LATAM Ecuador incorporates a sixth aircraft and increases frequencies

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Within a plan designed and focused on better prospects for the domestic market during the 2018, LATAM Ecuador incorporates a sixth aircraft and increases frequencies mainly to Cuenca and also on the Quito to Guayaquil route.

After the announcement of the implementation of the JET A1 aviation fuel subsidy, the airline LATAM Airlines Ecuador, has resumed its expansion plans in the Ecuadorian market with the new incorporation, of a sixth plane, which also increases frequencies, mainly focused on the third largest city in the country, Cuenca.

As specified in the new regulation for the fuel subsidy, the airports managed by the DGAC – Directorate General of Aviation and those of municipal administration as is the specific case of Cuenca, enjoy the 40% total flying allowance per gallon of JET A1. Given this scenario and given the need to improve the connectivity of the capital of Azuay, LATAM Ecuador opted to increase its flights from Quito to Cuenca, also before a marked claim from the city for having more options to fly more and at a lower price.

Until the 3 from December, LATAM flew with up to 14 weekly flights between Quito – Cuenca – Quito, with the new frequencies, the airline increases a 70% its seating capacity on the route with 1.200 extra seats. This route has been operated by LATAM for 8 years when it started domestic flights in Ecuador as LAN Ecuador on 6 april 2009.

Quito new frequencies – Cuenca – Quito

It should be noted that these new frequencies that totalize 38 round trip frequencies between both cities, are loaded in the airline's GDS only up to the 31 from December, although it was known that they will operate until March, duration of the special permit to operate aircraft with license plate CC-. From the 1 of January of 2018, the frequencies, for now, return to normal operation. This explains why December, being the busiest month of the year, would serve the airline as proof of the market's response to these new frequencies that operate with promotional and reduced rates according to the anticipation of purchase and need of the passenger.

Update 26/04/2018:

It should be noted that LATAM Ecuador has been assigned 21 weekly frequencies on the Quito route – Cuenca – Guayaquil and during April 2018 asked to increase to 22 frequencies, so potentially, the airline could operate one day a week 4 Daily flights.

Quito new frequencies – Guayaquil – Quito

On the Quito route – Guayaquil – Quito, the airline increased to 3 flights on Fridays and 2 Mondays as an example. on this route, just like Quito – Cuenca, flights are fully loaded and available only until 31 December and are subject to results to keep them, although they would continue until March.

Sixth plane LATAM Ecuador

The sixth plane incorporated by the airline will operate in Ecuador with Chilean registration CC-CYL. The plane that arrived in Ecuador last Monday 26 February 2018, has an age of 9 years since it entered service in Chile with MSN serial number 3779 and is propelled by 2 IAE V2524-A5 engines capable of 144 passengers.

The aircraft operates in the airline directly from the factory under leasing mode according to Airfleets.net and has operated in recent years flights in Peru. It currently carries the new corporate colors of the airline and has previously operated flights in Ecuador as a backup aircraft for operations in the country when other aircraft have had to undergo scheduled maintenance..

This sixth plane will operate in Ecuador on a regular basis, although it may rotate according to the needs of the airline and holding company, since this aircraft will be the first to use the new operating regulations that allow aircraft with foreign registration operate domestic flights in Ecuador under “Dry Lease” modality.

LATAM Ecuador fleet

With this addition, the LATAM Ecuador fleet is made up as follows:

It must be remembered that LATAM Ecuador already operated 6 airplanes in Ecuador, when it incorporated the Airbus A319 HC-CPQ, which left the fleet and was transferred to Brazil in January 2017.

The sixth CC-CYJ aircraft operates in Ecuador under new regulations for the operation of aircraft with foreign registration.

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