JetSMART’s CEO highlights growth in Argentina and Colombia, pushes for fair competition and slot reform
Estuardo Ortiz spoke with Aviacionline during IATA’s Wings of Change event in Bogotá.
Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART, spoke with Aviacionline about the airline’s sustained growth across South America, addressing key developments in Chile, Argentina, and Colombia, and shared his views on fleet expansion, regulatory reform, and operational challenges in the region.
“We’ve invested more in Argentina over the past 15 months because we’ve finally been able to,” Ortiz said, noting that regulatory changes have enabled aircraft interchange operations, foreign crew use, and access to a more stable exchange market, which is critical for covering expenses in U.S. dollars, such as aircraft leasing. “What’s key for us is fair competition—and Argentina didn’t have that before,” he added.
He pointed to longstanding issues such as limited airport access, lack of contact gates, and subsidies for the state-owned carrier, which put JetSMART at a disadvantage. “Now that these factors are being corrected, the environment is finally right for investment,” Ortiz emphasized. JetSMART plans to reach 17 aircraft in Argentina by year-end, backed by an order for 125 aircraft.
On market dynamics, Ortiz highlighted the contrast between Argentina and Colombia:
Argentina: 48 million people, 21 million available airline seats
Colombia: 55 million people, 46 million seats
“Colombia is a larger market with more stimulation capacity than Argentina, Chile, or Peru,” he explained, adding that Argentina still offers major growth potential. “We’re now operating in markets with much greater scale.”
Regarding JetSMART’s origin in Chile, he acknowledged a slowdown due to lower national investment, but remains optimistic: “The Chilean market has historically been good. My outlook for 2026 is positive.” He added, “When we complete this phase of expansion in larger markets, we’ll return to Chile with strength.”
On JetSMART’s business model, Ortiz was clear: “It’s not about market share—it’s about building a sustainable, efficient operation.” The airline was recently named South America’s Best Low-Cost Carrier by Skytrax, beating full-service carriers, a sign that “the model works—it’s a win for passengers and countries.”
Airbus A321 and future destinations
JetSMART has incorporated the Airbus A321, which Ortiz described as “perfect for Argentina”. The fleet expansion was enabled by recent regulatory changes.
Looking ahead, he sees growth opportunities in Brazil and the Caribbean. The airline is launching flights to Recife, capitalizing on Argentina’s shift from an inbound to outbound tourism market, with seasonal demand driving passengers from cold winters to warm northern beaches. He also noted interest in exploring routes to the Dominican Republic and broader Caribbean.
“We have a substantial cost advantage over other South American carriers, and we want to maintain it,” Ortiz said. “People may fly long hours, but they’ll pay half the fare.”
Slot reform and airport expansion
Ortiz also addressed structural challenges, especially airport slot allocation. Using Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport as an example, he argued that existing rules are outdated and limit new entrants like JetSMART in congested hubs. “There should be rules that assign slots to ULCCs where no other competitors exist—this drives immediate fare reductions.”
He called for a two-pronged solution:
- Optimize current slot allocation
- Expand airport infrastructure, especially in Bogotá and Medellín, where expansion projects are urgent.
JetSMART currently flies from Argentina to Santiago, Lima, Brazil, and Paraguay, and plans to continue expanding in international markets.
Editor en Aviacionline. Especializado en Aviación Comercial / Aviación en Argentina. 45 años de periodista, y contando.
Para comentar, debés estar registradoPor favor, iniciá sesión