Tampa International Airport (TPA) has partnered with Colombian airline Avianca to open a direct flight route between Tampa, Florida, and Bogota. The new route was inaugurated on Monday, March 30, in a celebration that involved a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, and desserts.
This route is set to be non-stop, and will be Tampa International’s first regular service route to South America. This will also be TPA’s first new destination on the continent in 50 years.
According to the online publication Travel and Tour World, Bogota has been among TPA’s most requested international destinations. The city of Tampa has a very significant Colombian-born residents, of over 36,000.
The Tampa-Bogota route will operate for four days a week
During the ceremony, Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said, “Tampa International Airport has achieved a major milestone in connecting Tampa Bay to Bogota.”
He added that, “With new airline partner Avianca, TPA now has nonstop flights to South America for the very first time, giving our residents unparalleled access to Colombia and beyond. I’m grateful to Avianca, as well as the efforts of our community partners throughout Tampa Bay, for helping us make this longtime goal a reality.”
The Avianca-operated flight to El Dorado International Airport will be operated with an Airbus A320neo, which offers 180 seats.
The CEO Visit Tampa celebrated the opening of the route
Santiago Corrada, who is the President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, one of the biggest travel agencies in the city, said, “Avianca’s new partnership with America’s best airport, Tampa International Airport, sends a clear signal that Tampa Bay is a top-tier choice for discerning visitors from Colombia and around the globe.”
Mr. Corrada also said, “This direct flight from Bogota connects Colombians to the tantalizing tastes, luxurious accommodations, electrifying attractions, and rich and diverse culture that make Tampa Bay and its treasures a ‘must’ for travelers ready to experience the extraordinary.”
The route will operate on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The flights will depart from Bogota to Tampa at 7:15 for a 12:15 arrival in Tampa. Flights from Tampa will depart at 2:15 for a 5:10 arrival in Colombia’s capital.