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| Founded | 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 25 July 2017 | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Subsidiaries | |||||||
| Fleet size | 26 | ||||||
| Destinations | 33[1] | ||||||
| Parent company | Indigo Partners | ||||||
| Headquarters | Santiago,Chile | ||||||
| Key people | Estuardo Ortiz Porras (founder) | ||||||
| Website | jetsmart | ||||||
JetSMART Airlines SpA, stylized asJetSMART, is a Chileanultra low-cost carrier controlled by USinvestment fundIndigo Partners, which also controls low-cost carriers likeFrontier Airlines,Mexico'sVolaris andHungary'sWizz Air. JetSmart's primary base of operations isArturo Merino Benítez International Airport, servicingSantiago,Chile. It also owns and managesJetSmart Argentina, anArgentine subsidiary with a base atAeroparque Jorge Newbery inBuenos Aires. The airline commenced scheduled operations on 25 July 2017 with a service from Santiago to Calama. ItsCEO and founder is Estuardo Ortiz Porras.[2][3]
JetSMART requested anair operator's certificate (AOC) on 26 January 2017, and received its authorization in June 2017.[4] Initially, the airline operated threeAirbus A320-200 aircraft, but has since taken delivery ofAirbus A320neo aircraft. Initially flying only domestic routes, JetSMART has expanded its presence in the South American market,[5] setting up JetSMART Argentina to access further traffic rights to the country.[6]
On 4 December 2019, JetSmart acquiredNorwegian Air Argentina and took over its operations, staff, and license with immediate effect, with plans to merge the airline with JetSMART Argentina. Following the acquisition, it was to operate both fromAeroparque Jorge Newbery andEl Palomar Airport in the Buenos Aires area. As Norwegian'sBoeing 737 aircraft were not part of the transaction, JetSmart planned to replace them with the airline's own Airbus A320 family aircraft.[7]
On 29 July 2021,American Airlines announced aminority investment in JetSMART, along with agreements to allow members of American Airlines'AAdvantage loyalty program to earnmiles when flying on JetSMART.[8]
On 17 March 2023, JetSMART signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to purchaseUltra Air,[citation needed] and is proceeding with certifying JetSmart as an aircraft operator in Colombia.[citation needed]
On 16 June 2022, JetSMARTcommenced domestic operations inPeru, marking its expansion into a new market.
As of August 2024[update], the JetSmart fleet consists of the following aircraft:[9]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 11 | — | 186 | |
| Airbus A320neo | 21 | 21[9] | 186 | |
| Airbus A321neo | 9 | 41[9] | 244 | |
| Airbus A321XLR | — | 14[citation needed] | TBA | |
| Total | 41 | 75 | ||
In December 2017 the airline ordered 56 A320neo and 14 A321neo.[10]
In June 2019 JetSmart ordered 12 A321XLR.[11] In October 2019 the first A320neo joined the fleet.[12]
In November 2021 JetSmart ordered 22 A321neo and 2 A321XLR and converted existing orders of A320neo to A321neo.[13]
In July 2022 the airline leased 6 Airbus A320neos from BOC Aviation with deliveries scheduled in 2024.[citation needed] In the same month the first A321neo was delivered.[14] Also in July 2022 it was reported that JetSmart expects to have a fleet of 100 aircraft by 2027.[citation needed]
JetSmart aimed to operate up to 10 aircraft in the 2018 period, and would go on to challengeLATAM Chile andSky Airline in nearly every market introduced between July and December 2017.[18]