Spirit Airlines will operate the first commercial international flight from Colombia on September 19, after both US and Colombian authorities gave the go-ahead. The flight will leave Cartagena for Miami and will be closely watched as Avianca and Viva Air continue to wait for authorization to operate internationally. El Dorado in Bogota and Jose Maria Cordova in Medellin remain closed to international flights.
Colombia's flagship carrier, Avianca, has secured $360US million as part of a major bailout package from the Colombian government. The airline is currently going through bankruptcy proceedings in the United States and has been hugely affected by the downturn in travel as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Viva Air, Latam, Easyfly and Avianca have begun to fly its first planes in Colombia following the controlled reopening of flights after months of closure due to the Coronavirus crisis. For now, all flights are domestic, with routes to Cali and Bogota remaining the most popular.
Officials in Medellin, in line with advice from health professionals in the city, have moved to increase the limited capacity of the Metro system to 50%, up from 35% at the start of the health emergency in Antioquia.
