The launch of American Falcon flights from Argentina's capital Buenos Aires across the Rio Plata to Montevideo, the Uruguayan capital, at the end of February, seems fairly routine, except that it is part of a growing trend among secondary Latin American carriers to gain cross-border routes.
As traffic within Latin America grows, aspiring local airlines have pressed for a share of it and convinced governments to renegotiate bilaterals to allow multiple designation. Thus, Colombia's AeroRepublica has gained routes to Jamaica and Panama, and Brazil's GOL to Argentina and Bolivia. In Argentina, the government has taken the initiative itself by spreading air rights among local airlines to reduce the dominance of Aerolineas Argentinas.
A growing number of carriers also benefit from open skies regimes. Guatemala's Tikal Jets is exploiting its right to serve other countries within Central America.
Source: Airline Business
