Domestic Airlines in Colombia 2026 — Avianca, LATAM, Wingo, and Budget Carriers
Domestic flights in Colombia are cheap, fast, and usually the best option for intercity travel. A flight from Bogota to Medellin takes 45 minutes and costs as little as 80,000 COP ($22 USD) on a budget carrier. The same trip by bus takes 8-9 hours on winding mountain roads. Fly.
Avianca — The National Carrier
Avianca is the largest and oldest airline in the Americas (founded 1919). After emerging from bankruptcy in 2022, the airline has modernized its fleet and streamlined operations. It is the most reliable option for domestic travel.
- Fleet: Airbus A320 family for domestic routes
- Routes: Widest domestic network — Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Santa Marta, Pereira, and 20+ smaller cities
- Loyalty: LifeMiles program (Star Alliance), points transfer to United and other partners
- Checked bag: Included in most fares (23 kg)
LATAM Colombia
LATAM is South America's largest airline group. Their Colombian operation covers the main domestic routes with competitive pricing and a strong on-time record.
- Routes: Major cities — Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Santa Marta
- Loyalty: LATAM Pass (oneworld alliance), points transfer to American Airlines and others
- Checked bag: Included in most fares (23 kg)
- Pricing: Often slightly cheaper than Avianca for the same routes
Wingo — Budget Carrier
- Model: Ultra-low-cost — base fare includes only a personal item
- Carry-on: 10 kg included in base fare
- Checked bag: Extra charge (30,000-60,000 COP per bag when added at booking, more at the airport)
- Routes: Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena, San Andres, plus international routes to Central America
- Booking: Book through wingo.com for the best prices. Third-party sites sometimes do not show the lowest fares.
Ultra Air
Ultra Air is a newer Colombian budget carrier that has expanded aggressively. Their pricing undercuts Avianca and LATAM on popular routes, though the route network is still growing.
- Routes: Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena, Bucaramanga, Pereira, and select regional airports
- Pricing: Competitive with Wingo on overlapping routes
- Service: Basic but functional — similar to Wingo's no-frills model
Check Ultra Air availability when booking — they sometimes offer the lowest fare on a route, especially for less common city pairs.
Price Comparison (One-Way, Bogota to Medellin)
Domestic Airline Comparison (COP)
| Expense | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avianca | 150,000-350,000 | 23 kg checked + carry-on | Best network, Star Alliance |
| LATAM | 130,000-300,000 | 23 kg checked + carry-on | Good routes, oneworld |
| Wingo | 80,000-200,000 | Carry-on only (bags extra) | Cheapest base fares |
| Ultra Air | 90,000-220,000 | Varies by fare class | Limited routes, competitive |
Prices vary significantly by booking date, time of day, and demand. Morning and evening flights are more expensive than midday departures. Midweek flights (Tuesday, Wednesday) are cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
Booking Tips
- Book directly: Airline websites often have lower prices than third-party aggregators like Kayak or Google Flights for domestic Colombian routes
- Book 2-4 weeks ahead: Sweet spot for domestic pricing. Last-minute flights are 2-3x the advance price.
- Midweek flights: Tuesday and Wednesday are consistently the cheapest days to fly
- Avoid puentes: Colombian long weekends (puentes festivos) cause price spikes and sold-out flights. There are roughly 18 public holidays per year, many creating 3-day weekends.
- Compare in COP: Always compare prices in Colombian pesos. Some booking sites show inflated USD conversions.
- Flexible dates: Avianca and LATAM show a fare calendar that highlights the cheapest days to fly each month
Baggage Policies
- Avianca full fare: 1 checked bag (23 kg) + 1 carry-on (10 kg) + 1 personal item
- LATAM full fare: 1 checked bag (23 kg) + 1 carry-on (10 kg) + 1 personal item
- Wingo base fare: 1 personal item only. Carry-on and checked bags are add-ons.
- Ultra Air: Varies by fare class — read the fine print at booking
Always add checked bags at the time of booking. Adding them at the airport counter costs 30-50% more. Overweight bags (over 23 kg) incur steep surcharges at all carriers.