JetSMART (JA, Santiago de Chile) is still considering setting up a Brazilian subsidiary despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, officials at the Brazilian civil aviation authority (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil - ANAC) confirmed to Reuters that the Chilean LCC had indeed submitted a proposal as far back as March 10 of this year.

"Even though the pandemic has substantially reduced demand, we are still analyzing new operations in the region, although we are following the shape and speed of the market recovery in Brazil and other countries," JetSMART CEO Estuardo Ortiz told the news agency in a statement.

To stimulate increased connectivity across the planet's fifth-largest country by area, the Brazilian government has adopted legislation which permits locally-flagged airlines to be 100% foreign-owned. JetSMART is wholly-owned by US-based ultra-low-cost specialist investment firm, Indigo Partners. The Chilean carrier, in turn, owns part of JetSMART Argentina (WJ, Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini).