TACA, What Gives With Your Fares?

The price of airline tickets from Costa Rica and Central America are out of line, when it costs double to go from Miami to Colombia than from El Salvador to Colombia, on the same route, on the same dates, just changing the origin country.

Let me explain.  A recent check on prices from Miami (MIA) to Cali, Colombia (CLO) on TACA airlines on July 26, 2012 and returning on August 3, is US$521.90.

The flight originating in the US makes a stop in San Salvador, El Salvador, TACA's hub.

However, the same flight TA297 from San Salvador to Cali and return, on the same dates and the same airline, is US$1.0.87.70,

What gives? The flight from San Salvador to Cali and back is shorter than from Miami to Cali by way of El Salvador, yet almost double the price?

If there is a logical reason for this it eludes this writer, thus we urge TACA to comment and enlighten us.

Following is a screen print of the searches, one from Miami to Cali the other from San Salvador to Cali. Click on the image to enlarge.