Flybondi Returns to Paraguay with a Never-Before-Operated Route to Encarnación
Argentine low-cost airline Flybondi surprised the market yesterday by posting on its official Twitter account that they will operate to a new destination, in what they described as a "major commitment" from them and from Paraguay.
"Flights to Encarnación from Buenos Aires are coming," the post continues, before clarifying, "Launch date: coming soon."
"How nice to see you again, Paraguay," they added, referring to their past service to Asunción, a destination they operated to until the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.
The post concludes with a word of thanks, tagging the accounts of the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano; and the National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DINAC).
In a parallel announcement, also via his Twitter account, Mauricio Sana, CEO of Flybondi, said that they are "very excited to be able to return to Paraguay soon" and that "this is the first time in history that this air route has been established, and we are sure it will benefit hundreds of people, in addition to contributing to the development and positive impact in both countries."
This comes two weeks after Flybondi executives, including Sana, held a meeting with the president of DINAC to express their interest in resuming flights between Buenos Aires and Asunción, while also considering the inclusion of Encarnación.
It was originally speculated that Flybondi's operation in Encarnación could be temporary, timed for the Rally World Championship, which will take place from August 28 to 31 in the department of Itapúa, one of the most developed areas of Paraguay thanks to its agricultural sector.
Indeed, close sources indicated that the flights would be launched in the coming days and would aim to start in late August.
In parallel, they are also managing the possibility of resuming flights between Buenos Aires and Asunción.
Following the pandemic, Flybondi's international network has primarily focused on Brazil, serving a twofold purpose: transporting Argentine tourists to Brazil's popular beach destinations while also bringing Brazilian travelers to Buenos Aires and key Argentine winter destinations like Bariloche.
The airline operates year-round flights to Florianópolis (FLN), São Paulo (GRU), and Rio de Janeiro (GIG). Additionally, it offers seasonal services to other Brazilian cities such as Maceió (MCZ) and Salvador (SSA), typically aligned with the summer high season.
From its main bases in Buenos Aires' airports (Aeroparque and Ezeiza), Flybondi also serves 17 destinations in Argentina,
Flybondi has been facing significant operational reliability issues due to an aircraft shortage. This problem began when the previous government administration limited companies' access to US dollars, which in turn led to difficulties in purchasing spare parts and performing routine maintenance checks.
Last summer, the airline resorted to wet-leasing aircraft from Albastar and Avion Express to handle the peak season demand.
The arrival of a new majority shareholder, announced last month, is expected to inject new life into the company.
Its fleet consists of 15 Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Two of them (LV-KCE and LV-KCD) are currently in storage. The rest, according to data gathered via AirNavRadar, have shown activity on scheduled flights within the last month.
Earlier this month, DINAC had confirmed that on August 7, the Teniente Amín Ayub Airport in Encarnación would begin operating with international status, precisely to handle the demand generated by the sporting event.
The airport was built in 2010 and has a 2,000-meter-long runway, as well as a small terminal.
In 2018, we had the opportunity to visit it as part of a flight report for Sol de Paraguay between Encarnación and Asunción: [Flight Report] When the Sun rises in Paraguay.
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