Avianca, the renowned airline, has confirmed a substantial growth in passenger traffic and an expansion of routes aimed at promoting increased connectivity, investment, and tourism for El Salvador in 2023.
Reyna Lucia Mejía, the Country Officer of Avianca in El Salvador, expressed her optimism for the airline’s performance this year. She highlighted the synergy between international events hosted in El Salvador and the dynamic landscape of tourism and investments that are driving the surge in passenger demand. According to Mejía, “At Avianca, we are eagerly anticipating the high season commencing this Sunday, where we expect a significant increase in passenger traffic arriving and departing from El Salvador. The combination of major events hosted in the country is undeniably contributing to this remarkable upswing.”
Furthermore, she mentioned that Avianca is well-prepared to meet the demand generated by ongoing tourism and investment projects in El Salvador. The airline has increased its seat capacity by over 35%, compared to pre-pandemic levels. Mejía stated, “We are seizing this moment to make Avianca accessible to everyone. We are here to serve all travelers, catering to their individual needs.”
Avianca’s plans include launching new operations from El Salvador to Panama and Oakland starting in December. This expansion adds to the ten routes that have begun operations in the last six months.
Adrian Neuhauser, CEO of Avianca, proudly shared that the airline has become the world’s most punctual airline this year. They offer affordable fares that cater to passengers’ needs. Neuhauser remarked, “After more than 600 days and 16,000 hours, with the support of our dedicated team, we have reinvented ourselves, and we can proudly say the skies belong to all. We carry with pride our legacy from Central America, Latin America, and El Salvador.”
Frederico Pedreira, Deputy CEO of Avianca, emphasized the airline’s commitment to providing safe, timely travel on state-of-the-art aircraft. He also revealed Avianca’s ambitious expansion plans, which include adding more routes to Europe, the United States, and Central America in the coming years. “Avianca is much more than a ticket-selling company; our purpose goes beyond that, providing the access needed for more people to take flight,” Pedreira added.
Avianca’s goal for this year is to transport over 32 million passengers, with around 12% of that traffic dedicated to El Salvador. Additionally, Avianca announced its plan to incorporate four new aircraft for operations to and from the El Salvador International Airport, increasing their fleet to 17 planes. This expansion will allow them to cover more destinations and create more job opportunities, including the addition of 25 captains. Avianca currently employs 2,000 individuals in the country.
Avianca also reaffirmed its commitment to support and comply with government initiatives that serve the best interests of the country in aviation matters.