CHILE: JetSMART To Expand Into Argentina

JetSMART will expand into Argentina in December, and plans to launch domestic service as soon as mid-2019.

The airline has embarked on the process of obtaining an air operator's certificate in Argentina, and expects to begin sales in early 2019 for flights beginning mid-2019, JetSMART chief executive Estuardo Ortiz says.

The domestic service in Argentina will follow the airline's launch of flights between Chile and Argentina from December, with five routes planned.

JetSMART began flights in Chile in July 2017.

It will connect Santiago with Mendoza from 11 December, followed by Cordoba on 14 December. On 17 December, it will begin service between La Serena and Cordoba.

Flights between La Serena and Mendoza will launch 18 December. On 2 January, service between Santiago and Buenos Aires El Palomar will begin.

Despite a deluge of airline interest in Argentina following the liberalisation of the aviation industry in the country, Ortiz says JetSMART is bullish about the market.

It's a large market in terms of population and geography, he explains. We believe that with the recent progress made by the government to remove the fare floor, it will allow us to offer low fares to stimulate the market.

Argentina removed a minimum fare rule in August, allowing airlines to price their fares freely, in a move that was welcomed by all carriers.

Ortiz believes there is enormous potential to stimulate air travel in Argentina, pointing to the lower number of trips per capita compared to other more mature Latin American aviation markets like Chile and Colombia.

We see potential for the market to grow two to three-fold, Ortiz says.

JetSMART currently operates mostly within Chile, with a lone international route to Lima. It has a fleet of five Airbus A320s but will add another six by early 2019 for a total of 11. In the second half of 2019, it will add eight A320neos that will be leased.

The airline's owner Indigo Partners firmed up an order for A320neo family aircraft in late 2017, including 70 aircraft for JetSMART.

Deliveries of these will begin in 2021, says Ortiz.


Tourism Observer

COLOMBIA: Avianca Starts Flights To Argentina

Colombia’s flagship carrier, Avianca, has been given a 15-year concession to operate within the South American nation starting July 11.

As part Avianca’s continuing expansion across the continent, German Efromovich, Avianca’s Chief Executive Officer, had been in talks with Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri to open routes in a restrictive market, dominated by the country’s main carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas.

Avianca will begin by operating a daily flight between Buenos Aires and Reconquista (Santa Fe).

We have to connect Argentina, a country with fewer internal flights than 30 years ago, said German Efromovich to La .

The ambitious plans include connecting the capital, Buenos Aires, with planned hubs in Cordoba, Mendoza, Iguazú, Rosario, Tucumán, Salta and Jujuy.

A total of 16 domestic routes are part of the concession.

Avianca’s incursion in Argentina amounts to an investment of US$180 million dollars, the acquisition of six planes costing US$25 million each and US$30 to US$40 million in start-up costs.

The CEO aims to move 125,000 passengers before the end this year.

In March, Argentina’s Anti-corruption Office (OA) launched an investigation into a possible conflict of interest when in 2016 the Macri family sold their airline MacAir Jet to the shareholders of Avianca’s local holding company, Avian S.A.

The OA shelved the probe last month claiming there were no issues as the Macri family business was founded back in 1993 and the sale was no guarantee to Avianca’s entry into the local market.

By offering a foreign-based airline access to domestic tourism, Efromovich believes Argentines will welcome greater competition.

I don’t know if it’s expensive to fly in Argentina, but it’s going to be cheaper when we fly, he said.

As a member of Star Alliance, passengers flying within Argentina will be able to accumulate miles with other affiliated airlines that include United, Lufthansa, Air Canada and Singapore Airlines.


Tourism Observer

ARGENTINA: Etihad Airways and Aerolíneas Argentinas Sign Codeshare Partnership

Aerolineas Argentinas and Etihad Airways have signed a codeshare agreement, which will provide their customers with more convenient connections via Rome and Madrid to Buenos Aires and onward to nine other popular destinations in Argentina.

More specifically, the new connections will enable travelers to reach Cordoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Iguazu, Salta, Mar del Plata, Bariloche, Trelew, and Ushuaia.

Furthermore, Aerolíneas Argentinas’ guests will be able to access Etihad Airways’ network of over 100 destinations from its Abu Dhabi hub via the Italian and Spanish capitals.

This codeshare demonstrates the importance of Argentina as a vital travel market for Etihad Airways in Latin America, given the growing tourism, cultural and business opportunities that exist between the UAE and Argentina,Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways executive vice president commercial said.

