New US-backed LCC to take flight in Chile
Thursday, 06 Feb, 2017
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Investment firm Indigo Partners is spreading its wings again with a new airline startup in the Americas.
The firm introduced new Chile based low cost carrier JetSMART after gaining approval from the Chilean Civil Aviation Authority.
The LCC will begin flying to ‘various points in Chile and beyond’using three Airbus A320s by the end of the year, and expects to triple the fleet size by the end of 2018.
Indigo Partners is led by Frontier Airlines chairman William Franke.
Franke was also previously chairman at Spirit Airlines.
Arizona based Indigo has backed a number of LCCs including Wizz Air in Europe and Mexican carrier Volaris.
"In Chile we believe there is an overlooked customer segment wanting to fly, but for the right price," Franke said.
"Chile is an attractive entry point for the launch of a low-fare carrier. There is economic stability and aviation traffic growth and open skies and strong bilateral treaties with neighboring countries."
"We at Indigo have spent the last 15 years developing and refining this business model and we believe that the arrival of a similar airline in Chile will be well received," Franke added.
Former Avianca Holdings executive Estuardo Ortiz will serve as CEO.
No details were disclosed yet on which routes the airline intends to fly to.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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