Europe has non-stop or one-stop same-plane passenger flights to 31 airports across South America this northern summer, according to the latest Cirium data. There are prominent destinations and more unusual or less discussed places, like Cayenne, Cochabamba – and Georgetown, launching on March 27th.
Europe to South America: a summary
According to Cirium, some 19 passenger airlines have non-stop or one-stop service between the two continents. With 13.4% of the six million departing seats, Iberia is inevitably the leading operator, followed by TAP (12.0%), LATAM (11.5%), KLM (11.1%), and Air Europa (11.0%). These five carriers provide half of the supply.
Some 16 European airports in 10 countries have flights. These include Russia with one route: Nordwind from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Venezuela's Porlamar, which launched on October 1st, 2022, using the 777-200. It is worth a mention for being so different.
With 35% of seats, Madrid is obviously numero uno. It has flights to 18 South American airports, including Santa Cruz, Bolivia, by Boliviana and Air Europa. (When in Madrid last month, I watched Boliviana's flight board. Despite having flight number 777, it was operated by an A330 wet-leased from Wamos.) After Madrid, Lisbon has the biggest network (13 destinations), then Amsterdam (10), Paris CDG (seven), and London Heathrow (five).
31 airports in South America
The 31 destinations encompassing 13 countries are shown on the following map. Europe flights go to one or two airports in 11 of these nations. Brazil (12 airports) and Colombia (four) are the two exceptions. These two countries account for over half (57%) of all Europe-South America seat capacity.
Predictably, São Paulo Guarulhos has more Europe routes and capacity than any other airport across the vast continent. With flights to 12 European airports with 11 airlines, it has a quarter of all Europe seats. It features five times in the following top 10 routes table.
If São Paulo Campinas is added, 12 airlines will serve 13 airports this northern summer. It is because of Azul and Paris Orly, with the five-weekly new route taking off from Brazil on April 27th.
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Madrid-Bogota: up to nine daily flights
With 444,000 departing seats and a maximum of nine (!) daily flights (average of seven), Madrid-Bogota is the most-served Europe-South America route. On June 14th, for example, flights leave the Spanish capital at 00:15 (Iberia), 01:45 (Avianca), 09:15 (Avianca), 09:40 (Avianca), 12:05 (Iberia), 13:35 (Plus Ultra), 15:15 (Air Europa), 16:30 (Iberia), and 17:50 (Avianca).
|
Rank |
Routing |
Northern summer departing seats |
Max daily flights |
Airlines (by capacity) |
Find flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Madrid-Bogota |
444,000 |
Nine |
Avianca, Iberia, Air Europa, Plus Ultra |
|
|
2 |
Madrid-Buenos Aires |
296,000 |
Five |
Iberia, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa |
|
|
3 |
Madrid-Lima |
269,000 |
Five |
Iberia, Air Europa, LATAM, Plus Ultra |
|
|
4 |
Lisbon-São Paulo Guarulhos |
236,000 |
Four |
TAP, LATAM |
|
|
5 |
Madrid-São Paulo Guarulhos |
214,000 |
Three |
Air Europa, LATAM, Iberia |
|
|
6 |
Paris CDG-São Paulo Guarulhos |
191,000 |
Three |
Air France, LATAM |
|
|
7 |
Frankfurt-São Paulo Guarulhos |
161,000 |
Two |
LATAM, Lufthansa |
|
|
8 |
London Heathrow-São Paulo Guarulhos |
154,000 |
Two |
LATAM, British Airways |
|
|
9 |
Madrid-Santiago |
145,000 |
Three |
LATAM, Iberia |
|
|
10 |
Paris CDG-Santiago |
127,000 |
Two |
Air France, LATAM |
BA to Georgetown on March 27th
On March 27th, Georgetown, Guyana, will receive Europe flights. It is because of British Airways, which will fly twice-weekly using 777-200ERs. The schedule is as follows, with all times local. It has fifth freedom traffic rights:
- Gatwick-St Lucia: BA2159, 11:35-15:25 (8h 50m block time)
- St Lucia-Georgetown: BA2159, 16:25-18:05 (1h 40m)
- Georgetown-St Lucia: BA2158, 19:50-21:25 (1h 35m)
- St Lucia-Georgetown: BA2158, 22:25-11:45+1
Where would you like to see served? Let us know in the comment section.