New low-cost airline, Air Viva Peru, has made its first commercial flight from Lima’s Jorge Chávez airport on Tuesday, bound for Iquitos in the Amazon basin. The airline has been set up by Irelandia Aviation, the company led by Declan Ryan, son of Ryanair founder Tony Ryan, which also owns VivaColombia and VivaAerobus.
William Shaw, the CEO of Viva Air Peru, promises to revolutionise the market by offering low-cost fare beginning from just 60 soles ($18), which have already caused rivals to slash their fares since the new carrier started selling tickets in early April. LATAM Peru currently commands more than half of the Peru market.
Viva Air Peru will operate nine routes in 2017, linking Lima with the cities of Arequipa, Chiclayo, Cuzco, Iquitos, Piura, Tarapoto and Trujillo. There will also be flights from Arequipa to Cuzco and Tacna.