Air ticket prices have fallen in Colombia, following the entry into operation of a new 'low cost' airline

Since the entry into operation in the Colombian air market of the low-cost airline Ultra Air on February 23, the prices of tickets in the country for major cities have been reduced by an average of 13%, according to a report, flight search engine Viajala.

According to the metasearch engine, the entry into operation of the new company not only strengthened the country's air market by providing greater connectivity to users, but also allowed the market to reduce ticket prices in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and Santa Marta.

For example, as Viajala reported to the newspaper El Colombiano, a plane ticket for the Bogota-Medellín route that cost $225,000 in February, became $196,000 in March. The same situation occurred on the Bogotá-Cali routes, where ticket prices decreased by 7%, from $260,000 to $187,000.

Viajala's report also revealed that, in the beach category, flights to Santa Marta are 8% cheaper compared to the first two months of 2022, and up to 14% cheaper compared to November and December 2021, as they went from $320,000 to $275,000.

Maciejewski explained to El Colombiano that the decrease in fares on air tickets is the result of the fact that the more airlines operate the same routes in the country, “a movement of competition will be created, and with that a trend of price reduction” will be created.

In the case of Ultra Air, the airline assured El Colombiano that its ticket prices are 20% “below their competition”, ensuring that Colombians can “travel and discover the country”.

After completing its certification process with the Civil Aeronautics, Ultra Air began its commercial operations on February 23 with the Bogotá-San Andrés route, adding to the portfolio of low-cost airlines that began operating in the country in the last year.

According to the airline, its fleet of aircraft is five Airbus A320s, of which two began operations in the country with nine air routes:

- Bogota-Medellin-Bogota.

- Bogota-Cali-Bogota.

- Bogota-Cartagena-Bogota.

- Bogota-Santa Marta-Bogota.

- Bogota-San Andres-Bogota.

- Medellin-Cartagena-Medellin.

- Medellin-Santa Marta-Medellin.

- Santa Marta-Pereira-Santa Marta.

- Cartagena, Pereira, Cartagena.

The airline also announced that, in the coming months, after its entry into operation, it will offer special prices to travelers, in order not only to publicize the airline, but also to facilitate travel around the country.

In total, Ultra Air told the newspaper La República, during its first year of operations they expect to mobilize about 2.5 million passengers, while, for the next five years of operation, they expect to generate around 22,000 jobs in the country.

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