Avianca Argentina

Avian Líneas Aéreas S.A.
IATA ICAO Call sign
A0 ANC AVIAN
Founded1995 (as Macair Jet)
Commenced operations21 November 2017
Ceased operations7 June 2019
HubsAeroparque Jorge Newbery
Frequent-flyer programLifeMiles
Fleet size2
Destinations3
Parent companySynergy Group[1]
HeadquartersBuenos Aires, Argentina
Key peopleCarlos Colunga (CEO)
Sergio Mastropietro
Websitewww.avianca.com.ar (defunct)

Avianca Argentina, legally incorporated as Avian Líneas Aéreas S.A., was an Argentine airline headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with its operational hub at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in the city. The airline operated commercially under the Avianca brand through a license agreement; however, it was independent of the Avianca Holdings. The airline ceased all operations on 7 June 2019.[2]

History

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The airline was founded in March 2016, after Synergy Group, the parent company of Avianca Holdings, acquired Argentina-based charter airline Macair Jet.[3] In November 2016, Synergy Aerospace announced a firm order for the purchase of 12 ATR 72-600s for the airline to be operated under the Avianca brand.[4] The first ATR 72 was delivered on 13 January 2017.[5] Following the use of the two ATR 72 aircraft for charter flights from July 2017, the airline began scheduled services on 21 November 2017.[6][7]

The airline originally planned to operate passenger and cargo flights both internationally and within Argentina from a primary hub at Teniente General Benjamín Matienzo International Airport serving San Miguel de Tucumán, with a fleet of Airbus A320-200 aircraft.[8] The initial plans included the transferal of Airbus A320s from Avianca Brasil, followed by the launch of international services to São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport on 5 February 2019. However, by January 2019, Avianca Argentina's plans for international services were canceled, with its sole Airbus A320 to be returned to Avianca Brasil (later taken up by LATAM Brasil), as the Argentine airline cited rising operating costs due to the weakening of the Argentine peso relative to the strengthening United States dollar.[9][10]

By April 2019, Avianca Argentina was reported to be struggling, having cut its route network to two destinations from the five it had planned to operate from Buenos Aires, and employing as many as 80 pilots while the airline's fleet remained at two aircraft, out of the four aircraft it had originally planned to operate at the time.[11] The airline's CEO Carlos Colunga described the conditions as "unsustainable" and attributed the operational difficulties to the strengthening US dollar and rising fuel costs.[11] On 7 June 2019, the airline requested a 90-day suspension of operations starting from 9 June in order to restructure the company, but the airline subsequently ceased operations.[2]

As of September 2021, the airline is looking into restarting operations sometime.

Destinations

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Avianca Argentina served or previously served the following destinations by the time of the airline's closure in June 2019:

Country City Airport Notes Ref
 Argentina Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Hub
Mar del Plata Astor Piazzolla International Airport
Reconquista Reconquista Airport Terminated [12]
Rosario Rosario – Islas Malvinas International Airport Terminated
Santa Fe Sauce Viejo Airport
 Uruguay Punta del Este Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport Terminated [13]

Fleet

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An Avianca Argentina ATR 72-600 parked at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in 2017

As of June 2019, before service was suspended, the Avianca Argentina fleet included the following aircraft:[14]

Avianca Argentina fleet
Aircraft In
service 		Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
ATR 72-600 2 10 — 70 70 Both stored (LV-GUG and LV-GUH).
— 72 72
Total 2 10

Retired fleet

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A former Macair Jet BAe Jetstream 32 parked at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in 2008

Macair Jet, and later Avianca Argentina, formerly operated the following aircraft:[15]

Retired Macair Jet/Avianca Argentina fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A320-200 1 2018 2018
BAe Jetstream 32 6 2006 2017
Gulfstream V 1 2001 2002
Learjet 25D 1 Un­known Un­known
Learjet 31A 1 2008 Un­known
Learjet 35A 1 2008 Un­known
Learjet 60 1 1994 2002
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 1 2009 2012 Operated for Aerochaco

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Avianca Holdings S.A. no participa en "Avianca Argentina"" [Avianca Holdings S.A. does not participate in "Avianca Argentina"] (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b Yeo, Ghim-Lay (7 June 2019). "Avianca Argentina suspends service". FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group.
  3. ^ "Efromovich hace mover el mercado aéreo de Argentina" [Efromovich makes the Argentine air market move]. eltiempo.com (in Spanish). 15 April 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  4. ^ "ATR: douze 72-600 pour la future Avianca Argentina" [ATR: twelve 72-600 for the future Avianca Argentina]. air-journal.fr (in French). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Avianca Argentina receives first ATR". FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Con dos vuelos diarios, Avianca comienza a operar en la Argentina" [With two daily flights, Avianca starts operating in Argentina]. Infobae (in Spanish) (21 October 2017). 21 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Avianca Argentina Airline profile". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Con la llegada de Avianca, Tucumán tendrá 25 vuelos diarios" [With the arrival of Avianca, Tucumán will have 25 daily flights]. rosarionet.com.ar (in Spanish). 23 November 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Avianca Argentina no volará a San Pablo y devuelve el Airbus A320" [Avianca Argentina will not fly to San Pablo, and return the Airbus A320]. HANGAR X (in Spanish). 25 January 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  10. ^ Payet, Jose Antonio (25 January 2019). "Avianca Argentina Suspends Long-Awaited International Route". Airline Geeks. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  11. ^ a b Meier, Ricardo (12 April 2019). "Avianca Argentina is facing difficulties, as well as the Brazilian subsidiary". Airway (ADN). Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  12. ^ Com, Ellitoral. "Avianca inauguró los vuelos a Reconquista". Ellitoral.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  13. ^ Com, Ellitoral (4 January 2019). "Avianca Argentina inauguró la ruta entre Buenos Aires y Punta del Este" [Avianca Argentina inaugurated the route between Buenos Aires and Punta del Este]. El Litoral (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  14. ^ "Avianca Argentina Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  15. ^ "Avianca Argentina". Rzjets.net.
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