The airline traces its history back to December 5, 1919, in the city ofBarranquilla, Colombia. Colombians Ernesto Cortissoz Alvarez-Correa (the first President of the airline), Rafael María Palacio, Cristóbal Restrepo, Jacobo Correa and Aristides Noguera andGermans Werner Kämmerer, Stuart Hosie, and Albert Tietjen founded the Colombo-German Company, calledSociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos orSCADTA. The company accomplished its first flight on September 5, 1920, between Barranquilla and the nearby town ofPuerto Colombia using aJunkers 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 constructedmonoplanes, 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 theJunkers aircraft to makewater landings in the rivers near different towns. Using these floats, Helmuth von Krohn was able to perform the first inland flight over Colombia on October 20, 1920, following the course of theMagdalena River; the flight took eight hours and required four emergency landings in the water.
Soon after the airline was founded, German scientist andphilanthropist Peter von Bauer became interested in the airline and contributed general knowledge,capital and a tenth aircraft for the company, as well as obtainingconcessions from the Colombian government to operate the country'sairmail 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 covering 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-ownedPan Am.
On June 14, 1940, in the city of Barranquilla, SCADTA, under ownership by United States businessmen, merged with regional Colombian airlineSACO, forming the newAerovíasNacionales deColombia S.A. orAvianca. Five Colombians participated in this: Rafael María Palacio, Jacobo A. Correa, Cristobal Restrepo, and Aristides Noguera, as well asGerman citizens Albert Teitjen, Werner Kämerer, and Stuart Hosie, while the post of first President of Avianca was filled by Martín del Corral. Avianca claims SCADTA's history as its own.
During the 1960s, the company built theAvianca Building in Bogotá, designed by the architect Germán Samper, which was inaugurated in 1969 on the south side ofSantander Park. In 1961, Avianca leased twoBoeing 707s to operate its international routes, and on November 2, 1961, it acquired its ownBoeing 720s. In 1976, Avianca became the firstSouth American airline to continuously operate theBoeing 747. Three years later, it started operations with more 747s, including two Combi aircraft, mixing cargo and passenger operations.[citation needed]
In 1981, Avianca undertook the construction of a new exclusive terminal called theTerminal Puente Aéreo, which was eventually inaugurated by President Julio César Turbay Ayala. Avianca's original purpose for the terminal was for flights serving Cali, Medellín, Miami, and New York.[20]
In 1994, Avianca, the regional carrierSAM and the helicopter operatorHelicol 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 ofBoeing 767s,Boeing 757s,MD-83s,Fokker 50s, andBell helicopters. In September 1996, Avianca Postal Services becameDeprisa, which provided various mail services.[21]
On December 10, 1998, Avianca officially opened its new hub in Bogotá, offering around 6,000 possible connections per week, and an increased number of frequencies, schedules, and destinations, taking advantage of the privileged geographical location of the country's capital, for the benefit of Colombian and international travelers between South America, Europe, and North America.
After theSeptember 11 attacks, Avianca, SAM, and their major rivalACES joined efforts to create theAlianza Summa, which began merged operations on May 20, 2002, to offer a more efficient service with concerns to quality, quantity, security and competition in a new struggling marketplace. However, adverse circumstances within the industry and markets forced the alliance to disband. In November 2003, the Alianza Summa was disbanded, ACES was liquidated altogether, and SAM was acquired to be a regional carrier under Avianca's brand.
On December 10, 2004, Avianca concluded a major reorganization process, undertaken after filing forChapter 11 bankruptcy protection, by obtaining confirmation of its reorganization plan, which was financially backed by the Brazilian consortium,Synergy Group and theNational Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, allowing the airline to obtain funds for US$63 million, in the 13 months following withdrawal from bankruptcy.[22]
Avianca's former logo (2005–2013)
Under this plan, Avianca was bought by Synergy Group and was consolidated with its subsidiariesOceanAir andVIP. The company's full legal name was changed fromAerovías Nacionales de Colombia (National Airways of Colombia) toAerovías del Continente Americano (Airwaysofthe continent of America), retaining the acronym Avianca. On February 28, 2005, Avianca presented its new logo and livery.
