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Avianca S.A.
IATA ICAO Call sign
AV AVA AVIANCA
Founded5 December 1919; 104 years ago (1919-12-05) as SCADTA
Hubs
Secondary hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programLifeMiles
AllianceStar Alliance
Subsidiaries
Fleet size173[1]
Destinations114
Parent companyAvianca Holdings S.A.
HeadquartersBogotá, Colombia
Key people
Operating incomeIncrease COP 2.8 B[2] (FY 2009)
Total assetsIncrease COP 2.403.632 M (FY 2008)
Websitewww.avianca.com

Avianca S.A. (acronym in Spanish for "Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A.", Airways of the American Continent) is a Colombian airline that has been the national airline and flag carrier of Colombia[3][4] since 5 December 1919, when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA.[5][6] It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its main hub at El Dorado International Airport. Avianca also comprises a group of seven Latin American airlines, whose operations are combined to function as one airline using a code sharing system. Avianca is the largest airline in Colombia and second largest in Latin America. Avianca together with its subsidiaries has the most extensive network of destinations in Latin America.[7] It is wholly owned by Synergy Group S.A., a South American holding company established by Germán Efromovich and specializing in air transport. It is listed on the Colombia Stock Exchange.[8]

Avianca is the world's second oldest airline after KLM, and celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2009, when it was announced that it would merge with TACA. It is the oldest airline in the Western Hemisphere.[9] It became an official member of Star Alliance on 21 June 2012, after a process that lasted approximately 18 months from the initial announcement[10] of their invitation to join the Alliance.[11]

History

SCADTA (1919–1940)

SCADTA Junkers W 34 "Magdalena"; circa 1920s.

The airline traces its history back to 5 December 1919, in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. Colombians Ernesto Cortissoz (the first President of the Airline), Rafael Palacio, Cristóbal Restrepo, Jacobo Correa and Aristides Noguera and Germans Wilhem Schnurbusch, Werner Kämerer, Stuart Hosie and Albert Tietjen founded the Colombo-German Company, called Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transporte Aéreo or SCADTA. The company accomplished their first flight between Barranquilla and the nearby town of Puerto Colombia using a Junkers F.13, transporting 57 pieces of mail. The flight was piloted by German Helmuth von Krohn. This and another aircraft of the same type were completely mechanically constructed monoplanes, the engines of which had to be modified to efficiently operate in the climate of the country. There were nine aircraft in the fleet with a total range of 850 km (528 mi) which could carry up to four passengers and two crewmen. Due to the topographic characteristics of the country and the lack of airports at the time, floats were adapted for two of the Junkers aircraft to make water landings in the rivers near different towns. Using these floats, Helmuth von Krohn was able to perform the first inland flight over Colombia on 20 October 1920, following the course of the Magdalena River; the flight took eight hours and required four emergency landings in the water.

Soon after the airline was founded, German scientist and philanthropist Peter von Bauer became interested in the airline and contributed general knowledge, capital and a tenth aircraft for the company, as well as obtaining concessions from the Colombian government to operate the country's airmail transportation division using the airline, which began in 1922. This new contract allowed SCADTA to thrive in a new frontier of aviation. By the mid-1920s, SCADTA started its first international routes that initially covered destinations in Venezuela and the United States. In 1924, the aircraft that both Ernesto Cortissoz and Helmuth von Krohn were flying crashed into an area currently known as Bocas de Ceniza in Barranquilla, killing them. In the early 1940s, Peter von Bauer sold his shares in the airline to the US-owned Pan American World Airways.

National Airways of Colombia (1940–1994)

Avianca Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation at Miami International Airport (1965).
Avianca Boeing 720 at El Dorado International Airport (1972).
Avianca Boeing 747 at Miami International Airport (1993).

On 14 June 1940, in the city of Barranquilla, SCADTA, under ownership by United States businessmen, merged with Colombian Air Carrier SACO (acronym of Servicio Aéreo Colombiano), forming the new Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia S.A. or Avianca. Five Colombians participated in this: Rafael María Palacio, Jacobo A. Corea, Cristobal Restrepo, and Aristides Noguera, as well as German citizens Albert Teitjen, Werner Kaemerer and Stuart Hosie, while the post of first President of Avianca was filled by Martín del Corral.

