Laser Airlines (QL, Caracas Simón Bolivar) has once more applied to the US government for rights to operate between Venezuela and the United States.
In an application to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) filed this week, the Venezuelan carrier requested scheduled and charter rights to run flights from Caracas Simón Bolivar and Maracaibo in Venezuela on the one hand, to Miami International, Florida, on the other. It has also sought rights to operate Part 212 charter flights between the two countries.
"Should the authority requested herein be granted, Laser Airlines anticipates launching twice-daily non-stop service to the United States commencing in a period of 90 to 180 days after the corresponding approval," it said. "The service will be operated with either B737, MD-80 or MD-90 aircraft, configured with 150 seats. Depending on the success of the operation, Laser Airlines may upgauge to larger capacity B767 aircraft at a later date."
In a sign of the frosty ties between Caracas and Washington, Laser's previous application for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) and Exemption Authority in 2011 was not actioned by the DOT. As such, Laser has since been able to start flights to Miami International albeit using B737-400 capacity chartered from Swift Air (United States of America) (Greensboro Piedmont Triad International).
Currently, just one Venezuelan airline, Avior Airlines (9V, Barcelona José Antonio Anzoategui), operates own-metal service to the United States, and there is no own-metal Venezuelan flag service between Caracas and Miami. From the US side, American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) is the only remaining operator in the US-Venezuela market.
Laser operates a fleet of five MD-81s and seven MD-82s on scheduled flights throughout Venezuela as well as to Curaçao, Panamá City Tocumen International, Santo Domingo Las Américas, and Punta Cana.
