Big plans for an Argentinian expansion for the low-cost Chilean airline JetSMART have been revealed this week.
The airline will expand into Argentina during December this year will ambitions plans for a domestic route network to be introduced by July 2019. JetSMART has applied for an air operator's certificate in Argentina, which should be granted in early next year.
The carrier is bringing new flights connecting Chile and Argentina, from 11th December JetSMART will connect Santiago with Mendoza, followed by Cordoba on 14th December. Then on 17th December, they will start a service between La Serena and Cordoba. Flights between La Serena and Mendoza will launch 18 December. On 2 January, service between Santiago and Buenos Aires El Palomar will begin.
JetSMART operates almost exclusively within Chile, with its fleet of five A32s, although it does have a single international route currently as it also goes to Lima. The airline also plans to have another six by Airbus A320s in early 2019. During the second half of 2019, it will also add eight leased A320neos. The airline will also start to receive its first A320neos from a 70 aircraft order in 2021.
Recently the airline celebrated its first year of operation in Chile, which saw the carrier, transport 1.2 million passengers in those first 12 months, remarkably achieving a market share of 12.7%. "JetSMART has revolutionised air transport in Chile. Thanks to the competition we have introduced, airline ticket prices have fallen more than 35% in this period and the domestic market has grown more than 22%," said Estuardo Ortiz, general manager of JetSMART.
