Chilean aviation hopes for solid air passenger growth under a new President and as JetSMART arrives
The big story for Chilean aviation in 2017 was the debut of JetSMART, a Latin American ULCC owned by Indigo Partners, a firm which specialises in launching and owning airlines using the ultra low cost business model.
JetSMART has turned a solid performance since its debut in 2H20107, transporting more than 200,000 passengers in the Jul-Nov-2017 period. JetSMART launched its first international service in early 2018, following through on previously disclosed plans to inaugurate flights from Santiago to Lima.
Chile's system ASKs grew at a healthy 11% rate in 2017, and the country's passenger growth was stable. The latest available data show passenger growth of nearly 11% for the 11M ending in Nov-2017.
Political winds are shifting in Chile during 2018, after conservative Sebastián Piñera was elected President in late 2017. Mr Piñera supports a pro-business agenda, which could bode well for the country's airlines; however, middle class stability is key for Chile's continued air passenger growth.
Become a CAPA Member to access Analysis Reports
Our Analysis Reports are only available to CAPA Members. CAPA Membership provides exclusive access to in-depth insights on the latest developments in the aviation and travel industry, developed by our team of dedicated analysts located in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Each report offers a fresh perspective on the latest industry trends and is available online or via the CAPA mobile app, with customisable alerts to help you stay informed and identify new business opportunities.
CAPA Membership also provides access to our full suite of tools, including a tailored selection of more than 1,000 News Briefs every week and comprehensive data and analysis on thousands of companies around the world.