In 1946, Avianca began flights to Quito, Lima, Panama City, Miami, New York City and Europe, using Douglas DC-4s and C-54 Skymasters. In 1951, Avianca acquired Lockheed 749 Constellations and 1049 Super Constellations. In 1961, Avianca leased two Boeing 707 aircraft, to operate its international routes and on 2 November 1961, it acquired its own Boeing 720s. In 1976, Avianca became the first Latin American airline to continuously operate[clarification needed] a Boeing 747. Three years later, it started operations with another 747, this time a 747 Combi, mixing cargo and passenger operations.

Merger and alliance (1994–2002)

Avianca Boeing 767 (2004)
Avianca Airbus A330-200 at El Dorado International Airport (2009).

In 1994, Avianca, the regional carrier SAM and the helicopter operator Helicol, merged, beginning Avianca's new system of operations. This arrangement allowed for specialized services in cargo (Avianca Cargo) and postal services, as well as a more modern fleet, made up of Boeing 767–200s, Boeing 767–300s, Boeing 757–200s, McDonnell Douglas MD-83s, Fokker 50s, and Bell helicopters.

By 1996, Avianca Postal Services became Deprisa, which provided various mail services.

Summa Alliance (2002–04)

After the September 11 attacks, Avianca, the regional carrier SAM Colombia, and its major rival ACES Colombia joined efforts to create Alianza Summa, which began merged operations on 20 May 2002. In November 2003, Alianza Summa was disbanded and ACES Colombia was liquidated altogether and SAM Colombia was acquired to be a regional carrier under Avianca's brand.

American Continent Airways (2004–09)

On 10 December 2004, Avianca concluded a major reorganization process, undertaken after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, by obtaining confirmation of its reorganization plan, which was financially backed by the Brazilian consortium, OceanAir/Synergy Group and the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, allowing the airline to obtain funds for US$63 million, in the 13 months following withdrawal from bankruptcy.

Under this plan, Avianca was bought by Synergy Group, and was consolidated with its subsidiaries OceanAir and VIP Ecuador. The company's full name was changed from Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia (National Airways of Colombia) to Aerovías del Continente Americano (Airways of the American Continent). In 2009, OceanAir and VIP were re-branded as Avianca Brazil and Avianca Ecuador, respectively.

Avianca-TACA merger (2009–13)

In 2009, it was announced that Avianca would merge with TACA.[12][13] This created AviancaTaca Holdings, which instantly became one of the region's largest airlines, with 129 aircraft and flights to more than 100 destinations.

In November 2009, the airline's Chief Executive Fabio Villegas announced that the airline was looking to replace its Fokker 50 and Fokker 100 aircraft with newer aircraft of 100 seats or less.[14] On 1 January 2011, the airline decided to retire the Fokker 100 aircraft in 2011 and replace them with 10 Airbus A318 leased from GECAS. The aircraft were delivered from February to April 2011.

Star Alliance

Avianca Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (2015)

On 10 November 2010, Star Alliance announced that Avianca (and its merger counterpart, TACA) were full members in 2012. Due to Avianca's entry into Star Alliance, it ended its codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines and began a new codeshare agreement with United Airlines. TACA had been codesharing with United Airlines since 2006.[15] On 21 June 2012, Avianca and TACA were both officially admitted into Star Alliance.

Avianca Holdings S.A. (2013–present)

TACA and all other AviancaTaca airlines changed their brand to Avianca on 28 May 2013. On 21 March 2013, at the annual general meeting, the shareholders approved the change of corporate name from AviancaTaca Holdings S.A. to Avianca Holdings S.A.[16]

Headquarters

Avianca headquarters designed by Esguerra Saenz Urdaneta Samper

Avianca's headquarters are on Avenida El Dorado and between Avenida la Esmeralda and Gobernación de Cundinamarca, located in the Ciudad Salitre area of Bogotá. The building is located next to the Gran Estación.[17] Its previous head office was at Avenida El Dorado No. 93-30.[18]

Destinations

Main article: Avianca destinations
Countries with destinations of Avianca (including seasonal and future destinations).
  Colombia
  Avianca Destinations
Avianca Airbus A330 cabin.

Avianca's hubs are in Bogotá at El Dorado International Airport, in San Salvador at Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport and in Lima at Jorge Chávez International Airport. Its focus cities are Medellín, Cali, Cartagena, Barranquilla, San José and Quito as well as Miami, where Avianca is the largest foreign carrier by number of passengers. The airline covers 114 destinations in 27 countries.

