Grupo TACA (TACA International) (Transportes Aereos del Continente Americano) (San Salvador) and Avianca (Aerovias del Continente Americano) (Bogota) and all of the subsidiary airlines within the two groups will be merged into one single holding company. The Avianca owners (National Federation of Colombia Coffee Growers and the Synergy Group) will control two-thirds of the new holding company. The Grupo TACA owners will control the remaining one-third of the shares of the new holding company. All airlines will retain their independent brands (however Avianca was consolidating its brands) but each will become subsidiaries of the new holding company.

News link:

www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN0748094020091007?rpc=44

Ex-Avianca (Bogota) Boeing 727-44 HK-313X (msn 18895) has been preserved as a resort suite in Costa Verde, Costa Rica.

News link:

www.luxist.com/2009/04/15/costa-verde-resort-offers-fuselage-suite

Avianca (Bogota) is adding “90 Anos” (90 Years) stickers to its aircraft to celebrate 90 years of flying.

Copyright Photo: Robert Collazo. Airbus A330-243 N973AV (msn 1073) prepares to touch down at Miami.

Copyright Photo: Robert Collazo.

Avianca (Bogota) and TACA (Grupo TACA) (San Salvador) have closed their new shareholders agreement. After completing the required regulatory and antitrust approvals to create the new joint venture, announced in October 2009, Synergy Aerospace Corp., majority shareholder of Avianca, and Kingsland Holding Limited, owner of Grupo TACA, announced they have closed their agreement to officially start its strategic integration.

This agreement allows the shareholders to contribute their investments in Avianca and Grupo TACA into a new company which will be named “AVIANCA-TACA Limited” based in the Bahamas, in which Synergy Aerospace Corporation will own 67 percent and Kingsland Holding Limited the other 33 percent.

Grupo TACA includes TACA International, and its share in LACSA, TACA Peru, AVIATECA, SANSA, La Costena, Aeroperlas and Islena Airlines. AVIANCA includes: Avianca, SAM and TAMPA, as well as the purchase option that Grupo Synergy has in AeroGal in Ecuador and OceanAir in Brazil.

Avianca’s (Bogota) CEO German Efromovich gave an interview in Spanish to the Colombian newspaper La Republica. In the interview the CEO talked about the Avianca-TACA merger and what would happen to subsidiaries OceanAir and AeroGal. OceanAir will assume the Avianca brand in Brazil while AeroGal will retain its own brand in Ecuador.

Spanish version of the interview:

http://www.portafolio.com.co/empresassectores/empresas/home/avianca-decide-si-entrara-a-sky-team-o-a-star-alliance-entrevista-a-german-efromovich-_7448289-3

Avianca Airbus A330-243 N973AV (msn 1043) (90 Anos-90 Years) MIA (Brian McDonough), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Avianca (Bogota, TACA (San Salvador) and Copa Airlines (Panama City) have been accepted to join the Star Alliance.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Please click on the photo for additional details about joining the alliance.

TACA International Airlines (Grupo TACA) Airbus A320-233 N682TA (msn 3581) MIA (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AviancaTaca (Bogota and San Salvador) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus to acquire 51 A320 Family aircraft including 33 A320neos.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on the photo for the full story.

North American, Central American and Caribbean Route Map:

South American Route Map:

Avianca (Colombia) Airbus A320-214 N446AV (msn 4046) MIA (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

AviancaTaca, which includes subsidiary AeroGal (Ecuador), has signed a purchase agreement for 33 Airbus A320neo and 18 A320 Family aircraft. The order, which is the largest from a single airline in the region in terms of number of aircraft, follows a MOU signed during the Le Bourget Air Show in Paris in June 2011.

AviancaTaca has placed firm orders for 190 Airbus aircraft (including the latest 51) and has currently in service 88 A320 Family aircraft and eight A330. AviancaTaca operates the entire A320 Family, A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.

Avianca (Colombia) Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Avianca (Colombia) (Bogota) and TACA Airlines (Grupo TACA) (San Salvador) (AviancaTaca) reported a combined net income of $109 million in 2011, an increase of 229.7 percent.

