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Due to lack of frequencies, Ecuador is missing the opportunity to have new flights from Spain and USA.
The outlook is not the best worldwide, but despite that, many airlines have found opportunities to start routes, even during July one hundred new routes start in the world, but none of them are towards Ecuador.
Despite being the first country to open borders of those that closed, having been among the first to allow the arrival of vaccinated travelers, we are not on the map of new opportunities.
But what happens? Beyond our economy that has been highly weakened by the pandemic and that has even been there before, There are two markets that cannot be exploited further and that would possibly be the most likely to grow at this time..
Both from Spain and from the United States we cannot have more flights since there are no more frequencies available within current bilateral agreements with these nations.
What are bilateral agreements?
Before delving deeper into the current problem, It is important to quickly indicate what a bilateral agreement is..
A bilateral agreement or ASA (air services agreement) It is a document signed by two or more states that determines conditions for the existence of international flights between these territories., indicating airlines, teams, ability, technical details, but above all, the number of frequencies that the companies assigned by the states will be able to operate at most on one route or another.
Agreement with Spain
The ASA with Spain was signed on 9 July 2003, in which the following is indicated:
- A blackjack capacity limitation (21) weekly frequencies for passenger transport, mail and load, from points in Spain via Caribbean Islands, Colombia and Venezuela, to Quito and/or Guayaquil and points beyond in Peru, Bolivia and Chile and vv.
- From Ecuador no airline is operating to Spain.
In this way, Currently the following frequencies are assigned:
- Iberia 11 frequencies
- Air Europa 5 frequencies
- More Ultra 4 frequencies
As we can see, There is only one additional frequency available for a new airline to seek to fly to our country.
Days ago we saw the start of flights by Iberojet to Costa Rica, but at this moment we cannot be considered, regardless of whether there is a market for a new competitor, there is no option.
Nor could we see the more than important flights for example from Barcelona, a route that would undoubtedly be successful given the large Ecuadorian colony in said city that, by adding Guayaquil and Quito, places us in the second most important market from El Prat., but there are no more frequencies available.
One frequency left, It is most likely that some of the 3 airlines request it, but not a new competitor that would energize the market, At least until more options become available.
Agreement with the United States
In the case of this market, which is the main source of tourists to our country, the situation is even more critical.
There is not a single frequency available of those agreed upon in the bilateral agreement signed on 26 September 1986 valid until 30 June 2021 which details:
- Maximum of 120 frequencies per week of combined round-trip flights on regular combined routes from the United States of America via 15 intermediate points to points in Ecuador, and beyond to Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Peace, Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and five other points.
- LATAM Ecuador has 9 frequencies assigned to New York.
For this case, The assigned frequencies are distributed as follows:
- American Airlines 42 frequencies
- JetBlue 28 frequencies
- Eastern Airlines 20 frequencies
- Delta Air Lines 14 frequencies
- United Airlines 9 frequencies
- Spirit Airlines 7 frequencies
As there are no frequencies available and many opportunities are being lost.
Days ago we saw how Spirit announced dozens of routes to Latin America from Miami, no new to Ecuador, Although the market is growing and Spirit is one of these players.
Also opportunities such as new flights from New York, Newark, Orlando or others to Quito or Ecuador in general cannot be analyzed by the airlines because of what we have said, there are no more frequencies.
Even days ago Southwest indicated its plans to expand into South America, but at this moment our country would be left out of this or other plans because there are no more frequencies available.
Next steps
Urgent in this moment of recovery, that these bilateral agreements be negotiated by the Undersecretary of Air Transport of the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility and embassies to open the opportunity to new routes that in turn will generate more jobs, commercial exchange, arrival of tourists and more benefits for the country.
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