Avianca Express
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| Founded | December 2018 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | March 1, 2019 | ||||||
| Hubs | El Dorado International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | LifeMiles | ||||||
| Alliance | Star Alliance (affiliate) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
| Destinations | 10 | ||||||
| Parent company | Avianca Group | ||||||
| Headquarters | Bogotá, Colombia | ||||||
| Key people | Santiago Diago (CEO) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Avianca Express (legally Regional Express Américas S.A.S.) is a Colombian regional airline founded in December 2018. It is owned by Avianca Group and is being phased in, as of spring 2019, as part of the adjustment plan for its operating model and in search of more profitability and efficiency.[1]
History
[edit]The peculiarity of Avianca Holdings' new strategy is that flights are not routed through an airline hub, but from point-to-point.[2] In return, Avianca gradually withdrew from regional centers and intends to serve only important national and international destinations in the future.[3]
Flight operations were carried out exclusively with a fleet of ATR 72-600s, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft that fits with regional airports with shorter runways and a more limited aviation infrastructure. Avianca Holdings received Aerocivil's air traffic approval for the Colombian regional market in February 2018.[4]
From March 1, 2019, the airline embarked on regional routes from Bogotá to cities such as Manizales, Florencia, Villavicencio, Yopal, Neiva, Ibagué, and Popayán; and also from Cali to Pasto and Tumaco. Since August 2019, it also flies between Bucaramanga and Cartagena.[5]
The airline, previously known under its working title Regional Express Américas, received its final name Avianca Express in mid-February 2020.[citation needed]
On March 30, 2020, Avianca Express started operating at Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín, which Avianca had not served in 20 years, with connections to Quibdó, Montería and Bucaramanga.[6] Apart from this, a new flight plan came into force, which included improvements to connections to and from Bogotá, and also a new connection to Barrancabermeja.
Destinations
[edit]As of June 2023, the following destinations are served by Avianca Express:[7]
Fleet
[edit]Current fleet
[edit]As of December 2023[update], Avianca Express operates the following aircraft:[10][11]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Y+ | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A320-200 | 3 | — | 12 | 60 | 108 | 180 | |
| Total | 3 | — | |||||
Former fleet
[edit]Avianca Express previously operated the following aircraft:[11]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-100 | 1 | 2022 | 2023 | [12] |
| ATR 72-600 | 12 | 2019 | 2022 | Transferred from Avianca and its subsidiaries[citation needed] |
Accidents and incidents
[edit]- On September 7, 2019, an ATR 72-600 (registered HK-5041) suffered a tailstrike on landing at La Nubia Airport. The aircraft landed and rolled out normally to its parking position.[13] All 49 passengers and 5 crew members were uninjured.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ En marzo, Avianca Holdings estrena su aerolínea regional eltiempo.com, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
- ^ Las rutas que cubrirá Regional Express Américas, la nueva aerolínea de Avianca lafm.com.co, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
- ^ Regional Express Américas volará desde el próximo mes en Manizales lapatria.com, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
- ^ Colombia's Regional Express Americas commences ops ch-aviation.com, retrieved 28 April 2019
- ^ "Avianca expands Bucaramanga network from mid-August 2019". Routes. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
- ^ "'Avianca Express' Launches in Return to Medellin's downtown Olaya Herrera Airport". Medellinherald.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
- ^ "Discover Avianca express!". Avianca.com.
- ^ a b "Avianca suspende temporalmente siete rutas". AviacionAlDia.com (in Spanish). 31 August 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ Caracol Radio (11 February 2022). "Avianca no operará más en Manizales" (in Spanish). Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 12.
- ^ a b "Avianca Express Fleet Details". Planespotters.net. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ Daniel Martinez Garbuno (March 28, 2024). "Colombia's avianca express ends A319 ops". Ch-aviation.com.
- ^ "ASN Aircraft accident ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) HK-5041". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Avianca Express at Wikimedia Commons
 Airlines of Colombia | |
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