From the 2000s onwards, ephemeral airlines continue to appear in Chile, which for many today are completely unknown. Unlike previous years, the number of these airlines is decreasing. The reason is probably associated with learning from the sector, the product of a more complex scenario due to growing competition and increasing costs.
By ephemeral airlines we classify all airline companies in Chile that have been in the market for less than three years. Some barely manage to operate for just a year and others barely register operations.
Most of these companies were born from the adventure of many entrepreneurs seeking to develop a business in aviation. However, all these projects do not prosper, either due to lack of an adequate business model or lack of resources.
AeroContinente Chile
After LAN Chile’s decision to create LAN Perú, the Peruvian AeroContinente decides to start a growth process throughout the region. The intention is to replicate the expansion intentions of the Chilean airline. The creation of AeroContinente is the first step.
In 1999, the airline began its procedures to operate in Chile. Flights began in 2000 with domestic sections that are complementary to the international offer from Lima. The company had recently inaugurated the Lima – Tacna – Santiago route with old Boeing 737-200 Adv.
AeroContinente lands in Chile after a great expansion in Peru marked by its low fare policies. It is not a low cost airline. In many cases, their practices could qualify as a tariff war. AeroPerú’s exit from the market places it as the main operator in the country.
In Chile, it begins its flights from Santiago with three B737-200 Adv. At its maximum expansion, the fleet grows to five units of this model. With these teams they fly from Santiago to Antofagasta, Arica, Iquique, Balmaceda, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas. Some B737-200 Adv. They operate with Chilean registration (CC-) and others with Peruvian registration (OB-).
Subsequently, a B767-200ER (registration CC-CJP) acquired on lease by the parent company in Peru, but which operates with Chilean registration, is added. This way, I had no problems flying to the United States. AeroContinente Chile begins international flights with its parent company on the Santiago – Lima – Miami route replicating the historic AeroPerú operation.
The end of this company occurs in 2022 due to an investigation by the Judiciary for drug trafficking. Its founder, Fernando Zevallos, is considered by the United States to be one of the 10 drug lords in the world. When the entry into the Chilean market occurs, the airline is already investigated in Peru. AeroContinente’s financial accounts did not have the corresponding justification, which raises the alarm considering passenger revenues and fares charged.
The case in Chile causes controversy. Zevallos accuses that it is a maneuver by LAN Chile to remove it from the market and attack Peruvian aviation, which is never proven. The investigations force the Chilean authorities to take action. In 2002, the paralysis of AeroContinente Chile was established and its planes were stopped on the Santiago airport apron.
Since the closure of the subsidiary in Chile and the progress of the investigation, the airline begins a period of decline. Added to this are various technical incidents involving their planes. AeroContinente went bankrupt in 2004. The owners want to save the company with the name NuevoContinente, but they cannot get the support of the Peruvian State and the United States imposes new fines on it.
Hamburg Chile
Hamburg Chile is another of the ephemeral airlines in Chile post 2000. After ChileInter, the nascent charter flight market is empty, which motivates new operators to explore the route. One of these new airlines is Hamburg Chile.
The company is a subsidiary of Hamburg International. With a base in Santiago, it operates flights from the capital to abroad serving vacation traffic. Operations are carried out between 2000 and 2001 using a single B737-700 (registration D-AWOH). The model can be considered as a basis for other companies such as PAL Airlines to carry out charter flights (in alliance with Futura International).
AeroDesert
Another of the short-lived airlines in Chile is AeroDesierto. After the rise of flights dedicated to workers in the large copper mining industry, Mauricio Callejas, an adventurous businessman from Calama, decides to create an airline for that segment. With great secrecy, the first information about this new company appears at the end of 2014.
In 2015, after meeting all the technical requirements demanded by the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), AeroDesierto began flights on April 27. It operates a single B737-200 Adv (registration CC-CVI) ex SKY on the triangular route Santiago – Calama – La Serena – Santiago.
Flights operate from Sunday to Thursday with one frequency per day. The flights register on average just 70 passengers. Some records even report that it barely carries one passenger per flight.
Due to the lack of commercial viability, AeroDesierto suspends its flights after a few months. Towards the end of 2015, it no longer has operations.
Chilean Airways
It is the continuation of AeroDesierto. After its paralysis, the company is bought by José Bolívar, another businessman from Northern Chile. The new firm purchases not only the sole aircraft, but also the Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
Chilean Airways wants to operate from its base in Iquique for the best commercial odds. However, it only recorded a few flights in 2016 to attend to a ONE Airlines contingency. Subsequently, the aircraft is detained at the Diego Aracena airport indefinitely.
ChileJet
In an attempt to serve the charter market and the void left by PAL Airlines, ChileJet appears. This is a new airline linked to José Miguel Rebolledo. It began its flights in 2014 with a B737-300 from the first company based at the Santiago airport.
ChileJet was born with the objective of serving the movement of workers in large-scale copper mining. However, their commercial proposal also includes international charter services. The airline begins its flights in 2015, but registers few operations.
Despite incorporating a second plane, ChileJet does not take off again. However, the continuity of the company is associated with the creation of Latin American Wings (LAW), probably another controversial airline in the recent history of Chile.
Latin American Wings (LAW)
Latin American Wings (LAW) is probably, along with AeroContinente, one of the most controversial ephemeral airlines in Chile’s recent history. The short-lived company operates between 2015 and 2018, becoming famous for serving flights to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Precisely, he is accused of having bad practices with the migratory movement of Haitians to Chile.
The flights begin with the Santiago – Punta Cana route with an intermediate stopover in Lima. The service is used by Haitian passengers to travel via the Dominican Republic.
While processing its AOC with the DGAC, LAW begins its flights with the ChileJet plane. Later, it incorporated its first aircraft: a B737-300 ex Ukraine Air and Alas Uruguay.
Until 2016, LAW flights are the international legs. The main route is Santiago – Lima – Port-au-Prince, driven by the migratory movement towards Chile. The company is the first to serve this route that has never been operated before due to the lack of ethnic, commercial or other ties.
Flights in Chile begin on March 13, 2017 with a proposal to return legacy service between airlines on domestic routes. At that time, LATAM offers a hybrid proposal, while SKY begins to transform into a low-cost airline (LCC). In the middle of that year, JetSMART began operating.
Operations are carried out with a B737-300 with capacity for 148 passengers. From Santiago it operates to Antofagasta, Concepción and Puerto Montt, which operate until January 8, 2018.
Despite the growth in domestic routes, LAW focuses its expansion on international routes to the Caribbean. Port-au-Prince and Punta Cana are the main destinations, to which Caracas is also added. In short distance, it serves flights to Lima and Mendoza.
One of the objectives is to reach the United States. To this end, it claims to have agreed with Icelandair on the acquisition of a B757-200 that would cover the Santiago – Caracas – Miami route. It would also fly to destinations in the Dominican Republic and New York. The arrival of the aircraft does not materialize and the company never lands in the United States.
Affected by a low occupancy of its flights of no more than 43%, according to data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (JAC), it suspends its entire domestic operation. The company decides to concentrate on charter flights to Port-au-Prince and Caracas, mainly. Previously, LAW and Star Perú began paths to explore an eventual merger, which also did not materialize.
LAW decides to suspend all its operations on March 12, 2018. The image of the airline is strongly linked to possible bad practices in the irregular migration of the Haitian population to Chile. To date, there is no accurate data to substantiate these allegations.
Cover photo – Ricardo J. Delpiano
