2024-03-24 13:12:45
The Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito welcomed JetSmart on March 6. But, in April it fired another ‘low cost’ company, Wingo.
The Chilean airline JetSmart, classified as ‘low cost’, inaugurated its first route in Ecuador this March 6, 2024 with its direct flights between Quito and Lima.
And from April 2, it will begin flying between Guayaquil and Lima. But, the ‘low cost’ market in Ecuador will not undergo a substantial change with the arrival of JetSmart, taking into account that in April, Wingo, Copa Airlines’ low cost brand, will stop operating in Ecuador. Wingo operates direct flights between Quito and Bogotá, since November 2016.
And between Guayaquil and Bogotá, since January 2019. Its last flights in Ecuador are scheduled for April 7, both in Quito and Guayaquil, according to the ticket search on its website.
Ramón Miró, president of Corporación Quiport, operator of the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, confirmed to PRIMICIAS the departure of Wingo from its airline offering. «The airline has just announced that it is going to stop flying (in Ecuador).
As a result of all the changes in the Colombian market, they have chosen to concentrate there so as not to lose territory,” Miró explained. Wingo is a Colombian airline founded in 2016, belonging to the Copa Holdings business group.
The airline operates domestic flights in Colombia and 13 international flights in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the Superintendence of Companies, Wingo is registered in Ecuador as a foreign branch of the Colombian company Aerorepublica.
Other ‘low cost’ stopped operating
Viva Aerobus, a Mexican low-cost airline, started operations in June 2023 in Ecuador, to offer direct flights between Quito and Cancun. But, at the end of 2024, Viva Aerobus suspended its operations due to problems with its aircraft engines, explained Ramón Miró, president of Quiport.
“For now, the route is suspended, unfortunately,” Miró said.
The national company Equair, which was also promoted as ‘low cost’, suspended its operations on September 30, 2023, after one year and 10 months of commercial activity. Equair operated the destinations of Quito, Guayaquil, El Coca and the Galapagos Islands.
On these routes it reached an operation of 17%. In 2022, they achieved sales revenue of USD 18.8 million, but expenses for services provided of USD 31.4 million, which left them with losses of USD 17.1 million and a negative result on their equity of USD 2.5 million. , according to the Superintendency of Companies.
Low cost market in Ecuador With the departure of these companies, there would be four low cost airlines left in the country, according to the Association of Airline Representatives in Ecuador (Arlae):
Spirit, with flights between Guayaquil and Fort Lauderdale, in Florida, United States.
JetBlue, which also flies to Fort Lauderdale, from Quito and Guayaquil. And to New York, from Guayaquil.
Arajet, which connects Quito and Guayaquil with Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
JetSmart, with its flights to Lima, from Quito, starting this week. And from Guayaquil, starting in April.
In addition, the arrival of SKY Chile is expected, which plans to operate domestic routes in the country. The company has already registered a subsidiary in Ecuador under the name Fly Airline Ecuador Flyar and is in the process of requesting flight operations with the National Civil Aviation Council.
Sustained but slow growth
The president of the Association of Airline Representatives in Ecuador (Arlae), Marco Subía, believes that this market has had sustained growth in Ecuador. But it has not evolved at the same speed compared to other larger markets such as Mexico, Brazil, Chile, the United States or European countries; in which he considers that ‘low cost’ have been a revolution.
«It has taken a while to grow because we are a small country, with short distances. These airlines prioritize large markets first due to their profitability,” explains Subía.
Although the strategy of these airlines aims to offer tickets at more affordable prices, Subía considers that the difference is not substantial compared to other regular airlines, which have opted for a similar strategy, by diversifying their rates and offering additional services with separate costs. , to have competitive rates, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, he explains that a ‘low cost’ airline does not offer other benefits such as the accumulation of frequent flyer miles or ‘business’ classes with access to VIP lounges at airports.
Source: PRIMICIAS