Subsidiaries

Avianca's subsidiaries destinations
Company Number of destinations List
Avianca 54 Avianca destinations
Avianca Argentina 2 Avianca Argentina destinations
Avianca Costa Rica 12 Avianca Costa Rica destinations
Avianca Ecuador 15 Avianca Ecuador destinations
Avianca El Salvador 27 Avianca El Salvador destinations
Avianca Peru 32 Avianca Perú destinations
Avianca Guatemala 11 Avianca Guatemala destinations
Avianca Cargo 20 Avianca Cargo destinations
Avianca Honduras 4 Avianca Honduras destinations

Frequent Flyer Program

Avianca launched their LifeMiles frequent-flyer program in 2011, replacing AviancaPlus. The levels include Silver, Gold and Diamond, replacing the former Basic, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Executive levels. This program covers all Avianca Holdings airlines.

Codeshare agreements

Avianca has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[19]

LifeMiles

The frequent flyer program of Avianca and its subsidiaries is LifeMiles.This program is to reward customer loyalty. The membership is free and you can register online. LifeMiles members earn miles every time they fly with Star Alliance members, Avianca subsidiaries or use service in some hotels, retails, car rental and credit card partners.

LifeMiles has three Elite Tiers:

  • Silver (Star Alliance Silver)
  • Gold (Star Alliance Gold)
  • Diamond (Star Alliance Diamond)

Fleet

Avianca Airbus A330-200, in the post-2013 livery, arrives London Heathrow Airport (2015)
Avianca A330

Current Fleet

As of March 2017, the Avianca Holding S.A. fleet consists of the following aircraft:[22]

Avianca Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A318-100 10 — 12 88 100
Airbus A319-100 15[23] — 12 108 120
Airbus A319neo — 20[24] TBA
Airbus A320-200 39 — 12 138 150
Airbus A320neo 2 98[24] 12 141 153
Airbus A321-200 5 3 12 182 194
Airbus A321neo 2 15[24] 12 183 195 First A321neo operator in Latin-America and second in America
Airbus A330-200 8[23] — 30 222 252 Planned to be transferred to Avianca Brasil
To be replaced by A321neos and Boeing 787-9s.
Airbus A330-300 2 — 32 268 300 Taken over from former TransAsia Airways fleet.
ATR 72-600 10[23] — — 68 68
Boeing 787-8[25] 12[23] — 28 222 250
Boeing 787-9 — 8 TBA Delivery begins mid-2018
Cessna 208 11 — — 12 12
Embraer 190 12 — 8 88 96
Avianca Cargo Fleets
Airbus A330-200F 5 — Cargo
Total 132 142

Avianca's first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was delivered on 17 December 2014 and launched its first service on 16 January 2015 between Bogotá and New York.[26]

Erroneously, Avianca Holdings has been associated with the purchase of ten units of the Airbus A350-900 XWB.[citation needed] However, the purchase was made by Grupo Synergy, owner of Avianca Brasil and main shareholder of Avianca Holdings. The purchase is destined to Avianca Brasil, which is not a subsidiary of Avianca Holdings.[27][28]

Retired Fleet

Avianca former fleet[29][30]
Aircraft Introduced Retired Notes
Boeing 247D 1937 1947
Boeing 707-300 1969 1993 One was written off as Avianca Flight 52
Boeing 720 1961 1984
Boeing 727-100 1966 1992
Boeing 727-200 1978 1998
Boeing 737-100 1968 1971 First Latin American airline to operate its type
Boeing 747-100 1976 1996
Boeing 747-100SF 1981 1988
Boeing 747-200M 1981 1988 One was written off as Avianca Flight 011
Boeing 757-200 1992 2010 Many aircraft have been converted into freighters and sold to FedEx Express.[31]
Boeing 767-200ER 1989 2011
Boeing 767-300ER 1994 2010
Consolidated PBY Catalina 1946 Un­known
Curtiss C-46 Commando 1950 Un­known
de Havilland Giant Moth Un­known Un­known
de Havilland Tiger Moth Un­known Un­known
Douglas C-54 Skymaster 1948 1975
Douglas DC-2 1944 Un­known
Douglas DC-3 1939 1975
Douglas DC-4 1945 1970
Dornier Do J Un­known Un­known
Dornier Komet Un­known Un­known
Dornier Merkur 1927 Un­known
Fokker 50 1993 2014 Replaced by ATR 72-600
Fokker 100 2005 2011 Replaced by Airbus A318.
Fokker Super Universal 1931 1934
Ford 5-AT-DS Trimotor 1932 1946
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 1968 1978
Junkers F.13 1920 1939
Junkers W 33 1928 1932
Junkers W 34 1929 1947
Lockheed L-749 Constellation 1956 1968
Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation 1958 1968
Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar Un­known Un­known
McDonnell Douglas MD-11ER 1999 1999
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 1992 2011
Sikorsky S-38 1929 Un­known

