Filling the Gap: Easyfly Steps Up with New Routes After Ultra and VIVA

Easyfly, Colombia’s regional airline, has recently submitted a request to the Civil Aeronautics (Aerocivil) to add seven national routes to its operating permit. These routes include some previously operated by the now-defunct VIVA and Ultra Air.

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Since the departure of both low-cost airlines, the remaining companies have been gradually covering the most demanded routes. To protect their domestic market share, existing airlines have increased their fleets and incorporated staff from VIVA and Ultra.

Easyfly’s Expansion in Medellín

Easyfly’s request includes three new routes departing from Medellín/Olaya Herrera (EOH) to Cartagena (CTG), Barranquilla (BAQ), and Santa Marta (SMR). These destinations were among the most important in the network of the defunct VIVA, which used to operate between 3 and 9 daily flights from Medellín. In addition, Ultra Air used to connect both coastal cities with 2 to 3 daily flights.

Easyfly began its operations to Cartagena on July 14, offering daily flights on the ATR 42-600 aircraft, capable of carrying 48 passengers, providing a weekly offer of 480 seats.

While the tentative start dates for flights to Barranquilla and Santa Marta are still unknown, Easyfly plans to operate them with up to three weekly flights using ATR 42/72-600 aircraft.

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Easyfly faces strong competition from major airlines like Avianca and LATAM Colombia on the requested routes from Medellín, but they are flown from Rionegro International Airport.

Four new regional routes and two potential new destinations for Easyfly

In addition to the routes from Medellín, Easyfly aims to add four additional connections. These routes will connect Bogotá with Apartadó (APO) and Puerto Carreño (PCR) with up to three weekly flights. Furthermore, there will be flights from Bogotá to Ipiales (IPI) and from Cali (CLO) to Ipiales (IPI) with seven weekly flights. All these routes will be operated using ATR 42/72-600 aircraft.

If confirmed, Puerto Carreño (PCR) and Ipiales (IPI) will become two new destinations for Easyfly.

Puerto Carreño, located in the eastern extremity of Colombia next to the Orinoco River, is a border city with a population of over 20,000 inhabitants. It is also the administrative capital of the Department of Vichada. Currently, SATENA operates six weekly flights to Bogotá (BOG) and two weekly flights to Villavicencio (VVC).

On the other hand, Ipiales is a small Andean city in western Colombia, near the border with Ecuador. It is known for its proximity to the Sanctuary of Las Lajas, a significant Catholic pilgrimage site.

SATENA was the only airline operating in the city from 2008 until 2023, with four weekly flights from Bogotá (BOG) and two weekly flights from Cali (CLO) and Puerto Asís (PUU), all operated with the ATR 42-600 aircraft with a capacity of 47 passengers. In March 2023, Avianca launched four weekly flights from Bogotá (BOG) with Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.

Easyfly Notice: Addition of Routes July