JetSMART, the Ultra-Low-Cost airline, joins ALTA

The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) is pleased to welcome JetSMART as a new member airline, a company founded in 2017 in Chile with an Ultra-Low-Cost model that is expanding its presence in the Latin American region, offering low-cost flights aboard its modern fleet.

August 18, 2022

Panama, August 18, 2022 – The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) is pleased to welcome JetSMART as a new member airline, a company founded in 2017 in Chile with an Ultra-Low-Cost model that is expanding its presence in the Latin American region, offering low-cost flights aboard its modern fleet.

 

Just recently, JetSMART acquired an Airbus A321neo aircraft, which will enable it to expand its regional reach and capacity with 240 seats. In addition, this modern aircraft contributes to the airline's efforts in reducing its carbon footprint, emitting 25% less CO2 and being able to operate on biofuels.

 

This model will be the backbone of the Ultra-Low-Cost, which expects to add three more aircraft in 2022. Going forward, JetSMART's plans include building a fleet of 125 aircraft by 2029, strengthening its position in Latin America.

 

"The Latin American and Caribbean region has over 600 million inhabitants, an extremely large territorial extension, with a diverse geography that makes it essential the use of air transport. JetSMART has a key role to play in efforts to continue bringing air transport to more people, in bringing opportunities through tourism to more places in the region, and in generating socioeconomic development. JetSMART's expansion plans will accelerate these initiatives that also have a focus on sustainability and efficiency, further reducing the average age of the modern fleet operating in our region. We are very eager to welcome JetSMART in ALTA's initiatives and foster the exchange of expertise among the diversity of our members", comments José Ricardo Botelho, ALTA's Executive Director & CEO.

 

“At JetSMART we have come to South America to offer ultra-low prices with new aircraft to connect more people and contribute to the development of aviation in the region. We are happy to join ALTA to contribute with our Ultra-Low-Cost vision to continue developing aviation in the region and solve the challenges we have as an industry. JetSMART enters a very important stage, introducing the first A321neo to our fleet, resuming growth and with the goal of reaching 100 million passengers and 100 aircraft in 2028. Already with 12 million passengers, we hope to contribute to building sustainable aviation in the region together with the other ALTA partners and resume the growth we had prior to the pandemic”, says Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART Airlines.

 

JetSMART currently has 70 routes, 29 domestic routes in Chile, 17 in Argentina, and 14 in Peru. Its strategy is based on expanding the air network. JetSMART is the largest operator of interregional routes in Chile. In addition, this new ALTA member operates 11 international routes between Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay.

 

With the arrival of JetSMART to ALTA, the association brings together 43 airlines representing around 80% of the passengers carried by business aviation in the region.