Avianca, a distinguished Colombian airline, holds the title for being the oldest airline in the Western Hemisphere that has continuously been in operation. It was originally launched as SCADTA in 1919, before undergoing a name change to Avianca in 1940. In 2009, a major merger with TACA broadened its operational scope and reach. The airline experienced significant financial difficulties and in 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. However, Avianca managed to successfully emerge from bankruptcy in 2021, a key event in its business history. It’s also recognized for its strategic partnerships with leading airlines, including United Airlines and Copa Airlines. Avianca has made substantial strides in infrastructure, such as fleet upgrades and retirements. Despite past incidents, Avianca continues to prioritize safety and has been awarded multiple times for its service quality and operational superiority.
Avianca S.A. (acronym in Spanish for Aerovias del Continente Americano S.A., "Airways of the American Continent", and stylized as avianca since October 2023), is the largest airline in Colombia. It has been the flag carrier of Colombia since December 5, 1919, when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Colombia, with its registered office in Barranquilla and its global headquarters in Bogotá and main hub at El Dorado International Airport. Avianca is the flagship of a group of airlines of the Americas airlines, which operates as one airline using a codesharing system. Avianca is the largest airline in Colombia and second largest in South America, after LATAM of Chile. Avianca and its subsidiaries have the most extensive network of destinations in the Americas. Prior to the merger with TACA in 2010, it was wholly owned by Synergy Group, a South American holding company established by Germán Efromovich and specializing in air transport. It is listed on the Colombia Stock Exchange.
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| Founded | December 5, 1919 (as SCADTA) | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | June 14, 1940 (as Avianca) | ||||||
| AOC # | ANCF173C | ||||||
| Hubs | Bogotá | ||||||
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| Focus cities | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | LifeMiles | ||||||
| Alliance | Star Alliance | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | Helicol | ||||||
| Fleet size | 123 | ||||||
| Destinations | 74 | ||||||
| Parent company | Avianca Group | ||||||
| Headquarters | Registered office: Barranquilla, Colombia Corporate headquarters: Bogotá, Colombia | ||||||
| Key people | |||||||
| Operating income |  COP 100.3 B (FY 2019 Q3) | ||||||
| Total assets | COP 2.403.632 M (FY 2008) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Through SCADTA, Avianca is the world's second oldest extant airline after KLM and celebrated its 100th anniversary in December 2019. It is the oldest airline in the Western Hemisphere. It became an official member of Star Alliance on June 21, 2012, after a process that lasted approximately 18 months from the initial announcement of its invitation to join the alliance. On May 10, 2020, Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a court in New York City, and liquidated its subsidiary Avianca Perú, due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
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