline, marking a pivotal point within the factory’s history and reaffirming its ability to cater to the various needs of carriers across the globe. Volaris was the primary non-US carrier to receive a Mobile-made aircraft earlier this 12 months.
A pride moment for JetSMART
Estuardo Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at JetSMART, expressed his pride in receiving the Airbus A320neo, christened the “Scarlet Macaw” by the airline. He emphasized the importance of this milestone within the carrier’s journey and its overarching goals. “The arrival of this aircraft brings us closer to our goal of 100 aircraft and likewise to transporting 100 million passengers by 2028,” Ortiz stated. This underlines JetSMART’s commitment to growth and its pivotal role in South America’s aviation landscape.
Photo: Gustavo Estacio Henao | Shutterstock
Members from the Alabama government and executives from JetSMART and Airbus attended the delivery ceremony.
Arturo Barreira, President of Airbus for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted the A320neo’s role in enhancing JetSMART’s route offerings and contributing to the airline’s continued growth in South America.
What makes this delivery much more fascinating is the announcement by JetSMART’s CEO regarding the aircraft’s base in South America. The Scarlet Macaw is about to grow to be the primary aircraft to operate domestic flights in Colombia once authorization for such operations is granted within the country. JetSMART is trying to open a domestic branch in Colombia, following similar successes in Chile, Argentina, and Peru.
JetSMART Colombia expects to operate 27 domestic routes and seize the market gap left following the bankruptcies of Viva Air and Ultra Air within the South American country.
JetSMART’s fleet
JetSMART Airlines, founded in 2016, has rapidly emerged as a distinguished ultra-low-cost carrier with operations across Chile, Argentina, and Peru. Employing a contemporary fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, the airline has carried over 20 million passengers so far.
JetSMART Chile has 12 aircraft, including two A320ceos, five A320neos, and five A321neos. The Argentinian branch has nine A320ceos, and the Peruvian has 4 A320neos. JetSMART still expects to receive 99 additional planes from Airbus in the approaching years, including 14 A321XLRs.
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