COLOMBIA · ECONOMY
Key Facts
—The expansion:. Avianca, Colombia’s largest airline, is adding summer flights between Europe and Latin America.
—Barcelona doubles:. The Barcelona-Bogota route doubles from 7 to 14 weekly flights from June.
—Madrid grows:. Madrid-Bogota rises to 28 weekly flights, and the seasonal Madrid-San Salvador route returns.
—The backdrop:. Air traffic to and from Colombia rose 7.7% through April, to about 19.6 million passengers.
—Latin American impact:. Stronger Europe links for a region whose long-haul travel keeps recovering.
Avianca, Colombia’s largest airline, is increasing its summer flights between Europe and Latin America, led by more service from Madrid and Barcelona to Bogota, as air travel in the region keeps growing.
What Avianca is adding
From June, the airline will double its Barcelona-Bogota route to 14 weekly flights, the equivalent of two a day. The Madrid-Bogota route rises to 28 weekly flights, or four a day, through June, July and August.
Avianca will also restart its seasonal Madrid-San Salvador route. With the changes, the airline says it will reach 67 weekly flights between Europe and Latin America, one of the larger networks on that market.
Its routes from Bogota to London and Paris continue at current levels, as do flights from Madrid to Medellin and Cali. The carrier routes most of this traffic through its hub in Bogota.
A growing travel market
The expansion tracks a broader recovery in air travel. Passenger traffic to and from Colombia rose about 7.7% through April, reaching roughly 19.6 million travelers, with a handful of airlines carrying most of the total.
Demand between Europe and Latin America has been a bright spot, driven by tourism, business and family travel. For Avianca, Spain is among its most important European markets, anchored by the Madrid and Barcelona links to Colombia.
Whether the added capacity pays off will depend on how full the flights are during the peak months. Airlines often add seasonal frequencies and then adjust them based on demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Avianca adding for the summer?
More flights between Europe and Latin America: Barcelona-Bogota doubles to 14 weekly from June, Madrid-Bogota rises to 28 weekly, and the seasonal Madrid-San Salvador route returns. In total the airline says it will reach 67 weekly flights.
Why expand now?
Demand between Europe and Latin America is strong for the northern-hemisphere summer, and overall air traffic to and from Colombia rose about 7.7% through April, to roughly 19.6 million passengers.
Which European cities does Avianca serve?
Madrid, Barcelona, London and Paris, mostly connecting to Bogota, with some flights from Medellin and Cali. Spain is its largest European market.
Connected Coverage
For more on Colombian companies expanding abroad, see our coverage of Ecopetrol’s move into Brazil. For another transport story in the region, see our report on a car-sharing app’s regional launch.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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