Alma Air Receives Colombian Airline Operating Certificate, Greenlighting Amphibious Operations

Alma Air S.A.S., a Colombian air transport company, has received a favorable opinion from the Technical Advisory Committee on Aerocommercial Affairs (CTAA) of the nation’s Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil). This regulatory decision permits Alma Air to initiate its formal certification process under the air taxi service modality, utilizing both amphibious and land-based versions of the Cessna Grand Caravan C208 aircraft.

The company plans to establish its operational base in Cartagena, focusing initially on the Caribbean coast before expanding its proposed service network nationwide. Alma Air’s business model centers on connecting historically remote communities, specialized tourist regions, and island destinations.

Alma Air CEO Rupert Stebbings. Photo credit: Rupert Stebbings.

The favorable concept, documented under CTAA Act No. 006, specifically noted that Alma Air’s proposal constitutes an “innovation in the tourist connectivity of the Caribbean region” and recommended its approval. The opinion marks the transition of the company’s plans from the conceptual phase into the formal regulatory audit process before Aerocivil.

Rupert Stebbings, CEO of Alma Air, commented on the development, stating that the regulatory step facilitates the company’s plan for regional service. “Whilst the initial project is directed towards the Caribbean coast, once certified, Alma will serve all of Colombia,” Stebbings said. “We seek to connect the country safely, efficiently, and sustainably, with a proposal that combines modern technology and a strong sense of public service.”

The aircraft chosen for the planned operation, the Cessna Grand Caravan C208, is manufactured by Textron Aviation, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT). Alma Air’s deployment of amphibious aircraft aims to expand air coverage across coastal, island, and rural areas that lack traditional runway infrastructure.

The company is positioning the project as a mechanism to strengthen territorial integration and contribute to regional economic development, citing the potential for generating foreign investment within the key transportation sector. Alma Air must now finalize the rigorous technical and operational procedures required by the Civil Aviation Authority to obtain the necessary Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

Alma Air. Photo credit: Alma Air.