Chile’s low-cost carrier Sky Airline has received approval to launch domestic operations in Peru, as the country’s transport and communications ministry awards it with the authority to serve 34 routes.
Sky Airline Peru chief executive Jose Raul Vargas announced previously that the airline will deploy an initial fleet of two Airbus A320s configured with 186 seats to its new Lima base, from where it plans to start operations in April or May.
He also announced that Sky will compete in the ultra low-cost sector, offering tickets for less than $18, which he says is less than any of the fares offered by current operators in Peru, including the local subsidiary of Colombia’s low-cost airline, Viva Air.
Among the routes requested by Sky Airline and approved by Peru include flights from Lima to Tumbes, Piura, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Ayacucho, Arequipa, Juliaca, Tacna, Ilo, Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, Tarapoto, Rioja, Iquitos, Chachapoyas, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas, Cajamarca, Jaén, Jauja and Pisco, as well as some direct connections between these destinations.
According to the ministry, all routes may be served with two or more weekly frequencies.
Sky Airline Peru says that these destinations will be introduced “gradually”, without specifying a schedule.
In 2017, the Peruvian domestic market was led by LATAM Airlines Peru with a 57.6% market share, followed by Peruvian Airlines (14.3%), Avianca Peru (11.1%), LC Peru (9.2%), Star Peru (3.2%) and then newcomer Viva Air Peru (2.6%).
During 2018, the market entry of Viva Air added significant pressure to the market. LC Peru was grounded, Star Peru reportedly began searching for a buyer and Peruvian Airlines faced some operational restrictions imposed by the aviation authorities after a number of incidents, most notably restrictions to its only international route to La Paz, Bolivia.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
