Why aren't there more flights to Catamayo – Store?

If you live in the province of Loja or surrounding areas or are looking to fly thereá, surely más once you asked yourself ¿becauseé there is no más flights to Catamayo – Store? Hereí explainé the details about the complex operationóWhat does it mean for Aerols?íyou don't see this airport.

Más once or many times, it has been seen on social networks and even in the traditional press, the permanent and even justified claim of the inhabitants of Loja and nearby cities, due to lack of service, high costs or cancellations, per hourás has explained the difíeasy it is to operate in Catamayo and even thatí other airlines have operatedídenies, but without ésuccess.

to put in context, We are going to analyze the different factors that make the operation difficult.ón and that in the long run, not allowed until today, that más aerolílines operate or that the current ones, unlike Tame, they do it. Spaghettién, we will reviewáthe other aerosolíneas have operated to this destination.

Catamayo City Airport

The airport (THERE IT IS: LOH, ICAO: SECA), that serves the city of Loja is located 37 kilómeters or about 50 minutes from the capital of the province of the same name. With this important distance, comes the first difficulty for passengers, distance is important and time is money.

The airport terminal Camilo Ponce EnríQuez de Catamayo was remodeled on 13 May 2013 for an investmentón of US$ 19´556.213,98 and has the ability to handle 250 thousand passengers per year in an area of 2.800 square meter.

The más difícil of Ecuador

Listed as the airport más difícil (saying it is dangerous is tabloid) from Ecuador by pilots and airídenies, generates that not any avión and even crewón, I can land and take off ahí. I will tryá explain the different factors of the form más understandable possible.

Vídeo where you can check how complex the operation isón to this airport:

Montañas

Returning to the topic aeroáuseful, The Airport is located in the middle and surrounded by mountainsñace in all cardinal senses, which makes its approximationón, Landing and takeoff represent enormous complexity for the pilots and the airline.ídenies.

This factor is very determining when an aerolínea carry out performance studies of its aircraft at this airport, since both for landings and takeoffs, the obst factor must be analyzedáglasses, which must be able to be overcome with the load and passengers máxmos for that track in any conditionsón safely, it is included, with the péloss of a motor in any of these phases.

Visibility

This airport operates úonly visually, which means that there are no navigation systemsón advanced like ILS and although there is an NDB, This does not allow navigationónot necessaryón and minus an approximationón exact with a topographyíto so complex.

In an approximationón visual, the pilots They must be able to see the mountains at all timesñclose to maintain a separationón appropriate and safe, and see at all times of the descent and approachóon the landing strip. If these conditions are not met, the airport will beá cerrado.

For this reason, when there is insufficient visibility or a low cloud layer is at the airport, flights must be canceled, be delayed or diverted to the alternate airport, which is usually Guayaquil. Of course, this generateá a lot of inconvenience to users, but security will always beá first for the aerolídenies.

That surgeryón at this airport it is visual, both takeoffs and landings must have the correct visibility in order to be carried out. It should be noted that the track 07 It has approach assist lights.ón DADDY of 3° and for example Tame, has developed a procedure or approach letterón which is used as a reference.

This visibility factor, makes the airport operate úonly of 6:00 am. a 18:00 pm., what puts pressureóadditional n to the aerolínea to complete on time especially the afternoon itinerary, since that time has passed, The airport is closed for all operationsón.

Climate

This airport is located 1.236 meters above sea level, what brings climatic conditionsáspecial ethics.

Although it is not a high-rise airport as it is the Marshal Sucre of Quito, its climate changes veryáasked in cuestión of minutes.

The temperature could pass 25° degrees, what for example, for takeoffs on its short runway 1.860 meters long by 30 wide can generate, themselvesún the grandfatherón, a restrictionónumber of passengers mámaximum to transport, which brings less income for the airlinesíneas and makes the destination less attractive.

Another factor is the wind, which fácan easily exceed the 30 speed knots, which creates a restrictionón of passengers and even, that the flight is delayed and even canceled if it does not improve.

Rain and hail tooén are other climate eventsáticos found in this airport, that alsoén, potentially couldíto generate delays and even cancellations.