The agreement also foresees that Etihad Guest members and Aerolíneas Plus members will be able to earn and redeem miles on codeshare flights.

This is a very good opportunity to consolidate and increase our offer to one of the most important hubs in the Middle East.

It also allows us to improve our load factors, optimize the use our fleet and strengthen the image of Aerolineas Argentinas in the Asian market, Diego Garcia, Aerolineas Argentinas chief commercial officer said.

Based in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways flies to, or has announced plans to serve, more than 110 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

From its headquarters in Buenos Aires, Aerolineas Argentinas flies to 24 international destinations in America and Europe. Together with Austral Lineas Aereas, Aerolineas Argentinas operates flights to 37 destinations in the country. Discover the World is the carrier’s General Sales Agent (GSA) in Greece and Cyprus.



Tourism Observer

PARAGUAY: Enterprise Rent-A-Car Reaches Paraguay, Curacao And Argentina

Enterprise Holdings, the world’s largest car rental company, has announced that its flagship Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand has begun operating in Argentina, Paraguay and Curacao this month.

Enterprise Holdings owns Enterprise Rent-A-Car as well as the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands.

The Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand – including the popular Enterprise Plus loyalty program – will be offered to customers at main airports in Bariloche, Buenos Aires and Mendoza, Argentina; Asunción, Paraguay; and Willemstad, Curacao.

The brand’s first city-center location also opened in Asunción in September and additional locations are planned for the three countries.

National Car Rental also recently expanded its service offerings – including the brand’s Emerald Club loyalty program – at locations throughout Argentina and Paraguay.

“There’s tremendous growth potential for both corporate and leisure car rental in Latin America,” said Peter A. Smith, vice president of global franchising at Enterprise Holdings.

Smith was a keynote speaker at the 2016 International Car Rental Show where he highlighted the company’s rapid international expansion and integrated global network.

Enterprise Holdings’ growth in key Argentina, Paraguay and Curacao markets reflects its vision to build a comprehensive and international car rental network recognized for high quality and customer service.

In fact, Enterprise Holdings’ successful global expansion has helped position it near the top of the global travel industry overall, with the company’s annual revenues exceeding those generated by many airlines and most cruise lines, hotels, tour operators and online travel agencies.

As a result, Enterprise Holdings has also teamed up with the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) as a category sponsor of the 2017 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

The annual WTTC awards are among the highest accolades in the global travel industry and represent the gold standard in sustainable tourism.

CHILE: Santiago The Capital And Largest City In Chile

Santiago, is the capital and largest city in Chile and has long been thought of as just a place to stop over on your way to other destinations in South America. Located in a country filled to the brim with stunning landscapes, historic beauty, local charm and delectable foods, Santiago is fast-becoming a destination in it’s own right and with good reason.

We at Santiago Tourist believe that the city has a lot to offer, and we’re here to help guide and advise you through your time here; whether you’re staying for a week, a few months, or long-term. If you’re after basic travel information, see articles such as Getting to and From the Airport, renting a car in Santiago, using public transportation, learning Spanish, exchanging money and our accommodation series. Wondering how to get around Chile? Traveling by bus is a very common option.

If you’re planning to spend a few days in the city, visit Buin Zoo, take a mural meander or our central barrios walking tour. We’ve also got Food & Wine information, including restaurant reviews and wine tours. If you’re looking at venturing further throughout Chile, see our articles on visiting Pucón, Valparaíso, San Pedro de Atacama, Iquique and Humberstone, and more.

Do you live in Santiago now? Learn how to pay recurring bills, getting a Chilean ID, go shopping at La Vega, send something through Chile Post and and what to do in event of an earthquake. To learn more about Chile, check out these posts: La Pastora, football, events in Chilean history, el huaso Chileno, the houses of Pablo Neruda and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Chile’s a long way from a lot of places, and many people combine it with other places in South America. If you’re heading to Peru, don’t miss Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, or the Nazca Linas. Argentinean Patagonia, Mendoza’s wine country and Buenos Aires are just a few other options to consider.

For anything else, use our search bar. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter, which we keep updated with regular local events. Check back we’re always adding new material and we’ve got a lot of great stuff planned for you! If we haven’t covered what you’re looking for yet, let us know and we can help you find more information. We hope you enjoy your time exploring this continent, and please share your experiences with us!