Bogota wants to transform the experience of transfer passengers at Bogota El Dorado international airport. The Colombian capital has just launched a programme called "StopOver Bogotá: Love at First Runwayin partnership with the national airline Avianca. The aim is to encourage international passengers in transit to leave El Dorado airport and discover the city. All in less than 24 hours.
A new concept in Latin America
Surprisingly, it is a an innovative concept in South America. Until now, no airline has offered its transfer passengers a 24-hour stopover. Unlike a very common practice in Asia and the Middle East.
From now on, passengers connecting at Bogota can voluntarily extend their stopover at no extra charge. A chance to explore the city for a day before resuming their journey. The Colombian capital is hoping to capitalise on the 95 % international travellers who never leave the airport grounds.
This programme is not just a marketing gimmick. With over 45 million passengers by 2024of which 18,000 passengers in transit every day on Avianca flightsEl Dorado has established itself as a Latin America's leading air hub. The Colombian company, a stakeholder in this product, operates more than 240 daily flights to 60 destinations in 28 countries.
"For over a century, we've been connecting Bogotá to the rest of the world. Today, we're offering the world the chance to discover Bogotá in a different way".said Frederico PedreiraCEO of Avianca, presenting "StopOver Bogotá: Love at First Runway.
A regional ambition
Initially, the initiative will target travellers from seven major cities - including Lima, MiamiGuayaquil, MexicoBuenos Aires, São Pauloand Madrid in Europe. Paris and London should be part of the second wave of destinations covered by the programme.
According to projections, more than 72,000 passengers could benefit from this stop-over between now and the end of 2025, generating more than $6 million in local economic benefits.
And the municipality is looking even further ahead. By the end of 2026, it expects to attract 472,000 additional visitorswith an estimated economic impact of 40 million.
The launch of "StopOver Bogota is taking place against a favourable backdrop. The Colombian capital is experiencing a boom in tourist numbers. In 2024, the city welcomed 14 million visitorsof which 1.87 million international touristsan increase of almost 9 % compared with 2023. The sector generated 1.8 billion of revenue. Hotels have a high occupancy rate, and each foreign tourist spends an average of 100 a day. So tourism in Bogotá does have a future... in transit or not.