Hereí a vídeo where you can see the complexity of Catamayo with hail and rain seconds before landing:

Landing track

Hereí comes the m factoráIt's important that it defines the complexity of the operation.ón in Catamayo. Yes OK, all the factors such as the approximationón and visual takeoff, montañas and weather together add up to make it so difficultícil la operationón, the track is the final factor.

La operationóní has an additional factor, which is the same as what happens in the Cusco airport, landings can only and exclusively be made on the runway 07 (oeste a is), while takeoffs are carried out úsolely and exclusively on the opposite track 25 (is to the west)

This is due to the positionón geográairport ticket, which makes takeoffs from the runway impossible 07 to the east, where is the plenum and más high mountain peaksñace of the area and what it does tooén have to land on the runway 25 be impossible.

The restrictive reason for the operationón to a single addressón of track hinders aún máwith la surgeryón, since the wind factor and component makes it difficult in many díDuring the windy season in Catamayo, takeoffs can be carried out and this leads to cancellations or fewer passengers per flight..

Until before the remodelingón of the airport in the 2013, the track hasíto an additional factor, What was the gradient of inclination?ótrack number, factor that is betteró spaghettién within the terminal improvement plan 2013, potentially allowing aircraft mábig s operate ahí, but in an unprofitable way as already explainedó not being able to bring them to their maximum capacityáxima.

*Note: I saw oneón full in aviationón, does not imply profitability.

We add all the factors and…

…the result is the airport más difícil from Ecuador that has regular flights. All factors make it difficult for más aerolílines fly to Catamayo or that the current ones that do not do so as Avianca O LATAM they do it.

The Loja market is very important and that does not mean that it is not attractive due to demand and without a doubt it caníto grow with meás aerolílines or flights, but all the factors exposed, make it difficult for más aerolíneas fly, for the indicated issues or for not having adequate aircraft to operate in Catamayo, as explainedá más down.

Spaghettién, All of the above generates that úonly one currently operating, Tame, have a negative image by the populationón for delays, cancellations or high costs, pen una operationón so complex, jamáto beá pol-freeémicas or críethics on the part of users. This does not mean that it has not had its own difficulties or problems in its operation.ón what are más that known by everyone, but this airport puts a panorama onún más complex.

¿Becauseé Avianca or LATAM does not fly to Catamayo – Store?

It is fácil, aircraft that currently have in their fleet these 2 aerolíneas no podrístill operate at this airport without restrictions, óbe with fewer passengers than the capacity of the aircraft.

Both have Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft with capabilities for 130 passengers up and will haveíto penalize the occupationón máxima, which at least is sold commerciallyáthe available places are expensive, not to beíattractive for any of these companies.

The idea is that they arriveás aerolíclear with what más competition, lower ticket costs, so the arrival of one of these two to Loja is ruled out.

Aerolílines that fly and flew to Loja

Al dífrom today, úonly one aerosolínea operates and flies every dayíregularly to Catamayo, this aerosolínea is Tame, which has flights to Quito and Guayaquil. Tame is the airínea that más añhas flown you to this destination uninterruptedly.

the ones that fly

Tame and its flights to Catamayo

Tame currently operates until 2 daily flights on the Quito route – Store – Quito with Embraer planes 190 y ATR42-500, and Guayaquil – Store – Guayaquil with up 1 daily flight in ATR42-500 aircraft.

At the best moment of this route, Tame legó to operate until 3 daily flights from sunday to friday, all frequencies with Embraer 190. While the Guayaquil route – Loja arrivedó to operate until 2 daily flights from Monday to Friday on ATR42-500 aircraft.

Because of how tight this airline's fleet is.ínea, supply has decreased, but dutyíto recover in the prówe cry months.

