SJOtoLIR wrote:

Copa Airlines started the revenue services on the brand new Boeing 737 MAX 9: HP-9903CMP.
CM 108 PTY-SDQ on November 07.

And according to https://community.infiniteflight.com/t/boeing-test-flight-schedule/92954, CM's fourth B39M: HP-9904CMP had its first test flight on Nov 5: https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE54

Kilgen wrote:

The other question is, will CM fly again to VCP?

Well, How about AD flying VCP-PTY instead?

The Airbus 220 series might fit perfectly for the expansion plans for either AV or CM due to the inminent substitution of their 100-seater product, in the short term.
Their Embraer 190 planes would terminate their usable life in 2020 or so.
However, it’s hard to believe if Copa Airlines should choose the Airbus product some day.


Airbus 220.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

The Airbus 220 series might fit perfectly for the expansion plans for either AV or CM due to the inminent substitution of their 100-seater product, in the short term.
Their Embraer 190 planes would terminate their usable life in 2020 or so.
However, it’s hard to believe if Copa Airlines should choose the Airbus product some day.

Perhaps CM will replace its E190 with B737-700MAX?
Again, IMHO, in the long run, CM would have done better going for the B737-600 - given the fleet commonality - than having those E190.

CM is selling 6 of its E190s.

From Twitter:

Ghim-Lay Yeo @ghimlay
.@CopaAirlines has signed a LOI to sell up to six E190s due to its “continuing fleet optimisation and efficiency efforts”. Five of the aircraft will exit the fleet in 2019. Sale will lead to impairment charge of $163 million, to be recorded in Q4

https://twitter.com/ghimlay/status/1062862320353902593

Ghim-Lay Yeo @ghimlay
.@CopaAirlines signed the E190 sale LOI with Azorra Aviation, the same company that has been tasked by @azulinhasaereas to remarket its E190/E195 fleet

https://twitter.com/ghimlay/status/1062863157738328064

Kilgen wrote:

CM is selling 6 of its E190s.

So the fleet optimization would happen sooner than later.
However, the tweet didn't answer the possible brand new candidate for the 100-seater equipment.
I even keep on repeating that the efficient E90 was a smart choice for the Central American civil aviation, in the past decade.
We had previously analyzed here how the range and fuel consumption of the E90 beat to the other models of their competitors, in terms of the 100-seater planes.
The production list of the E90/E95 fleet has surpassed the 750 planes and they're safely and efficientely operating around the world nowadays.

Regards.

Volaris Costa Rica is planning new routes to South America in 2019.

Interesting news in today's conference call: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/copa-holdings-sa-cpa-q3-191815937.html

Wingo will receive 4 B737-800 from Copa, and additional one will be based in Panama, most likely BLB, for a total of 5. The 4 B737-700 will return to Copa. Most likely they will be used as the replacement for the 5 E190 that are leaving next year (the other E190 will leave in 2020).

Most likely the B737-800 that they are receiving are the 4 that will be leaving Copa's fleet next year.

Kilgen wrote:

Interesting news in today's conference call: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/copa-holdings-sa-cpa-q3-191815937.html

Wingo will receive 4 B737-800 from Copa, and additional one will be based in Panama, most likely BLB, for a total of 5. The 4 B737-700 will return to Copa. Most likely they will be used as the replacement for the 5 E190 that are leaving next year (the other E190 will leave in 2020).

Most likely the B737-800 that they are receiving are the 4 that will be leaving Copa's fleet next year.

The economics of B737-800 in LCC configuration for P5 Wingo (CM Colombia) would be awesome compared to those B737-700 currently in service.

Interesting to see that CM wants to get rid of the E jets fast. Seems like airlines in general are looking for a way to get rid of them as fast as possible (B6, Air Canada, Copa, to name a few).

AeroMexico is bearing its code in more flights operated by Copa Airlines as part of the code-share paternship:

CM [Panama City - Aruba]
CM [Panama City - Fortaleza]
CM [Panama City - Manaus]
CM [Panama City - Recife]
CM [Panama City - Salvador]

Volaris has started just last month its paperwork in order to get the COA (“aerial operator certificate”) of El Salvador – which will allow them to fly under Salvadorian flag and thereby originate flights from El Salvador. They are anticipating getting it between January and February 2019, which is really soon. According to the news, they are expecting to use the advantages of the runway at SAL for longer/heavier flights that could not take off from GUA. This would mean that they will need to hire Salvadorian crew and some administrative personnel.

