Copa, Spirit resume commercial flights from South Florida to Latin America
Copa Airlines and Spirit Airlines are resuming their flights from Florida to Latin America after travel restrictions suspended commercial flights earlier in the pandemic.
Copa Airlines restarted service from Washington Dulles International Airport on Thursday. In August, it restarted flights from Miami and New York. Earlier this month, it added flights to the region from Orlando and Los Angeles.
The airline is planning to start flights soon from Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Las Vegas, Denver and New Orleans.
“With these operations, the airline hopes to help thousands of people who need to travel for various reasons, and at the same time support the gradual economic and tourist reactivation of the countries of the region,” said Copa Airlines.
All passengers must comply with airline and government requirements, such as mandatory quarantine on arrival and a negative PCR test.
Entry to Argentina, Panama, Uruguay and Chile is allowed only for nationals and residents who meet government requirements.
Spirit Airlines announced it will restart direct flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Saturday, with the first flight to Cartagena, Colombia.
“Being the airline that will operate the first commercial international flight to Colombia from the United States is a sign of our commitment to the country. Uniting our passengers with their loved ones, now that the borders are reopened, is the best gift we can give them, “ Ted Christie, president and CEO of Spirit Airlines, said in a press releaase.
The airline will restart flights from Fort Lauderdale to Bogotá, Medellín and Cali on Sept. 21.
“The return of Spirit to our skies is great news for the country, as it confirms that we are making a firm step towards the recovery of the tourism industry under strict biosafety protocols,” said Flavia Santoro, president of ProColombia, which promotes international tourism and foreign investment in Colombia.
Passengers must present a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 96 hours before the time of travel and must register on the official Colombian migration page.
Spirit has worked with the United States Embassy in Bogotá and the Colombian government to perform humanitarian flights during the crisis. Almost 200 flights have repatriated more than 25,000 people between the United States and nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Colombia being the main recipient of this mission, according to Spirit.
Spirit said that in the past 12 years, it has transported almost 3 million passengers between Colombia and the United States.
Biosecurity measures
Both airlines said they implemented biosecurity measures required by health authorities.
Copa Airlines reported it has strengthened disinfection measures and protocols, explaining that all aircraft are equipped with high-efficiency HEPA filters, which purify up to 99.97% of virus and bacteria particles, similar to an operating room.
In addition, the air-recirculation system renews the air every two or three minutes.
A disinfection process is implemented prior to each flight. Passengers are required to wear masks.
Copa has installed acrylic barriers at airport counters. All workers wear masks.
Spirit Airlines said its fleet is also equipped with “latest technology and high efficiency” HEPA air filters. All passengers are required to wear masks.
It has expanded aircraft cleaning protocols between each flight and uses two EPA-registered fogging treatments. The first applies a safe, “high-grade disinfectant that is effective against coronaviruses.” The second uses an antimicrobial product that kills bacteria and viruses on surfaces or 30 days.
All employees are required to wear masks.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 2:46 PM.
