Air activity reactivates engines with more domestic and international frequencies

New frequencies both to and from Ecuador and domestically add to the range of options for users these days. The reactivation and the December holidays are factors that move the engines of this market, as explained the Undersecretary of Air Transport, José Luis Aguilar. However, he clarified that all new flights are activated permanently and not seasonally.

For example, next December 1 Avianca inaugurates its new flight from Guayaquil to New York. According to the company, there are six weekly flights. María Beatriz González, Avianca’s commercial manager in Ecuador, indicated that “passengers will be able to find very competitive rates by accessing tickets from $ 295 each way, including taxes to travel directly from Guayaquil,” he said. At the moment the airline has 23 weekly frequencies from Quito and Guayaquil to Bogotá and San Salvador.

Secondly, United Airlines, which flies to the US five times, through Houston, now provides one daily flight, that is, two more flights.

Regarding domestic flights, Since January 4, Latam flies to Loja. Additionally, Avianca inaugurated its flights of Quito to Cuenca a few weeks ago. The airline operates 6 weekly flights, representing more than 7,000 monthly seats available on modern Airbus A320 aircraft, Avianca said in a statement.

Meanwhile, since last November 1, Latam and Avianca increased their flights to Manta. Before they had between three and four weekly flights, now they have one daily.

Aguilar explained that the reactivation of the aeronautical industry is occurring worldwide and our country is no exception. Ecuador has a particular profile, because of how it handled the pandemic crisis it is seen with good eyes by several airlines.

In this sense, he indicated that he has been working for this reactivation. A) Yes, Since October 25, the increase in capacity at the national level with 100% capacity has already been approved in arrival and boarding halls, always respecting biosecurity measures.

It also works to improve certain bottlenecks that could be generated by the influx of travelers. To do this, they are first identifying precisely what the problems are. Among them are, for example, the lack of airport personnel, also the processes of identification of passengers upon arrival. Explained that Migration already has a plan to streamline the process and that the Ministry, of course, supports the initiative.

For the official, the movement of the airlines is not uniform, but there are some that have already managed to return to their pre-pandemic levels. For example, Avianca has already exceeded those levels, while Latam would do so towards the beginning of next year.

Additionally, Aguilar explained that from this month until the end of the year incentives will be generated so that airlines are encouraged to establish frequencies to certain destinations that are currently without service. These are the airports of Santa Rosa, Latacunga and Esmeraldas. These incentives would have to do with lower fee costs, for example, which would be approved via ministerial agreement.

The official ruled out that ticket costs will be raised. He expressed that a few days ago a statement had been made that the cost of fuel would increase ticket prices, but he assured that in Ecuador Rather, a reduction of these is sought, through the generation of a greater supply of frequencies.

On another topic, when asked about how it is progressing the signing of open skies agreements with other countries, Aguilar said that they are expected to be signed with the United States and Panama until the end of the year. He added that there is a bureaucratic issue that must be met. In any case, he said, they are already in the final stage and it is expected to have key meetings between December 6 and 10, at an air summit that will take place in Bogotá. (I)