TAME seeks codeshare partners amid turnaround

Ecuador's state-owned airline TAME wants to begin codesharing with foreign carriers, as part of a plan to turn around the loss-making airline. The Quito-based carrier's search for partners comes as the Ecuadorian government embraces open skies in a move to drive more international passenger traffic to the South American country. "We are open to establish codeshare ties with any airline that would like to transfer their passengers onto domestic flights in Ecuador," TAME president Ignacio Vallejo said. The airline is not currently in any active talks with other carriers, he said. Vallejo, who joined the airline in late 2017, is overseeing a turnaround plan at TAME which lost $60 million in 2017. The overhaul includes a fleet modernisation and a renewed focus on strengthening TAME's domestic network. Earlier this year, Ecuador's president Lenin Moreno committed to an open-skies policy to encourage more foreign airlines to fly to the country. The approach departs from previous governments which had sought to protect the country's airlines from foreign competition. Vallejo welcomed the new open-skies stance: "It benefits us because more passengers will arrive, giving us more opportunities for internal connectivity. Competition from other airlines will also help us improve." TAME operates to 12 destinations in Ecuador and five cities in Colombia, Peru and the USA.<br/>