By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
New Cargo Airline Begins Operations in Colombia and Airports May Be Reopen by September
Panamericana Airlines, a Colombian company founded in Barranquilla under the direction of Thomas Friese, announced that it will begin operations in the second half of August.
In an interview for El Heraldo, Ronald Peña, Panamericana Airlines Expansion Manager, said that the carrier will first offer international service to Miami and Caracas. “We have projected the maiden flight for this August 17, but it is a process that requires the articulation of many actors, including international airports,” he said.
Ronald Peña stated that the operational base will be Barranquilla. He highlighted the advantages offered by the city for its geographical conditions that help save fuel and use greater cargo transport capacity.
Peña said that Panamericana Airlines constitute an alternative cargo carrier with national and international destinations for large companies based in Barranquilla so that their shipments arrive or depart faster. “There is a centralization in the El Dorado International Airport, where almost 90% of the country’s cargo enters and leaves, generating air congestion that delays delivery.”
With the opening of this new Colombian cargo airline, more than 30 direct jobs have been created and the carrier plan to close the year generating around 300 more jobs. The service platform they offer includes air cargo transport, air courier articulated with ground logistics and customs management
According to its website, Panamericana Airlines will begin cargo operations with six freighter type aircraft: three Boeing 747-400, two 757-200 and one 777. According to Caracol, these aircraft are leased by the new Colombian cargo carrier.
The airline will offer its services connecting Colombia with other countries in America, Europe and Asia, facilitating shipments transportation by charter or courier.
In dialogue with Semana, the Colombian Civil Aviation director, Juan Carlos Salazar, referred to the opening of the air operation, both nationally and internationally. According to RCN, the Colombian Transportation Minister, Ángela María Orozco, reaffirmed that on September 1 Colombia will restart international air operation, but conditioned it to the other countries opening airports.
According to Juan Carlos Salazar, the flight reactivations will be slow, due to carriers’ logistics process, ticket sales and organization of the itinerary.
“Some mayors agreed and sent letters requesting reactivation for some routes, in other cases we see letters from leaders who sent the letters on their own and in other cases where they ask to connect with another city that has not made such a request”, said Salazar.
Despite the complexity of the matter, the list of airports visited by the Colombian Civil Aviation is: Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Armenia, Pereira, Manizales, Medellín, Montería, Bogotá, Pasto, San Andrés, Bucaramanga and Cúcuta. Although they have been inspected, not all have a request from the mayors to reactivate the flights.
The three things Juan 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.
