The first flight between Bogotá and Caracas, operated by the Colombian state airline Satenaleft this Wednesday from El Dorado International Airport bound for Maiquetía International, after the first plane with the reverse route arrived on Monday.
(Read: What is missing for the full air reopening between Colombia and Venezuela?).
As reported by the Colombian company, it is the first international flight operated by Satena, aboard an Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, with capacity for 50 passengers, among whom was the Colombian Minister of Transportor, William Reyes.
“We have a flight almost full of Colombians and Venezuelans who return to their country or who go for tourism and business. It is the formal opening of the air operation from Colombia to Venezuela and the great commitment of the Government of President Gustavo PetroReyes said minutes before boarding the aircraft.
“For many an impossible, for us a reality!” added the head of the transport portfolio, who considered that today “is a day to celebrate” because “air connectivity generates progress and development for both nations.”
The Colombian airline also pointed out that As of November 28, the Barranquilla-Caracas route will operate.
(Keep reading: This was the first flight from Venezuela to Colombia after 2 years).
The first step in the reopening of air connectivity between the two countries was the arrival this Monday of the first flight from Caracas, operated by the Venezuelan airline Turpialafter the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and after almost three years of suspension of the air connection due to the pandemic.
Air connectivity between Colombia and Venezuela was suspended in March 2020, as part of the sky closures due to covid-19 and its resumption was expected since last September 26 when diplomatic relations that had been suspended since February 2019 were restored.
The unknowns about commercial flights continue
Although expectations are high with the reopening, questions remain about the regularity of these commercial flights after the controversy with the commercialization of tickets with the airline Wingo and the operational viability of the Venezuelan airline Conviasa, as well as the capacity of Turpial and Satena to meet the demand for these routes.
(Also: The Avianca and Viva operation has three cards left to play).
On this, the director of the Colombian air authority, Francisco Ospina, director (e) of the Civil Aeronautics told this medium that, both the entity and the country, have shown their full willingness to continue working hand in hand in binational transportation. However, the air authorities and the high Venezuelan government are the ones who have taken their time to make the corresponding decisions and put the details on the how, who and when of the operation.
“In addition, there are expectations of these companies to carry out flights on Friday and Saturday (Satena and Turpial respectively) and what we want is for these flights to be regularized, to be by itineraries, so that users know when they can buy tickets, because it is very complicated for users and airlines are permanently adjusting itineraries, opening the offer of tickets and others. However, the real thing we have is the Turpial flight on November 7 and Satena on November 9.Ospina pointed out.
BRIEFCASE
With information from EFE*
