JetSMART requests approval to operate new international routes from Colombia to Punta Cana
JetSMART Airlines has formally submitted a request to the Directorate of Air Transport and Commercial Aviation Affairs of Colombia’s Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics (Aerocivil) to add two international routes to its operating permit. The request aims to connect the Colombian cities of Medellín (MDE) and Cali (CLO) with the popular Caribbean destination of Punta Cana (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic.
According to the official filing, JetSMART plans to operate both routes—Medellín–Punta Cana and Cali–Punta Cana—with three weekly frequencies each. The aircraft designated for these services are Airbus A320-271N and A320. The airline is seeking to operate these flights under third and fourth freedom traffic rights.
The civil aviation authority emphasized that "this publication is not an authorization, but the beginning of the process to add routes to the operating permit." The process must continue through the Directorate of Air Services Authority and the Directorate of Air Transport and Commercial Aviation Affairs, and "may conclude successfully if the procedures established in the regulatory provisions are met."
Punta Cana: a key Caribbean destination from Colombia
Currently, several carriers operate flights between Colombia and Punta Cana. From Medellín (MDE), Avianca (AV) offers 7 weekly flights, Arajet operates 2 nonstop flights (plus 2 more with a connection in Santo Domingo), and Wingo (P5) operates 4 weekly flights. Together, these carriers provide approximately 2,374 direct weekly seats from the Antioquian capital to the Dominican resort destination.
From Bogotá (BOG), the offer is even greater: Avianca operates 17 weekly flights, Arajet 2, and Wingo 7. Additionally, operator DM flies from Cartagena (CTG) to Punta Cana twice a week.
JetSMART’s application for the Cali–Punta Cana route, if approved, could launch the first direct connection between Cali and the Dominican destination, as no regular nonstop flights are currently observed on this route. The airline’s use of A320 aircraft, typically configured for around 186 passengers in a low-cost setup, would introduce a new layer of competition to the air market between Colombia and the Dominican Republic.
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