Aserca Airlines
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| Founded | 1968 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 2018[1][2] | ||||||
| Hubs | Simón Bolívar International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Privilege | ||||||
| Fleet size | 11 | ||||||
| Destinations | 9 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Valencia, Carabobo State, Venezuela | ||||||
| Key people |
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| Website | asercaairlines.com | ||||||
Aserca Airlines C.A. (Aero Servicios Carabobo) was[2][1] an airline based in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. It operated domestic and regional scheduled services to destinations in the Caribbean, Central America and the USA. Its main base was Arturo Michelena International Airport, Valencia, with a hub at Simón Bolívar International Airport, Caracas.[3]
History
The airline was established in 1968 and started operations in 1991 with small aircraft for private transport. In 1992 it entered the domestic scheduled market with a leased Douglas DC-9-30. Aserca's operations were centred on Valencia, but it managed to develop Caracas as a hub after 1994 which, combined with the demise of flag carrier Viasa in 1997, made Aserca experience a significant growth in its market share, expanding its network to Bogotá, Lima and Miami (no longer in service) via Aruba. Between 1998 and 2000 Aserca had a controlling interest in Air Aruba. In 2008, Aserca took a majority stake in fellow Venezuelan carrier SBA Airlines (formerly Santa Bárbara Airlines). A proposed merger was in discussion.[citation needed]
In June 2013, Venezuela’s National Institute of Civil Aviation (Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil - INAC) announced that it will prohibit operations of classic aircraft types like the Douglas DC-9, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737-200 in Venezuela from November 1, 2013. Aserca Airlines could obtain a special dispensation from INAC allowing the airline to operate its remaining two DC-9 until July 1, 2014. Aserca has chosen to replace its DC-9 with two ex-Aeromexico MD-87 that went to Miami Opa-locka Airport awaiting delivery.[citation needed]
On May 22, 2018, Aserca announced to cease all operations and return its air operator's certificate.[4][1][2]
Destinations
Aserca Airlines served the following destination at the time of its demise:[citation needed]
| Country | City | Airport | Refs/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aruba | Oranjestad | Queen Beatrix International Airport | |
| Curaçao | Willemstad | Curaçao International Airport | |
| Dominican Republic | Santo Domingo | Las Américas International Airport | |
| Venezuela | Barquisimeto | Jacinto Lara International Airport | |
| Venezuela | Caracas | Simón Bolívar International Airport | Hub |
| Venezuela | Las Piedras | Josefa Camejo International Airport | |
| Venezuela | Maracaibo | La Chinita International Airport | |
| Venezuela | Maturín | José Tadeo Monagas International Airport | |
| Venezuela | Puerto Ordaz | Manuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport |
Aserca Airlines additionally had codeshare agreements with PAWA Dominicana (on routes to Antigua, Havana, Miami, Port-au-Prince, San Juan and St. Maarten and SBA Airlines.[citation needed]
Fleet
Fleet at airline's demise
The Aserca Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft (as of October 2014):[5]
| Aircraft | In Service | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | 5 | 152 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | 6 | 152 | 2 leased to SBA Airlines |
| Total | 11 | ||
Previous Fleet
Over the years, Aserca Airlines has operated the following aircraft types:[5]
| Aircraft | Notes |
|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200 | |
| Douglas DC-9-10 | |
| Douglas DC-9-30 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-90 |
References
- ^ a b c eluniversal.com - Aserca Airlines cierra operaciones en Venezuela (Spanish) 24 March 2018
- ^ a b c ch-aviation.com - Ascera Airlines retrieved 24 March 2018
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 27 March 2007. pp. 77–78.
- ^ https://www.el-carabobeno.com/aserca-anuncio-el-cese-de-sus-operaciones-tras-25-anos-de-operaciones/
- ^ a b Aserca Airlines Fleet Details and History
External links
Media related to Aserca Airlines at Wikimedia Commons
 Airlines of Venezuela | |
|---|---|
| Scheduled | |
| Charter | |
| Cargo | |
| Defunct | |