Bogota-based regional airline Easyfly is receiving the first of three new ATR 72-600s next week, significantly boosting the capacity of the ATR 42 and BAe Jetstream 41 operator.
During a public presentation of the plans for what will be the largest aircraft in Easyfly’s fleet, chief executive Alfonso Avila announced the delivery schedule of the remaining aircraft on order, a number of new routes as well as the creation of a regional hub in Cali.
"We will receive the first ATR 72-600 on 30 October and are prepared to put it into operations on 13 November on the route between Bogota and Pereira," Avila says.
He also confirms that the other two ATR72-600 will arrive this year, while two more ATR 42-600s will be incorporated in April and June 2019 respectively.
With these aircraft, and two ATR42s already received in July and August, Avila expects Easyjet to grow revenues by 30% over the next 12 months.
The airline plans to boost capacity and frequencies by 25% on some of its principal routes, while launching nine new routes over the next five months.
In addition to a new route between Bucaramanga and Pereira launched on 17 October and new flights from Bogota to Florencia and Puerto Asis starting in December and January respectively, the new Cali hub will see flights to Quibdo, Neiva, Ibagué, Puero Asis, Pasto and Guapi.
"We have pioneered regional aviation in Colombia and with this $120 million investment we will be able to serve nine additional destinations through 17 new routes," Avila concludes, hinting at new route announcements in 2019.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