Quito – Store

flights	Departure	Arrival	Vie	Sáb	Dom	Lun	Mar	Meé	Joe	Flight Type	Durationón
EQ 145	05:40	07:00								Direct flight	01:20:00
EQ 149	15:20	16:20								Direct flight	01:00:00

Store – Quito

flights	Departure	Arrival	Joe	Vie	Sáb	Dom	Lun	Mar	Meé	Flight Type	Durationón
EQ 144	07:20	08:20								Direct flight	01:00:00
EQ 148	17:00	18:00								Direct flight	01:00:00

Guayaquil – Store

flights	Departure	Arrival	Vie	Sab	Dom	Lun	Mar	Meé	Joe	Flight Type	Durationón
EQ 143	14:50	15:50								Direct flight	01:00:00

Store – Guayaquil

flights	Departure	Arrival	Vie	Sab	Dom	Lun	Mar	Mie	Joe	Flight Type	Durationón
EQ 142	16:20	17:20								Direct flight	01:00:00

Aeroregional

The mánew AerolíEcuadorian neas, Aeroregional realizedó in the últimas semanas una breve operationón chánon-regular rter between Quito and Loja, operating 2 Daily flights. It's an operationón was suspended after the third dayíand de operationón. The authorities indicated that the operationón no podíto continue since it will be catalogedíhow to regulate from the fourth día and the aerosolínever aún does not have that certificate.

Sayún the artíass 12 from resolveón 018/2017:

Transportation services toéreo no regular, in the mode of chárter, doméstic or international, passenger or exclusive cargo, involving a series of flights, on predetermined routes that do not constitute undue competition for the regular service provided by Aerolínational or foreign lines, dutyán have an operating permitón awarded by the National Aviation Councilón and not exploit previously assigned regular routes, unless there is a declarationón of the aerolíline holder of a regular permit regarding the impossibility of operating them at that time.

As indicated in the resolutionón, the úonly way in which Aeroregional could continue offering its flightsánon-regular rter is if the aerolíairlines that fly regularly declare that they cannot operate it at the time of scheduled operations.árter, ósea ​​Tame tendríto indicate that you cannot cover that destination, something that is very unlikely.

The resolutionón is understandable, but yesí to beífavorable that the authorities evaluateúin making adjustments to it, to theí be able to study or evaluate each situationón separately, since as mentionedó previously, Tame performed 3 daily flights or 624 seats offered and now only 304, so you caníthere will be an unsatisfied demand and this could beíto analyze, If the case of supply and demand warrants it after a study of it to authorize the operation.ón chárter de una aerolíecuadorian nea.

Aeroregional is in the certification processón to start regular flights sunéstatic (and alsoén of cháinternational rter), with what I caná operate, once you request the route to Loja on your operating permitón judgementéregular ethics and if it is approved, fly between Quito and Loja and others without problem based on the frequencies and weekly routes requested.

Another alternative that caníto handle the airíidea is to change your operationón chárter a Latacunga temporarily until regular permit is obtained, from where caníto fly to Loja without any complicationsón in ch modeárter y además, take advantage of lower operating costsón and included fuel subsidy.

the ones that flew

Icaro Air

This aerosolínea voló the Quito route – Loja initially as Icaro Express with its first planes Beechcraft 1900D. Later he did it with airplanes Dash 8-200 with capacity for 34 passengers and with their Fokker planes 28. the airínea operated until 3 daily flights from the capital to Catamayo.

Subsequently, The financial problems that arose in Icaro caused the closure of its operations in the yearñO 2011, although flights to Loja were suspended before, since at the close of operations of the airlineínea, they only operated with Boeing aircraft 737-200.

Saereo

a smallña aerolíEcuadorian line that maybe, few remember or heard of her. Saereo tooén voló to Loja and did it on the Guayaquil routes – Catamayo and Quito – Catamayo with up to 2 Daily flights. The route from Guayaquil beginsó with the short TameXpress project, in which the aerosolínea carried out low demand flights for Tame with its Embraer planes 120.

In a moment, they came to operate 3 aerolíyou arrive at the same time to Loja with Tame, Icaro and Saereo.

The Quito route – cerr storeó the AñO 2007 due to apparent economic problemsómonkeys of Saereo. for himñO 2011, The ATR42-500 from Tame arrived and ahí I will be lost foreveró the market on the route to Loja from Guayaquil, cerráDefinitely leaving it a few months laterés.

for himñO 2014 about, Saereo wateró to fly on all its scheduled flights due to administrative and economic problemsómics by knowledge events público.