Incidents and accidents

The airline suffered a few incidents during the 1980s and early 1990s. The deadliest of those incidents was Avianca Flight 203, which was bombed in 1989, following orders from Pablo Escobar to kill presidential candidate César Gaviria Trujillo. In the aftermath, it was found that Gaviria had not boarded the aircraft. Only one successful bombing has occurred in the airline's history, while most other gang related incidents were related to hijackings or shootings on board. In most hijackings, all passengers and crew members, unaffiliated with the hijacker's cause, were immediately released.

Certifications

In the field of security, Avianca has different international certifications that guarantee the quality of its procedures and safety standards in their services of maintenance, training and support to aircraft. In addition, on November 27, 2008 it received certification ISAGO (IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations), being the first airline in the world to receive it. ISAGO certifies the compliance with the standards and practices for the control and management of the processes of care and boarding of passengers, cargo, luggage, as well as assistance and handling of aircraft.[48]

References

  1. ^ "Servicio Service/Flota Fleet". Avianca en revista. 2016. pp. 116–117. ISSN 1909-1281. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Resultados Avianca 2009" (PDF). Avianca.fr. Retrieved 29 September 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Álvaro Uribe Vélez; Jorge Humberto Botero Angulo (7 March 2005). "Decreto número 604 de 2005 por el cual se concede la Orden del Mérito Comercial en la Categoría de Gran Oficial a Avianca" [Decree number 604 of 2005 which grants to Avianca the Order of Commercial Merit in the Category of Great Officer] (PDF) (in Spanish). Bogotá, D.C. (Colombia): Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo de la República de Colombia.
  4. ^ Álvaro Uribe Vélez (7 March 2005). "Discurso de entrega de la Orden del Mérito Comercial en la Categoría de Gran Oficial a Avianca" [Presidential address on the Order of Commercial Merit in the Category of Great Officer to Avianca] (.htm) (in Spanish). Bogotá, D.C. (Colombia): Presidencia de la República de Colombia. Nosotros no podemos perder la oportunidad de tener en Bogotá ese gran centro de conexiones. Y por supuesto, que lo haga la compañía bandera de Colombia, que es Avianca. Eso lo tiene que explicar el Gobierno a la opinión pública clara y paladinamente, sin malicias, sin cartas escondidas, y salir a defenderlo y decir por qué hay que hacerlo.
  5. ^ Simón Rodríguez Rodríguez (21 September 1989). "Sentencia del Honorable Consejo de Estado de la República de Colombia con relación al proceso número 132 que reposa en el expediente del año 1989 (ce-sec1-exp1989-n132)" [Sentence of the Honourable Council of State of the Republic of Colombia in relation to the process number 132 which rests on the record of 1989 (ce-sec1-exp1989-n132)] (in Spanish). Bogotá, D.C. (Colombia): Consejo de Estado de la República de Colombia. pp. 10, 16, 5th paragraph. Archived from the original (.doc) on 2011-07-04. Desde ningún punto de vista puede abrigarse duda alguna acerca del carácter eminentemente privado de la empresa Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia AVIANCA S. A. La prueba por excelencia en este caso, como es el certificado expedido por el Secretario de la Cámara de Comercio de Barranquilla así lo determina (fls. 2 a 10). En él se lee que la empresa se constituyó por escritura pública número 2374, otorgada ante Notaría Segunda de Barranquilla, el día 5 de diciembre de 1919, registrada en el Juzgado Tercero del mismo Circuito, llamada inicialmente Sociedad Colombo – Alemana de Transportes Aéreos -SCADTA-. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Friedman, Max Paul (April 2000). "Specter of a Nazi Threat: United States-Colombian Relations, 1939–1945". The Americas. 4. 56. Washington, D.C. (United States): Catholic University of America Press on behalf of Academy of American Franciscan History: 563–589 [566 2nd paragraph]. JSTOR 1008173.
