JetSMART CEO, Estuardo Ortiz, receives the Airlines Strategy Awards 2023

Thus, on the eve of JetSMART’s seventh anniversary, and after a nomination and selection process by an independent panel of specialists, the airline’s CEO stood out for his executive leadership, a fundamental pillar to promote the company’s growth and success in Latin America . Awards are given to leaders from each of the world’s five regions. This year, in addition to JetSMART, Singapore Airlines in Asia-Pacific, Alaska Airlines in North America, Pegasus in Europe and Airlink in the Middle East and Africa received the award.

Lewis Harper, editor of Airline Business, mentioned that “the award jury was impressed that JetSMART is establishing itself as the first low-cost intra-Latin American airline. Under the leadership of its CEO Estuardo Ortiz, the airline has had an impact that outweighs its size. Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when the airline was starting to grow after starting operations in 2017, Ortiz assured that JetSMART came out of the crisis strengthened with plans to expand the airline into new markets. It has managed to become a recognized force in South America, which is not easy in a region with regulatory and operational challenges for a new airline.”

In this regard, Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART Airlines, commented that “It is an honor to receive this award for ‘Executive Leadership in Latin America and the Caribbean,’ on behalf of everyone at JetSMART. I am deeply grateful to the entire JetSMART team, our RockSTARS, and the 20 million customers who have trusted us. We started as a start-up airline and operated 17 aircraft in Chile and Argentina in March 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic began. Then, when restrictions were eased and we returned to normal operations, the fuel price crisis began, reaching record levels. In the midst of these crises, we discovered opportunities, such as the recent opening of operations in Peru in 2022 and soon we will start in Colombia. We are the fastest growing airline in the region and I look forward with great enthusiasm to the future of JetSMART, to become the first Low-cost airline that unites all of South America, reaching our goal of 100 million passengers and 100 aircraft by 2028”.

The airline is proud of its contribution to the development of the Latin American aviation sector and reaffirms its commitment to continue offering ultra-low-cost travel options to its passengers.

Currently, the company has more than 70 routes in South America, 13 of which are international, which have enabled connectivity to seven countries in South America: Chile, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. In addition, it has a fleet of 25 aircraft, consisting of 20 Airbus A320 models and 5 A321neo, which has allowed the transport of more than 20 million passengers to date.