In October 2009, it was announced that Avianca would merge withTACA Airlines.[23][24] This createdAviancaTaca Holding, 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 itsFokker 50 andFokker 100 with newer aircraft of 100 seats or fewer.[25] On January 1, 2011, the airline decided to retire the Fokker 100 in 2011 and replace them with 10Airbus A318s leased fromGECAS. The aircraft were delivered from February to April 2011.
On November 10, 2010,Star Alliance announced that Avianca (and its merger counterpart, TACA) would be full members in 2012. Due to Avianca's entry into Star Alliance, it ended itscodeshare agreement withDelta Air Lines and began a new codeshare agreement withUnited Airlines. TACA has been codesharing with United Airlines since 2006.[26] On June 21, 2012, Avianca and TACA were both officially admitted into Star Alliance.
On March 21, 2013, at the annual general meeting, the shareholders approved the change of corporate name fromAviancaTaca Holding toAvianca Holdings.[27] TACA and all other AviancaTaca airlines changed their brand to Avianca on May 28, 2013.
As of 2017, Avianca operates the second-most daily international flights from Miami with 16, second only toAmerican Airlines.
In August 2018, Avianca had some operational difficulties due to problems with the platform it used to assign crew schedules. This resulted in the cancellation of several flights within Colombia. Likewise, due to the stoppage of ACDAC pilots in 2017, all flight itineraries managed by the airline were restored only in October 2018.
On March 1, 2019, Avianca launched a subsidiary namedAvianca Express, which operatedATR-72s on short regional flights within Colombia.[citation needed]
AviancaAirbus A320-200, painted in retro livery, celebrating the airline's 100th anniversary
Avianca had significant financial liabilities in 2019. Because of this, they issued more debt to cover short-term liabilities and concluded a debt exchange on December 31, 2019. In response to the global outbreak ofCOVID-19, the Colombian government'slockdown suspended Avianca's domestic and international operations; most of the company’s 20,000 employees went without pay throughout this period, and the airline operated no scheduled passenger flights between late March and May outside of repatriation missions. As a result of this temporary cessation of business, the company saw 80% of its revenue stop.
Avianca implemented numerous cost-reduction plans during and following their bankruptcy including increasing the passenger capacity and redesigning the cabin of theirAirbus A320s, simplifying their fleet to only the A320 family andBoeing 787, the latter of which will also feature an economy class cabin redesign, and introducing new, cheaper, and more competitive fares with increased options for flexibility including checked and carry-on bags, seat selection, and priority boarding.[29][30]
In November 2021, Avianca Holdings announced they would move their legal address fromPanama to theUnited Kingdom, and that they would change their name toAvianca Group.[31] Their globalheadquarters remains inBogotá. On November 2, 2021, Avianca's reorganization plan was approved by the court,[32] and on December 1, 2021, more than a year and a half after filing, Avianca emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in its history.[33]
In September 2022,Ecuador's Superintendency for the Control of Market Power became the first government body to approve the merger.[citation needed] In December 2022, Avianca stated that they had reached all necessary agreements for the group bar "certain financing", and that they had obtained approval from regulatory bodies inBrazil and theUnited States. Avianca also stated that they do not need regulatory approval in Colombia because GOL has no presence in the country, and hence there would be no overlap in Colombia.[citation needed]
On January 19, 2023, theMinistry of Transport andAerocivil formally annulled the November 2022 decision to reject the Avianca–Viva Air merger, citing "procedural irregularities" found within the first review process. A second review is due to take place in "an urgent manner", because the merger proposal was filed under "exception for a company in crisis", referencing Viva Air's financial situation.[38]
On March 21, 2023, Aerocivil announced that it would approve the Avianca–Viva merger conditionally if the new entity complied with the following: to either refund or honor passengers' cancelled bookings made before Viva Air suspended operations; to return some in-demand slots at Bogotá'sEl Dorado Airport previously held by Viva Air; to maintain Viva Air's low-cost model for consumers within Colombia; to reinstate flights betweenBogotá andBuenos Aires; to maintain a fare cap on routes where the entity is the only operator; and, as the new entity would hold a majority of the market share in Colombia, to ensure that the market remains dynamic.[39]
On May 13, 2023, after analyzing the "financial and technical implications" of the merger under these conditions, Avianca withdrew its plans to acquire Viva Air, given the strict requirements of Aerocivil and the damage that these would have on the airline's economy.[40][41]
In October 2023, the company announced a rebrand and changes to its business model. Avianca changed its name from Avianca toavianca, adjusting its operating model to a more low-cost-friendly one.
