By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
Avianca Passenger Figures Reveal 930,000 Travelled Since September
After 90 days since the reactivation of domestic flights and 60 days since the resumption of international flights, Avianca has managed to transport a total of 936,755 on 9,686 flights. Between September and October, Avianca in Colombia handled 42.5% of domestic passengers and 22.7% of international passengers.
In a press release, the Colombian carrier pointed that it operates 29 domestic and 33 international routes. The operations resumption throughout the country has been gradual and the number of flights approved by the authorities is limited. Therefore, the availability of seats depends on the authorized capacity.
The 29 domestic routes offered by Avianca from Bogotá are to Armenia, Barrancabermeja, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Corozal, Cúcuta, Florencia, Ibagué, Manizales, Medellín, Neiva, Pasto, Pereira, Popayán, Riohacha, San Andrés, Santa Marta, Valledupar, Villavicencio and Yopal. From Medellín it operates direct flights to Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta; and from Cali to Cartagena and Medellín.
The 33 international routes from Bogotá are to Buenos Aires, Cancun, Guatemala City, Mexico City, Panama City, Guayaquil, La Paz, Madrid, Miami, New York, Punta Cana, Quito, Rio de Janeiro , San Salvador, Santiago de Chile, Santo Domingo, Sao Paulo, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Asunción, Montevideo and Washington. From Medellín, Avianca offers direct flights to Miami and New York; and from Cali to Miami.
In the domestic market, the beach continues to be the favorite destination and destinations such as Santa Marta and Cartagena are the most desired. Currently, Avianca operates 67 frequencies a week to Cartagena, traveling from Bogota (56), Medellín (7) and Cali (4). In the case of Santa Marta, the total weekly frequency is 42 traveling from Bogotá (35) and Medellín (7).
Regarding the international market, Miami is the most chosen destination for Colombians to travel. Today there is the possibility of traveling from Bogotá, Cali, Medellín and Barranquilla. Avianca offers a total of 24 weekly frequencies for this destination. New York is the second busiest destination, traveling from Bogotá and Medellín with a total of 18 weekly frequencies.
In what has to do with flights departing on time, Avianca closed November with an indicator of 96.7% of departure on time of its flights, and in terms of compliance, that is, total flights operated, the airline reached 98%; very healthy indicators in the measurement of the global airline industry.
According to another press release, Avianca successfully concluded agreements with the associations and unions that bring together the largest number of company employees. The most recent was the one reached with the Colombian Association of Flight Attendants on Dec. 3. Previously, agreements were reached with the Colombian Association of Civil Aviators on Oct. 27, and with the Avianca Pilots Association and the Avianca Aviators Organization on November 25. In addition, pilots who do not belong to any association also voluntarily adhered to Avianca’s proposal, which includes an agreement that governs, in its main terms, for 4 years.
These agreements were signed with the purpose to deal with the current behavior of the aviation industry, overcoming the unprecedented COVID-19 effects that have generated in the industry and being a more profitable and sustainable airline in the long term, and reflect an important advance for the necessary process of a comprehensive reorganization of the airline.
The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.