The link, only in Spanish: https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/negocios/541121/volaris-volara-con-bandera-salvadorena-y-contratara-mas-personal-en-el-pais/

Great news for SAL. I am pretty sure, however, that GUA’s runway permits narrow bodies to fly wherever they want, as long as it’s within their range, as is the case of Canada and Lima.

FWIW, AMs inaugural flights to LIR and BZE happened over the last few weeks. I hope those services do well. What (viable) destinations are left for AM in the isthmus? TGU?

CM fourth B39M has been delivered.
Via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NikPhillips666/stat ... 5903870976

Interjet will begin with daily flights between MEX and SAL, starting on december the 15th.

https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/negocios/543238/interjet-volara-a-el-salvador-desde-el-proximo-15-de-diciembre/

avi8 wrote:

Great news for SAL. I am pretty sure, however, that GUA’s runway permits narrow bodies to fly wherever they want, as long as it’s within their range, as is the case of Canada and Lima.

At first I thought so, but after reading the news I did a quick search of flights to and from GUA, and there is no direct flight to Lima, nor to Canada, being (if I remember correctly) Chicago the northernmost destination with a direct GUA-departing flight.

YSAPW wrote:

avi8 wrote:

Great news for SAL. I am pretty sure, however, that GUA’s runway permits narrow bodies to fly wherever they want, as long as it’s within their range, as is the case of Canada and Lima.

At first I thought so, but after reading the news I did a quick search of flights to and from GUA, and there is no direct flight to Lima, nor to Canada, being (if I remember correctly) Chicago the northernmost destination with a direct GUA-departing flight.

Lima was in the past was served by Taca Peru in the past with A319 and A320 and there are some charter flights from Smartwings and Air Transat to Montreal and Toronto using 737-800 and some time A310 and A330

Regards.

Four brand new Boeing 737 MAX 9s are succesfully operating on Copa Airlines.
The last frame registered as HP-9904CMP made the first revenue flight on December 04 as CM 382 PTY-SFO.
This plane has been flying CM PTY-SFO and CM PTY-LAX alternatively.

Interjet started last Monday its new daily flight between MEX and SAL, using a A320 for the route. According to the news (link only in Spanish) they have also started the paperwork in order to do CUN – SAL, frecuency which should start next year “soon”.

https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/negocios/550006/la-aerolinea-mexicana-interjet-inauguro-sus-vuelos-el-salvador-mexico/

YSAPW wrote:

they have also started the paperwork in order to do CUN – SAL, frecuency which should start next year “soon”.

That means more competence with AV SAL-CUN and Q6 SAL-CUN.
Avianca increases their weekly frequencies on the high season, in such route.
Regards.

Recapitulation of 2018, in terms of the regional civil aviation.
Frequencies are listed as weekly services.

January 02: LP LIM-SJO, 4x, 319/320/321, NEW
March 15: Q6 SAL-LAX, 2x, 319, NEW
March 17: Q6 GUA-LAX, 1x. 319, NEW
March 29: LH FRA-SJO, 2x, 343, NEW
March 29: Q6 SAL-CUN, 3x, 319, NEW
April 01: AV SAL-ORD, 3x, 319/320, END
April 01: AV GUA-ORD, 7x, 319/320, NEW
April 05: CA PEK-IAH-PTY, 2x, 773, NEW
April 17: Q6 SJO-SAL-JFK, 2x, 319/320, NEW
May 05: UA EWR-GUA, 1x, 738, END
May 16: Q6 SJO-SAL-IAD, 2x, 319/320, NEW
May 20: FC BOG-BLB, 4x, 320, END
May 20: FC MDE-BLB, 3x, 320, END
July 17: CM PTY-BGI, 2x, E90, NEW
July 18: CM PTY-FOR, 2x, 738, NEW
July 24: CM PTY-SSA, 2x, 738, NEW
August 02: AV SJO-GUA-MCO, 3x, 319, NEW
August 03: AV SAL-MCO, 3x, NEW
August 17: AV SAL-BOS, 4x, 319/320, NEW
September 01: Q6 SJO-GDL, 319, END
September 02: Q6 GUA-GDL, 319, END
September 06: NK IAH-SAL, 3x, 319, NEW
September 07: NK IAH-GUA, 3x, 319, NEW
September 17: CM GUA-MGA, 14x, 738/73G/E90, END
October 04: NK MCO-PTY, 4x, NEW
October 05: NK MCO-SAP, 2X, NEW
October 06: NK MCO-SAL, 2x, NEW
October 29: AV GUA-JFK, 7x, NEW
November 01: AV CTG-SAL, 3x, 319/320, NEW
November 04: AV SAP-TGU, AT7, END
November 04: AV SAP-RTB, AT7, END
November 10: AM/5D MEX-LIR, 2x, E90
November 17: AM/5D MEX-BZE, 2x, E90
December 12: CM PTY-SLA, 2x, 738, NEW
December 15: 40 MEX-SAL, 7x, 320, NEW
December 16: CM PTY-PVR, 2x, 738, NEW
December 22: SY MSP-BZE, 1x, NEW
December 23: WG YVR-LIR, 1x, 738, NEW




