Bogotá.- After several months certifying its arrival in the country, JetSMART began its operations in Colombia with an inaugural flight between Bogotá and Medellín on March 14.
In this context, he was present on this flight to experience first-hand the service offering that the company proposes for the Colombian market, the fourth one it reaches.
The Ultra Low Cost model returns to Colombia
One of JetSMART’s main banners to reach Colombia was to bring back the ultra low cost model to the country that had been lost after the disappearance of Viva and Ultra Air at the beginning of last year. In this sense, the airline seeks to position itself in this low-price market that had been served only by Wingo, a member of Copa Holdings.
Brian Franke, Principal of Indigo Partners of which the airline is a part, commented on the occasion of the opening of the flights: “We are looking forward to the start of JetSMART’s domestic operations in Colombia, and we continue to invest in the region to develop the ultra low cost. “We see enormous growth potential in Colombia, and as we expand JetSMART we continue to provide affordable air travel to more people and communities.”
In this context, the airline launched a promotion for the opening of its flights where travelers will be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts on domestic routes with tickets starting at $47,800 Colombian pesos (including fees and taxes).
Routes and operation centers
JetSMART In its first stage, it will operate a total of 8 direct routes from Bogotá to Medellín, Cartagena, Pereira and Santa Marta; Likewise, from Medellín to Santa Marta and Cartagena and from Cartagena to Pereira and Cali, a milestone that marks the beginning of a new era in air connectivity in Colombia.
Beyond this, the company presented two important new developments regarding its operation centers.
First of all, flights from Bogotá will operate from the emblematic Air Bridge of the city of Bogotá, Terminal 2.
JetSMART’s strategic location in Terminal 2 of El Dorado Airport not only represents an interesting move, but also a transformation in the travel experience for passengers. Located at the epicenter of national air activity, this terminal is designed to provide efficiency at each stage of the trip.
OPAIN, the airport operator, advanced the renovation of Terminal 2, equipping the space with new chairs and seating areas, installing veripax technology for digital reading of boarding passes, and an exclusive area for the entry of officials. Likewise, they expanded the rooms, remodeled the bathrooms, as well as the floors, and installed new charging areas.
On the other hand, the airline announced that the José María Cordova Airport that serves Medellín will be its operations center.
Onboard experience
During the inaugural trip, we focused on analyzing the onboard experience proposed by the company. Beyond being a low-cost service where all on-board catering must be purchased during the flight, it is worth noting that the boarding process from Terminal 2 of El Dorado Airport means fewer trips, lines, and crowds given the size of the terminal, a significant advantage.
As for the chairs, the configuration on board is done by Recaro airplane seats company that also supplies Avianca’s Airbus aircraft, so the comfort and space between both airlines is similar.
In line with the trend in the industry, there is no in-flight entertainment system or amenities such as USB ports for charging devices. Just a reclining table and a menu with the products offered on board.
Finally, it should be noted that JetSMART’s commitment to Colombia is part of the development of an ambitious expansion and growth plan in South America, where the country occupies an important place in the development potential of the Colombian market.
Regarding growth plans, in conversation with , Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of the company, ruled out inaugurating routes to the Caribbean from Colombia for the time being.
Nicolás Zorro for