Under new general manager Daniel Belaúnde, Sky Airline has carried out layoffs, frequency cuts and fare increases to prioritize profitability amid talks to join Abra Group. The moves align with the low season and aircraft leasing to Viva Aerobus. Sources report improving financial figures despite passenger declines.
Daniel Belaúnde, Sky Airline's general manager since August 2025, has driven a restructuring to reverse past losses of over US$10 million in 2024 and smaller ones in 2025. The airline, controlled by the Paulmann Mast family, is in talks to join Abra Group, owners of Gol and Avianca, though regulatory approvals in Chile and Peru are not expected before year-end.
In January 2026, Sky leased five Airbus A320Neo aircraft without crew to Viva Aerobus, with planes departing late March. This prompted layoffs, including 71 cabin crew on March 26, per union sources. The company reports 16 pilots departed this year, eight in March, from a total staff of 1,000, linking it to seasonal adjustments and higher productivity, with pilots now flying about 70 hours monthly versus 53 before.
Junta Aeronáutica Civil data show domestic passenger drops of 31.7% in January and 18.5% in February, and international declines of 15.6% and 7.9%. Yet high-season sales rose due to fare hikes, such as US$106 on Santiago-Antofagasta, more than doubling prior-year revenue.
Sky notes its Net Promoter Score improved from -15 in June 2024 to over 45 in Q1 2026, and anticipates three new A321Neo XLR for long-haul routes. Chile's Fiscalía Nacional Económica launched a probe on January 27, while Peru's Indecopi advanced to phase two on March 17 over concerns on routes like Lima-Miami.