Highlights:

Spirit started new regional routes out of Houston and Orlando.
Copa Airlines opened five new stations: Fortaleza, Salvador de Bahia, Barbados, Salta and Puerto Vallarta.
Air China to Panama City as tag-on from Houston.
AeroMexico mainline and their divisions are now flying to all the Cent Am countries.
Four brand new Boeing 737 MAX 9s are now operating on Copa Airlines.
Sun Country for the first time in Belize.
InterJet from Mexico commenced regular services to El Salvador.
Avianca started or resumed some destinations from Cent Am: Boston, Cartagena and Orlando.
Guatemala City is supplying non-stop flights to New York City, Orlando and Chicago.
Volaris Costa Rica expanded their services to Mexico and the United States.
The 320 NEO is finally operating on Avianca Central America.


Merry Christmas and happy holidays !

Excellent summary SJOtoLIR. Looking forward to more growth in 2019.

This happened on October 29

SJOtoLIR wrote:

April 01: AV SAL-ORD, 3x, 319/320, END
April 01: AV GUA-ORD, 7x, 319/320, NEW

The following did not END
EWR-GUA suspended 1 month
GUA-MGA is 3 weekly

SJOtoLIR wrote:

May 05: UA EWR-GUA, 1x, 738, END
September 17: CM GUA-MGA, 14x, 738/73G/E90, END

Missing
October 05: NK MCO-GUA, 4X, NEW
October 29: TAG GUA-SAL, 7X, NEW

juanchito wrote:

October 29: TAG GUA-SAL, 7X, NEW

Thanks for the clarifications !
I'm intending to post the accurate version for the 2019 Cent Am thread.
Related to TAG in San Salvador, does the new service to SAL mean the withdrawal of TAG in Ilopango later ?
Checking the website of the airline, both airports have been listed there.
Regards.

As 2019 is approaching, how about some Central American Aviation predictions or wish list for next year?

Lets see,
CM
Increases BZE, BOS, ORD, LAS, LIM frequencies
Adds late evening/red eyes PTY-MGA/SAL
FLL goes daily + 2-3 extra morning flights
Opens new U.S. destination
Starts AQP, PBM, CWB, VRA, GCM
Returns to CUC
Studies DAV-MIA, HOU, DFW
Gives PTY 2 new hub banks, before 0600 and after 2300

Would Volaris El Salvador start SAL-ORD sense AV dropped the route?

SJOtoLIR wrote:

juanchito wrote:

October 29: TAG GUA-SAL, 7X, NEW

Thanks for the clarifications !
I'm intending to post the accurate version for the 2019 Cent Am thread.
Related to TAG in San Salvador, does the new service to SAL mean the withdrawal of TAG in Ilopango later ?
Checking the website of the airline, both airports have been listed there.
Regards.

Tag Airlines has
5x ILS
7x SAL

2travel2know2 wrote:

how about some Central American Aviation predictions or wish list for next year?

Based on the behavior experienced in the past years, the US airlines have increased their frequecies or started new services to the isthmus. Some of them may come from isolated weekly services.
Copa Airlines has always started up to five new stations every year.
Air Europa had already announced Panama City for 2019.
The European airlines would shift the equipment for new versions instead, like the 787 or 350 series.
Avianca Central America and Copa Airlines will take delivey of new planes.
Volaris Costa Rica is aiming to South America.
Interesting times are coming ahead !

Regards.

