TAME Ecuador (EQ, Quito Int’l) will seek to lease two ATR72-500s, three ATR42-500s, and six A320 Family aircraft by the end of 2018 in a bid to strengthen its domestic network in Ecuador and regain profitability, President Ignacio Vallejo has told Flightglobal.
Some of the aircraft will replace TAME’s retired fleet, as it looks to sell two EMB-190ARs and three ATR 42-500s in 2018. These five aircraft are currently the only ones owned by the state-owned carrier, as the remainder of the fleet is leased.
Thanks to the incoming aircraft, the carrier plans to consolidate its presence in Ecuador and may increase frequencies on key routes out of its hub at Quito Int’l to each of Guayaquil, Santa Rosa Victor Larrea, and Seymour on the Galapagos Islands.
Once the carrier’s domestic position is strengthened, TAME may consider international expansion with Buenos Aires Ezeiza and Madrid Barajas as potential new destinations. It will also mull adding two A330-200s to replace the sole 17-year-old aircraft of the type it currently operates.
TAME also announced an intention to enter into more code-share deals with other airlines, although no talks are currently underway, as Vallejo has conceded…
