BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness welcomed a special delegation from Colombia visiting Broward County in celebration of new flights offered from Spirit Airlines to Bucaramanga in Santander, Colombia. Spirit Airlines will fly to Bucaramanga three times per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with the first inaugural flight taking off this morning at 10:45 a.m.

The nine-member delegation from Santander, Colombia was led by the Governor of Santander, Nerthink Mauricio Aguilar Hurtado, and Bucaramanga City Mayor Juan Carlos Cardenas Rey. They were welcomed by a local delegation of government and business leaders. Commissioner Holness presented a ceremonial Key to the County to Governor Hurtado. 

Santander, Colombia is located in the northeastern region of Colombia, close to the Venezuelan border and is known as the “land of adventure.” The region is a popular area for tourists due to its steep mountains and picturesque valleys. Bucaramanga is the capital and the largest city in Santander.

“As Spirit Airlines launches new flights to new regions of the world, it brings new business and travel opportunities to explore.  I want to thank the Colombian delegation for coming to meet with us to discuss trade and tourism opportunities,” said Holness. 

Colombia ranks sixth among the top ten trading partners at Port Everglades, with an estimated value of more than $1.19 billion in 2019. In recent trade with Colombia, Port Everglades top exports in value to Colombia comprised of printers, cell phones, motor vehicles, and computers. Port Everglades top imports in value include aluminum, gasoline, men’s apparel, and fresh cut flowers.

In addition to new flights to Bucaramanga, Spirit Airlines will also fly three times per week, Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday to Barranquilla, Colombia beginning tomorrow.

In November 2019, Broward County’s Port Everglades and the Port of Barranquilla, Colombia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish an alliance of cooperation aimed at facilitating international trade and generating new business by promoting the sea trade routes between the two countries. The MOU signed by then Mayor Dale V.C. Holness outlines joint initiatives, including marketing activities and market studies, training, and sharing of information on technology, modernization and improvements. Approximately a third of Colombia’s trade with Port Everglades, one of Florida’s leading economic powerhouses, was with the Port of Barranquilla, mainly comprised of aluminum, glass, and ceramic.

November 18, 2020 

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Kimberly Maroe
Public Information Manager
Broward County Board of County Commission
115 S. Andrews Ave.  
Fort Lauderdale, FL  33301
kmaroe@broward.org
(954) 357-8053