Maybe 2019 is the year B6 gives the rest of Central America a go. PTY, SAL, MGA, SAP, GUA, BZE await

yellowtail wrote:

Maybe 2019 is the year B6 gives the rest of Central America a go. PTY, SAL, MGA, SAP, GUA, BZE await

B6 E190 FLL-RIH/BLB not to upset CM @ PTY?
IMHO, B6 to the rest of Central America is a question of when. Probably BZE might be one of the 1st in its expansion.

https://www.crhoy.com/nacionales/falla- ... ropuertos/

Today was once again a very bad day at SJO because the immigration systems crashed again. Specifically, the part that checks the Interpol database and the travel impediment sections of the Ministry of Justice. This has lead to huge delays earlier today, people at times getting stranded without the possibility to enter the country or pass through exit passport control, and they since switched to a web-based solution until the system is back up. DGME really needs to make sure those servers work flawlessly because we can't afford those systems to crash all the time.

SJOtoLIR wrote:

Recapitulation of 2018

Add: NK MCO-SJO, 7x weekly with 320. Effective: November 08, 2018.

yellowtail wrote:

Maybe 2019 is the year B6 gives the rest of Central America a go. PTY, SAL, MGA, SAP, GUA, BZE await

Also - B6 should connect BOS to at least SJO but a weekly BZE would be nice too. They also may consider service on BOS-GUA similar to how they serve PAP which is serving it 2-4x weekly based on season.

Just want to give the heads up, it seems that DL has cut SAL-LAX as of April 30th. The last flight they're selling tickets for is April 29th, 2019.

many321 wrote:

Just want to give the heads up, it seems that DL has cut SAL-LAX as of April 30th. The last flight they're selling tickets for is April 29th, 2019.

I see BZE LAX gone too. I wonder if they are cutting al those LAX Central America flights? They also have SJO LIR and GUA. Maybe something to do with their JV with AM

LightChop2Chop wrote:

many321 wrote:

Just want to give the heads up, it seems that DL has cut SAL-LAX as of April 30th. The last flight they're selling tickets for is April 29th, 2019.

I see BZE LAX gone too. I wonder if they are cutting al those LAX Central America flights? They also have SJO LIR and GUA. Maybe something to do with their JV with AM

Who knows. Though, the SAL-LAX flights they use the 738 while AM use either the Erj-175 or 190 for SAL-MEX. I used to take the DL flight from 2015 since I had a horrible experience with AV in 2014, those flights were always full, they were moving people to J to fit in more Y passengers or have carry ons checked in free of charge. Either the loads weren't great lately which I highly doubt, or it perhaps Volaris took some of their business which I also doubt since they charge every little thing, including that precious first checked bagged. Who knows what's happening at DL for them to be making these cuts.

Living in GUA for a few years, I used to use the DL LAX flights (752s) all the time and they were always full. If GUA goes, it will be safe to say that it’s a combination of strategy realignment, JV and “more profit elsewhere” with those flights. I think those red eyes were more a function of eqp utilization than real profit being made. Yields prob were not that great.

Some changes from Avianca to Central America in 2019
All ATR ops will be gone and will be replace by Embraer or Airbus equipment.
Avianca Colombia will transfer to Central America the 2 A321NEO N759AV and N761AV.
Don't know about new deliveries to Central America.

Regards

juanchito wrote:

Some changes from Avianca to Central America in 2019
All ATR ops will be gone and will be replace by Embraer or Airbus equipment.

Does it include AV SAL-RTB ?

SJOtoLIR wrote:

juanchito wrote:

Some changes from Avianca to Central America in 2019
All ATR ops will be gone and will be replace by Embraer or Airbus equipment.

Does it include AV SAL-RTB ?

All of them
GUA-FRS
GUA-SAP
GUA-TGU
TGU-SAL
SAP-SAL
SAL-BZE
GUA-SJO
SAL-RTB

Don't remember the other routes.

juanchito wrote:

SJOtoLIR wrote:

juanchito wrote:

Some changes from Avianca to Central America in 2019
All ATR ops will be gone and will be replace by Embraer or Airbus equipment.

Does it include AV SAL-RTB ?

All of them
GUA-FRS
GUA-SAP
GUA-TGU
TGU-SAL
SAP-SAL
SAL-BZE
GUA-SJO
SAL-RTB

Don't remember the other routes.

So we may be getting either an E190 or an A320 with a TG registration or Guatemalan flag?

Please continue in next year's thread.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1411879