LAKE Línea AéCuencana area

¿they remember LAC? This aerosolínot alreadyó to operate theñO 2016 when it was only dedicated to ch flightsárter doméaesthetic and international, but before this, voló the store. the airínea at the beginning of its vol operationsó with the Cuenca route – Guayaquil – Quito – Store – Quito – Guayaquil – basin with 2 daily flights in your avión CRJ 700, pero este tipo de operationón it was not profitable for the airlineínea in the face of low acceptanceón of the market.

Subsequently, the airínea basó are avión in Quito and dedicated himselfó to fly úOnly from the capital to Catamayo with 2 Daily flights, but asún informó the airíne at that time, the acceptanceón on the part of the locals was low and they were not able to make the flights profitable and again, Loja stayedó without a second sprayínea.

Others

Other aerosols mayíneas have flown in somethingún moment in its history to Loja, but the ones listed hereí, are the más recent or those for which there is at least a record.

Stadiumísticas Catamayo City Airport

to have máthe idea is clear, it's always good, analyze the statisticsístatic, this is the evolutionón of this airport in the úlast 5 años:

Slabños 2014 and 2015 were the bestñus a núgroup of passengers transported to and from Catamayo. The 2014 was the bestñor for the Guayaquil route – store and the 2015 the best for quito – Store, while from the 2016 both routes have gone downhill

for himñO 2016, the airport lostó 22.855 passengers between both routes and the percentage of occupancyón was also affected by going down to 76.99% from Quito and 57.60% for Guayaquil.

The Añor past, 2017, the airport followedó losing passengers and the tame effectíto one of the determining factors for this. During the 2017, the airport lostó 33.808 passengers compared to 2015, although the percentage of occupancyón increaseó al 74.44% from Guayaquil, but this due to a lower núflight grouper. To Quito instead, the percentage of occupancyón increaseó al 83.67% with a greater núnumber of flights in comparisonón al 2016.

Between January and May of 2018, shows an improvement in passengers transported from Quito, along with the percentage of occupancyón and caníto end up closing with slightly better figures than the 2017. On the way to Guayaquil, the Núgroupers continue to descend, both in passengers transported, as in occupationón.

The interesting, happens in the años 2014 and 2015, where with fewer flights, the occupationón was greater, Thus, más passengers flew.

¿Whaté can be done to have más flights in Loja?

The idea of ​​this post is to put the reality of the market into perspective.élojano prisoner. The truth is that, there is no más flights or airídue to the limitations that this airport generates for airlines.ícurrent guidelines and that there is no restrictionón legal or authorities so that más aerolíthey arrive.

Loja arrivedó to have 3 aerolílines flying at the same time, but they closed due to their own circumstances and the apparent monopoly that Tame has, that máYes, it is a competitive advantage to have the planes ógreat to operate ahí.

Hornbeamán más flights, sí, but arriveán when they have to arrive and the populationón dutyá support them so that they are maintained and costs lower. Más aerolíneas can fly to Loja, the market exists, They just need to have the right planes to do it. No airínea can be forced to fly anywhereún airport.

Loja needs más competition, what to seeá represented in, potentially, a reductionón of costs and más people flying.

To improve the operation of Catamayo, it will be possible toíand analyze the installationónumber of runway lights, what to extendía más the airport operating hours, but this úonly serveíhand in hand with creationón of RNAV RNP satellite landing and takeoff procedures, what will doíand one operationón más safe, but above all, at a timeás wide next to the runway lights.

Faced with the weather and ridingñso there is nothing to do, always beá a complex airport, triggerá delays and cancellations permanently with the enormous annoyance of passengers, no matter whatáaerolíneas ahí operate, but the important thing is always to beá safety.

The technologyíbecause it continues to improve in aviationón, to allowá that these factors are increasingly less important and the planes that operate in Loja al dífrom today, they have that technologyía.

¡Loja can take off, but without forgetting the complexity of its airport!