Avianca's headquarters are onAvenida El Dorado and between Carrera 60 and Gobernación de Cundinamarca, located in theCiudad Salitre area of Bogotá. The building is located next to theGran Estación.[42] Its previous head office was at Avenida El Dorado No. 93-30.[43]
Thefrequent-flyer program of Avianca and its subsidiaries isLifeMiles. This program is designed to reward customer loyalty in the airline, travel, and retail sectors. LifeMiles members can earn miles every time they fly with Avianca,Star Alliance member airlines, as well asGOL Airlines,Aeromexico andIberia.
The program was launched in 2011 with the merger of Avianca and TACA, replacing its formerAviancaPlus program. LifeMiles has been awarded 14Freddie Awards for its outstanding performance and promotions in the Americas during the last 9 years.
In March 2007 the airline ordered 10787s.[57] The first delivery of that aircraft type was on December 17, 2014, and its first service was on January 16, 2015, between Bogotá and New York City.[58][59]
In 2015, Avianca signed an order for 100 A320neo family aircraft. At the beginning of March 2019, the airline had 20 A319neos, 92 A320neos, and 15 A321neos on order. In March 2019, the delivery of 17 Airbus A320neo family aircraft was cancelled, and deliveries of another 35 jets were rescheduled to 2026 to 2028, instead of 2020 to 2022.[60]
In March 2022, the airline confirmed an order for 88 new A320neo with deliveries between 2025 and 2031.[61]
In June 2023, it was reported that Avianca leased eight A320neos that belonged to the bankrupt airline Viva Air for delivery in 2023.[54]
In September 2023, the airline disclosed plans to lease 14 Airbus A320neo planes and two A320ceo planes.[62]
In February 2024, Avianca received one of the 3 Boeing 787-8s from Norwegian Air Shuttle. The airline said it wants to deviate from wet leases such as the one from Wamos Air and its A330; in addition, it wants to do it only with 787-8s owned by the company itself.[55]
The airline suffered a few incidents during the 1980s and early 1990s. The deadliest of those incidents wasAvianca Flight 011, which crashed in 1983.[70]
On January 22, 1947, aDouglas C-53B (registered C-108), crashed in the Magdalena River valley, killing all 17 people on board.[71]
On February 15, 1947, aDouglas DC-4 (registered C-114), crashed into El Tablazo Hill in the Bogotá savannah. All 53 occupants died. The accident was caused by human error, as the pilots were American nationals and had little knowledge of Colombian geography.[72]
On August 9, 1954, aLockheed L-749A (registered HK-163), crashed three minutes after takeoff fromLajes Field,Azores, after it flew left into the hills instead of right towards the sea. All 30 on board died.[73]
On March 9, 1955, aDouglas C-47A (registered HK-328), crashed atTrujillo, Colombia, killing all eight on board. The wreckage was found a month later, but some of the gold and cargo were missing.[74]
On June 23, 1959, aDouglas DC-4 (registered HK-135), operating as Flight 667, struck Cerro Baco mountain while en route toLima,Peru, killing all 14 aboard.[75]
On March 22, 1965, aDouglas C-47DL, (registered HK-109), operating Flight 676, struck Pan de Azucar at an elevation of 7,200 feet (2,200 m), killing all 29 on board. The cause was the decision of the pilot to fly VFR in conditions that required IFR.[77]
On October 17, 1965, aDouglas DC-3 (registered HK-118), operating Flight 676, coming from the city of Bogotá with 15 people on board collided in the air with aPiper Super Cub (registered HK-922), which had taken off from the old Gómez Niño airport ofBucaramanga all 16 occupants of both aircraft's were killed.[78]
