Tegucigalpa, Honduras
The exit of the American airline Spirit Airlines of the Honduran market already has a direct effect: an estimated loss of 4.7 million dollars annually in airport taxes and a significant reduction in the supply of international flights.
The impact is not minor. According to air connectivity expert, Peter Fleming, the cessation of operations implies the cancellation of more than 24 weekly frequencies towards the United States, which weakens the country’s connection with one of its main destinations.
Furthermore, the measure will result in a drop of more than 130,000 passengers per yearaffecting not only the airline sector, but also related activities such as tourism, commerce and airport services.
Given this scenario, the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency activated this Saturday a “contingency protocol” to protect passengers affected by the cancellation of flights.
The authority reported that it will rigorously supervise compliance with legal refunds and compensation, in addition to monitoring the digital portal enabled by the airline for claims management.
Fleming warned that the blow will also have a social impact, due to the possible loss of direct and indirect jobs in the country’s air terminals.
“This panorama reinforces the importance of strengthening air connectivity as a strategic axis for economic development, attracting investments and the international positioning of Honduras,” the specialist stressed.
The decision of Spirit Airlines surprised by announcing on Friday that it was ceasing operations after a $500 million government bailout deal in the United States failed.
In January 2024, a federal judge had also blocked a $3.8 billion purchase offer, believing that the merger would reduce competition and raise rates for users.
The airline, based in Florida, operated routes between the United States, the Caribbean and several Latin American destinations, including Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
