MORE BOGOTA FLIGHTS ANYONE, BOGOTA??

Spirit to launch flights from Fort Lauderdale to Bogota
By Tom Stieghorst | Sun-Sentinel.com
10:59 AM EST, March 6, 2008
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Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Fark Google Newsvine Reddit Yahoo Print Reprints Post comment Text size: The federal government has picked Spirit Airlines to launch new service between South Florida and the Colombian capital city of Bogota.

In an order, the U.S. Department of Transportation allocated 21 new weekly flights between the U.S. and Colombia that became available last fall when the two governments amended their aviation treaty.

Also, in a controversial move, the DOT reallocated away from American Airlines the rights to seven weekly flights. Spirit had argued in a filing with the agency last year that some of the rights granted to American had gone unused for long periods of time.

American will challenge the decision, spokeswoman Martha Pantin said. "We don't believe it was correct for the DOT to seize American Airlines' duly authorized frequencies for re-allocation to another carrier," she said.

Spirit will offer its new Bogota flights from Fort Lauderdale.

There are restrictions on the number of flights between the United States and several of Colombia's top cities so the distribution of new landing rights is highly prized.

"We're very excited," said Spirit spokeswoman Misty Pinson. She said the airline hasn't determined when it will start flights, or at what price.

In addition to Spirit, the government granted a new daily flight to Bogota to three other airlines. JetBlue Airways will fly from Orlando, Delta Airlines from New York's JFK International airport and Continental Airlines from Houston.

JetBlue's bid to fly between Fort Lauderdale and Bogotat was unsuccessful.

Shut out of the proceeding was US Airways, which had marshalled a slew of North Carolina politicans and business leaders in support of its plan to serve Bogota from Charlotte, N.C.

Separately, Spirit Spirit Airlines said Thursday it will launch flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cartagena, Colombia, its first destination in that South American country.

Introductory fares, offered on Spirit's website, www.spiritair.com today and Friday start at $18 each way. The number of seats at that price is limited and the fares typically sell out quickly. Spirit said its standard fares start at $88 each way.

Cartagena is primarily a tourist destination on the country's Caribbean coast. Miramar-based Spirit will offer one daily roundtrip starting May 8.

American Airlines began flights between Miami and Baranquilla, Colombia, in December. Last year, Colombia said it would not restrict the number of airlines or flights that can serve Cartagena. Such restrictions remain for other Colombian destinations, including Medellin and the capital city Bogota.

Although Spirit flies to more than a dozen countries in the Caribbean and Central America, Cartagena will be only its second destination in South America. It began flights to Lima, Peru, last year.

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By nine inch nails on Mar 6, 2008, 12:34 in Travel tips.

esanch36 says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:16:

this is awsome

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries

kat1 (Moderator) says on Mar 6, 2008, 13:17:

NOT FOR ME :(((

DodgerDogs says on Mar 6, 2008, 17:00:

American Fights to Keep Colombia Flight
Thursday March 6, 7:50 pm ET
By Dan Caterinicchia, AP Business Writer
American Airlines Fighting DOT Decision That Gives Flight to Colombia to Another Carrier

WASHINGTON (AP) -- American Airlines is fighting a federal decision to take away one of its daily flights to Bogota, Colombia, and give it to another carrier.
The Transportation Department late Wednesday said it had granted preliminary approval to Delta, JetBlue, Spirit and Continental Airlines to operate one new daily flight each between the U.S. and Bogota. If the DOT's tentative decision is finalized, Delta may begin its new services immediately, JetBlue and Spirit on April 1, and Continental on Oct. 1.

Those four airlines were picked over US Airways Group, which had applied for service from Charlotte, N.C., and AMR Corp.'s American, which sought to retain the three daily flights it has between Miami and Bogota.

"We do not believe that it was legitimate for DOT to seize American's duly authorized frequencies for reallocation to another carrier," Tim Smith, a spokesman for Fort Worth, Texas-based American, said Thursday.

The department's bilateral agreements with some countries limit the number of carriers each country has in certain markets. Some of those agreements, like the one with Colombia, also limit the number of flights and DOT must chose which carriers get them.

American wants to keep the flight and on Jan. 22 filed a "petition for review" of the government's intended decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. But American last week began winding down service on the flight, which no longer operates daily, and will stop offering it by the end of the month unless the appeal is granted, Smith said.

A DOT spokesman said the matter remains pending and that "American Airlines, along with all other parties, will have an opportunity to comment before the department proceeds to a final order in this case."

American manages 42 weekly flights, six daily, to assorted destinations in Colombia, 35 of which it acquired from Eastern Air Lines in 1990. The flight being taken away is among those acquired from Eastern, Smith said.

Besides reallocating the one daily U.S.-Colombia flight currently held by American, the government proposal would have the 21 new weekly flights phased-in by the end of the year. Three of the new daily flights were made available by a September aviation agreement that increased to 91 from 70 the number of weekly flights U.S. carriers may operate between the two countries.

Delta Air Lines' flight will depart from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, JetBlue Airways Corp.'s from Orlando, Spirit Airlines from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Continental Airlines from Houston.

Air travel between the two countries increased by about 200,000 passengers between 2002 and 2006, and more than 750,000 passengers traveled between the U.S. and Colombia last year, according to the DOT.

Objections to the government order must be filed within 14 calendar days and answers are due seven days later. The department will issue a final decision following the comment period.

Shares of AMR fell $1.17, or 9.1 percent, to $11.72 Thursday. The company's shares have traded between $10.95 and $34.25 in the past year.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

Gator says on Mar 6, 2008, 18:28:

"American Airlines is fighting a federal decision to take away one of its daily flights to Bogota, Colombia, and give it to another carrier."

This from an airline which, IMHO, has the absolute worse service.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Mononoke28 says on Mar 7, 2008, 08:56:

Well, I'm really having a hard time on this one mainly because I live in Denver. So I will have to pay extra to fly from Denver. But I would hate having to pay for everything from Ft. Lauderdale to Colombia, including my two bags, not to mention my other family members'. It turns out to be the same rate as a normal flight. I see no benefit for me. =\

Diana

jonas says on Mar 7, 2008, 09:00:

Gator, should we forward the thread "AA no more" to the DOT ? ;-)

What I have, I do not want to lose, but Where I am I do not want to stay, but those I love, I do not want to leave, but those I know I no longer want to see, but Where I die, I do not want to go;I want to stay where I have never been

cali373 says on Mar 7, 2008, 15:06:

Flights from La Guardia NY to Cartagena $492!!!

Smile if you are a thinker!