  7. ^ "Avianca-TACA joint venture ready for implementation". Flightglobal. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  8. ^ "Flightgobal: Avianca-TACA joint venture ready for implementation". Flightglobal.com. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  9. ^ Brown, Claire (28 July 1998). "National Air and Space Museum Exhibition Examines the Development of Latino Aviation". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on 2010-04-08. SCADTA Junkers F 13, one of the first commercial airlines in Colombia. SCADTA (now known as AVIANCA) is the oldest, continuously operating airline in the Western Hemisphere. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Avianca-Taca and Copa Airlines to join Star Alliance". Star Alliance. 11 October 2010. Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Avianca, Taca Airlines and Copa Airlines join Star Alliance". Star Alliance. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Avianca confirms 'strategic merger' with TACA". Flightglobal. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  13. ^ "Latin American airlines to merge". BBC. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Avianca looking to replace Fokkers 100". Eturbonews.com. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  15. ^ "Copa Airlines, Copa Airlines Colombia, United Airlines and Avianca-TACA announce their intention to establish close cooperation agreements". avianca.co.uk. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  16. ^ "Avianca se quitó el apellido Taca". ElEspectador. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  17. ^ Buitrago, Alejandra. "Avianca tendrá nueva sede administrativa a comienzos del 2009 en Eje Empresarial del Salitre m, portafolio.co, retrieved on 6 December 2015. "Será un edificio con 13.800 metros cuadrados de vidrio en sus fachadas, con un coeficiente de sombra de solo el 0,71% en diseño bioclimático que permitirá luz y aire naturales incluso en los sótanos." and "Su altura será de 46 metros y tres sótanos, para un área construida de 34.536 metros cuadrados. El primer piso tendrá locales comerciales y una amplia zona de parqueaderos."
  18. ^ Oficinas Colombia[dead link]." Avianca. 9 March 2000. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Codeshare". www.avianca.com.
  20. ^ "Avianca and Singapore Airlines sign a codeshare agreement | Avianca". www.avianca.com.
  21. ^ "Singapore Airlines And Avianca Sign Codeshare Agreement". www.singaporeair.com.
  22. ^ http://www.avianca.com/en-uk/travel-information/before-your-flight/fleet.aspx
  23. ^ a b c d "Global Airline Guide 2017 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2017): 12. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  24. ^ a b c "Airbus O&D". Airbus S.A.S. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Boeing". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  26. ^ "Avianca Celebrates Arrival of the Dreamliner". Airliner World: 14. March 2015.
  27. ^ http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/synergy-aerospace-to-acquire-ten-a350-xwb/
  28. ^ http://aviationweek.com/awin/brazil-s-synergy-aerospace-acquire-10-airbus-a350-800s
  29. ^ "Avianca cumple 90 años" (PDF) (in Spanish). Avianca. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2009.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ Avianca (4 April 2010). "Nace una historia con alas" (.htm) (in Spanish). Bogotá, D.C. (Colombia): Avianca.[permanent dead link]
  31. ^ An example of one such aircraft; https://planefinder.net/data/aircraft/N959FD
  32. ^ Accident description for C-108 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 July 2013.
  33. ^ Accident description for HK-163 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
  34. ^ Accident description for HK-328 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 July 2013.
  35. ^ Accident description for HK-135 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 July 2013.
  36. ^ Jamaica Observer, "From Avianca to CanJet: MoBay Airport at Centre of J'can Aviation History", 22 April 2009 . Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  37. ^ Accident description for HK-109 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 July 2013.
  38. ^ Accident description for HK-174 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 July 2013.
  39. ^ Accident description for CCCP-M25 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 July 2013.
  40. ^ "Hijacking description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  41. ^ "HK-107 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  42. ^ "HK-1341 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  43. ^ "HK-111 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  44. ^ "HK-508 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  45. ^ "Colombia". Lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  46. ^ "Americas | Massive security at Colombia's airports". BBC News. 19 July 2002. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  47. ^ "Recordando los 10 años del secuestro del Fokker de Avianca". Noticias ABC colombia. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ "Avianca, primera aerolínea en el mundo en recibir certificación 'Isago' de IATA, tras auditoría de seguridad". portafolio.co. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
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