Four U.S. airlines awarded route rights to Bogota, Colombia
Andrew Compart, Travel Weekly, 3/5/2008
The Department of Transportation tentatively granted four U.S. airlines the right to operate one new daily flight between the U.S. and Bogota, Colombia.
Numerous carriers were competing for the limited rights that became available under the U.S.-Colombia aviation agreement. In its tentative decision, the DOT selected Delta for service from New York Kennedy, JetBlue from Orlando, Spirit from Fort Lauderdale and Continental from Houston.
The DOT noted that the services of JetBlue and Spirit would introduce two new carriers to the U.S.-Colombia market and provide Orlando and Fort Lauderdale with their first direct service to Colombia operated by a U.S. airline.
Delta would increase competition and service in the heavily traveled New York-Bogota market, said the DOT. And it said Continental's service from Houston would address the need for additional convenient service options to Colombia for travelers from the central and western U.S.
If the tentative decision is made final, Delta would be allowed to begin service immediately, JetBlue and Spirit on April 1 and Continental on Oct. 1.
In making its selections, the DOT rebuffed the US Airways application for service from Charlotte. And it rejected American Airlines' attempt to retain the frequency rights it currently holds for additional service from Miami.
Three of the new daily flights were made available by a September 2007 U.S.-Colombia aviation agreement which increased from 70 to 91 the total number of weekly flights that U.S. carriers may operate between the two countries.
In addition, the DOT is reallocating rights for one daily U.S.-Colombia flight currently held by American, which already offers other service to Colombia.
The airlines and other interested parties have an opportunity to file objections to the DOT's tentative decision, but the DOT rarely changes it mind.