Aiming to bolster tourism and enhancing international connectivity, El Salvador’s government, under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele, has taken significant steps to forge a partnership with Brazil. The President of the Autonomous Port Executive Commission (CEPA), Federico Anliker, revealed that a landmark open skies agreement had been approved with Brazil, setting the stage for new aviation routes within the country. Moreover, a treaty with Costa Rica is also on the horizon, promising to open doors to even more aviation operations.
The cooperative efforts between the two nations have sparked excitement among travelers and aviation enthusiasts alike. With the intention of fostering greater travel opportunities for Salvadorans and introducing visitors to the wonders of El Salvador, the government is actively exploring new aerial routes.
Federico Anliker, the head of CEPA, shared the eagerly anticipated news of a potential collaboration between El Salvador and a Brazilian airline. “Yesterday [Tuesday], an open skies agreement was approved in the Legislative Assembly with Brazil, a global and Latin American powerhouse that boasts a plethora of both domestic and international airlines. We are working with them to find ways to introduce another airline,” Anliker announced during a morning interview.
This recent development follows Anliker’s previous revelations about the keen interest expressed by Brazilian airlines in establishing fresh routes connecting the Latin American nation to El Salvador. He emphasized that the negotiations were not restricted to Latin American carriers alone. “We are also in communication with airlines from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Notably, these discussions encompass not only passenger airlines but also cargo carriers,” Anliker had previously confirmed.
Further exciting news emerged from the horizon, as Anliker unveiled plans for a forthcoming treaty of open skies with Costa Rica. This agreement is poised to facilitate a surge in passenger traffic between the two nations. “The open skies agreements with Costa Rica are set to be signed this month—an agreement that was previously nonexistent. We are collaborating through the Foreign Ministry, Civil Aeronautics, and CEPA, pooling our efforts to streamline procedures and attract more airlines to the country,” Anliker explained.
According to Anliker, these discussions with Costa Rica were initiated last year during discussions about the ferry service between the port of La Unión in El Salvador and the port of Caldera in Costa Rica. “While addressing the ferry issue, we also seized the opportunity to discuss this matter with the Civil Aviation Authority of Costa Rica. This week, we are poised to sign the open skies agreement,” Anliker affirmed.
Should these agreements come to fruition and collaborations with airlines be realized, the new operations will join the ranks of the 14 passenger airlines that currently operate at El Salvador’s International Airport. The airport has emerged as a beacon of excellence in regional aviation infrastructure, a testament to the modernization endeavors undertaken by CEPA in conjunction with President Nayib Bukele’s administration.
CEPA reports that between July 28th and August 7th of this year, over 150,000 passengers—arrivals, departures, and transits—were served at El Salvador’s airport. This reflects a remarkable 48% increase compared to the same period last year, underscoring the growing demand for air travel in the region.