The Costa Rican airline, Air Costa Rica, began operations this Friday in the modality of charter flights. This first flight, contracted by a travel agency, had 89 passengers on board and flew to Rio Hato, Panama.

Air Costa Rica’s financial director (CFO), Carlos José Víquez, explained that due to the large number of “low cost” airlines operating in the region, Air Costa Rica has decided to start off with non-regular flights and this modality will remain for at least six months while they reach financial stability, at which point they should be able to establish regular routes.

The volatility of the market has had repercussions in some of the airlines operating in the country, Wingo had to eliminate its flights to Guatemala, a route that is now only offered by Volaris Costa Rica; it also left Salvadorian Veca airlines out of the market and apparently has prevented Viva CAM, a low cost offer from European Ryanair, from beginning operations in Costa Rica.

Air Costa Rica currently operates one plane, a Boeing 737-300 and is expected to incorporate a second one in the next few months.

Víquez confirmed they’ve already subscribed contracts for charter flights to Cancún (Mexico), Roatán (Honduras), San Andrés (Colombia), Acapulco (Mexico), Mexico City, San Pedro Sula (Honduras), among others. With this, they expect to take advantage of the high-season generated in vacation periods coming up such as the Holy Week, and also the possibility of providing services for the National Soccer Team as they travel to their classification matches, etc.