LAN Colombia (Bogotá) will dramatically scale back its presence in the domestic Colombian market next year with plans to transfer the affected routes to local specialist, EasyFly (Colombia) (Bogotá).
According to the Colombian press, beginning in February 2015, the LAN Airlines (Santiago de Chile) subsidiary will retire its fleet of six Dash 8-200s in favour of more A320-200s which, it says, will allow it to better streamline its operations and cost structure.
With effect from February 15, LAN will terminate its Bogotá to Quibdó route along with its entire Medellín Enrique Olaya Herrera route portfolio which includes Pereira, Ibagué Perales, Monteria, and Apartadó. Flights from Bogotá to Pereira and Montería will, however, continue as normal, LAN said. Then, effective June 14, LAN will drop its Bogota to Puerto Asis route followed by Bogotá to Ibagué on October 27.
The two carriers are reportedly considering a partnership in which one acts as a feeder airline for the other with one plying domestic routes exclusively and the other offering regional and international connectivity.
Easyfly, which is in the process of expanding its domestic network, has added two ex-flybe. Nordic (Helsinki Vantaa) ATR42-500s to its current fleet of fourteen Jetstream 41s.
