Colombian aviation update

[latinaviation]

This link has some good updates on the airline scene in Colombia:
http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/1522413/

Highlights:
1. Fenix Airlines awarded route frequencies, but not to USA;
2. Two new start-ups filed for service
3. West Caribbean awarded routes to Costa Rica; AeroRepublica awarded routes to USA

Happy Contrails!

[luisde8cd]

Very good news from our neighbor!

I see Fenix and Aerorepublica will be starting service to Caracas. Sounds great, Im pretty sure this will bring down prices on this route, so far Avianca, Aeropostal and Aerocontinente had been the only ones flying between the 2 capitals. Avior flies an EMB-120 from Valencia to Bogota, but other than that the Venezuela-Colombia air traffic is dominated by Avianca and Aeropostal. Avianca takes a larger share than Aeropostal, 3X daily (2 MD80, 1 757 that was 767 before) vs 2X daily (1MD80, 1DC-9).

Rutaca Airlines is announcing on their website a new flight from Maracaibo to Medellin on their B732s, sounds interesting, although I fail to see a potential market on that route. I might be wrong though;)

Also one question... is British Airways allowed 5th freedom rights between Caracas and Bogotá?