On September 22, 1966, aDouglas DC-4 (registered HK-174), operating Flight 870, crashed while attempting to return to Eldorado Airport due to engine problems, killing both pilots. The cause was traced to a failure in the governor control unit. Improper supervision by the company was a contributing factor, as the pilot was briefed to make a night flight while he was in conversion training for the L-749.[79]
On December 24, 1966, aDouglas C-47A (registered HK-161), operating Flight 729, struck Cerro Las Animas at an elevation of 11,600 feet (3,500 m) while approachingPasto, killing all 29 on board. A combination of poorCRM, pilot intoxication, deviation from route, and pilot error was cited as the cause.[80]
On July 5, 1973, aHawker Siddeley HS-748 (registered HK-1408) skidded off the runway at the former Bucaramanga Gómez Niño Airport. After landing, the plane crashed into a house located at 63rd Street and 15B Avenue, coming very close to the Las Cocheras Canal chasm. All 44 on board survived but 3 people on the ground were killed.[85]
On August 12, 1974, aDouglas C-47 (registered HK-508) flew into Trujillo Mountain, killing all 27 people on board. The aircraft was on a domestic scheduled passenger flight fromEl Dorado Airport, Bogotá toLa Florida Airport,Tumaco.[87]
On March 17, 1988,Avianca Flight 410, aBoeing 727-100 (registered HK-1716) crashed into low mountains nearCúcuta -Norte de Santander Department after take-off, killing all 143 on board. It was determined that pilot error was also the cause of this crash, in a situation similar to Flight 011.[90][91]
On November 27, 1989, a bomb destroyedAvianca Flight 203. All 107 passengers and crew and 3 people on the ground were killed. The bombing had been ordered byPablo Escobar to kill presidential candidateCésar Gaviria Trujillo. In the aftermath, it was discovered that Gaviria had not boarded the aircraft.[92][93]
On August 16, 1997, Avianca Flight 087, aBoeing 767-200ER en route from Bogotá toBuenos Aires Ezeiza, was diverted toCórdoba due to bad weather. However, upon approaching Córdoba, it was diverted again, and instructions from the tower directed the plane toward the mountains of theCórdoba mountain range.The 767 was running low on fuel at the time and ended up making an emergency landing in La Rioja, thanks to instructions from a pilot of anSouthern Winds Airlines plane in flight.[96][97]
On April 12, 1999,Avianca Flight 9463, aFokker 50 (registered PH-MXT), from Bogotá toBucaramanga was hijacked by sixELN members, who forced the plane to make an emergency landing on a clandestine runway in theBolívar Department. One passenger died during captivity, the rest were eventually liberated a year after the hijacking.[98]
^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.
^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 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 fromthe 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-.
^Friedman, Max Paul (April 2000). "Specter of a Nazi Threat: United States-Colombian Relations, 1939–1945".The Americas.56 (4). Washington, D.C. (United States): Catholic University of America Press on behalf of Academy of American Franciscan History: 563–589 [566 2nd paragraph].doi:10.1017/S0003161500029849.JSTOR1008173.S2CID147077020.
^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."
^Oficinas Colombia." Avianca. 9 March 2000. Retrieved on 30 January 2011.
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