Argentina's first de-facto Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) Flybondi (FO, Córdoba International) plans to commence operations late next year with a fleet of six aircraft and serve a number of domestic routes, the La Nación daily reports.
The airline intends to maintain domestic flights to San Carlos de Bariloche, Córdoba International, Comodoro Rivadavia, El Calafate, Iguazu, Mendoza International, Neuquén, Resistencia, Rio Gallegos, Salta Tucumán and Ushuaia with six aircraft. The fleet size should increase to twenty-five by 2021. Both Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and Boeing (BOE, Washington National) aircraft are being considered, however, the carrier’s co-founder, Julian Cook, previously told ch-aviation that a preference has been shown for the B737-800.
“Within the next fifteen days we will formalise our request for a hearing in order to be granted routes”, Cook said.
Founded by Argentine businessman Gaston Parisier and airline entrepreneur Julian Cook (founder and former CEO of Switzerland's FlyBaboo (Geneva)), Flybondi completed a seed capital round in August with the participation of various foreign and local investors. Talks are currently ongoing to raise USD75 million in start-up capital. Interest has been shown by various local businessmen, as well as foreigners including former Air Canada (AC, Montréal Trudeau) Chief Exectuive Officer (CEO) Montie Brewer, former Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) Michael Cawley, as well as Robert Wright, a founder shareholder and former non-executive director at Wizz Air (W6, Budapest).
