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Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Latin American big four airlines (LATAM Airlines Group, Avianca, Grupo Aeromexico, and Copa Airlines), have retired and rejected leases of 130 aircraft so far. Nevertheless, we expect more goodbyes, mainly from the three carriers currently under Chapter 11 bankruptcy processes. Let’s investigate further.
The legacy airlines in Latin America, LATAM, Avianca, Aeromexico, and Copa Airlines, have reduced the size of their fleets. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
LATAM Airlines’ losses
LATAM Airlines Group is the largest airline company in Latin America. It has domestic branches in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Earlier this year, it finalized the 15-year history of LATAM Argentina.
Viva Air Outlines Network Expansion With 4 North American Routes
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The Colombian carrier Viva Air will launch four new routes from Medellín and Bogotá to three cities in North America: Mexico City and Cancun in Mexico and Orlando in the US. These flights will start in June, according to the airline.
Viva Air Colombia is launching four new routes to Mexico and the US. Photo: Getty Images.
Decentralizing from Bogota
Viva Air is the third most important carrier by market share in Colombia. The low-cost company is behind Avianca and LATAM, the two legacy airlines it came to disrupt nine years ago.
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Colombia is set to have two new airlines this year. We already know a few things about William Shaw’s Ultra Air, but now a new player has appeared. Meet Starblue Airlines, a carrier that wants to operate six domestic routes and five international. What else do we know?
Starblue Airlines, a new Colombian startup, will operate Airbus A320 aircraft. Photo: Getty Images
Starblue’s hub wouldn’t be Bogota
Colombia’s main hub is El Dorado International Airport in Bogota. Avianca and LATAM use this airport as its gateway to and from the country. Nevertheless, lately, there has been some movement to decentralize the aviation industry in Colombia.