Read the full report (in Spanish): CLICK HERE

In October 2009 it was announced that Avianca and TACA would merge their assets in a strategic alliance. Each airline in the group will maintain their own trademark and operations.

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman.

Avianca (Colombia) Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Avianca (Brazil) Slide Show: CLICK HERE

TACA Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.

AviancaTaca Holding S.A., the new holding company of both Avianca (Bogota) and TACA International (San Salvador), reported a first quarter net profit of $35 million.

Read the full report (in Spanish): CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Luimer Cordero.

Avianca Slide Show: CLICK HERE

TACA Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati.

United Airlines (Chicago) and Avianca (Bogota) signed a codeshare agreement to offer their customers more and improved flight options. The agreement allows both companies to commercialize flights operated by the other under their own code, therefore combining segments of both airlines under a single ticket. The airlines also signed afrequent flyer agreement which enables reciprocal accrual and redemption benefits on the passengers’ loyalty program of choice.

Avianca’s customers will be able to fly seamlessly to more destinations in the United States, while United customers will benefit from greater access to Colombian destinations. The codeshare agreement is effective for ticket purchase starting on May 22, 2012 for travel starting June 21. The frequent flyer agreement will be effective starting June 21. These agreements form part of the integration process that Avianca and TACA Airlines are undergoing to become member of Star Alliance.

The first phase of implementation enables Avianca’s passengers to travel to Denver, Chicago, New York/Newark and Houston, via Miami; to Houston, via Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood; and to Boston, Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans, Chicago, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, Seattle/Tacoma, and Tampa, via Washington (Dulles).

It also offers United customers the opportunity to travel to Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin, and Pereira via Avianca’s hub in Bogota; to Barranquilla, Cartagena, Cali, Medellin, and Bogota, via Miami; and to Bogota via Fort Lauderdale/Lauderdale, Washington (Dulles), New York (JFK), and Orlando.

Top Copyright Photo:

United Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Avianca Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough.

Avianca (Colombia) (Bogota) and TACA Airlines (San Salvador) yesterday (June 21) announced their official entry into the Star Alliance. The airline network is the world´s largest in terms of daily flights, route network, service excellence and number of airline members.

After two years of work in the approval process and with the adoption of the highest standards of operation and service, Avianca and TACA Airlines now offer passengers the opportunity to access this global network, which brings together 28 internationally renowned airlines. It operates more than 4,200 latest generation aircraft, servicing 21,500 daily flights to 1,356 airports in 193 countries.

Star Alliance, with 15 years of experience (since 1997) is recognized as the first truly global airline alliance. Consistent with its goal of offering customers worldwide the largest number of destinations and a great travel experience, it now offers exclusive services and assistance to frequent flyers in 990 airport lounges on all five continents. It has the support of nearly half a million employees in America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

The Alliance transports an average of 650 million passengers per year and has sales revenues of USD 160bn.

The combined Star Alliance network will provide Avianca and TACA Airlines an opportunity to strengthen their presence in Latin America and the Caribbean in general. Passengers of the global network can quickly and seamlessly fly to over 50 destinations in the region through Avianca and TACA Airlines Hubs in Bogota (Colombia), San Salvador (El Salvador), Lima (Peru) and San Jose (Costa Rica).

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman.

Avianca (Colombia): 

TACA: 

Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough.

AviancaTaca Holding (Avianca Colombia and Taca Airlines) (Bogota) reported second quarter 2012 operating revenue of $1.0 billion, a 12.9% increase compared to the same period in 2011. This result is mainly due to a 12.9% increase in pax revenue fueled by an 11.6% increase in passenger traffic compared to the second quarter in 2011.

Capacity, measured in ASK (Available Seats per Kilometer), increased 9.6% in the second quarter of 2012 as a result of the ongoing growth and consolidation strategy of the 4 hubs (Bogota, Lima, San Salvador and San Jose, Costa Rica). During the second quarter the Company opened 5 new routes and added 19 flights to existing routes.

Load factor for the second quarter of 2012 remained unchanged at 77.7% compared to the same period last year.

Operating income in the second quarter of 2012 increased to $22.5 million, boosting operating income for the semester 19.3% compared to the year-earlier period to $70.7 million.

Net profit in the second quarter of 2012 increased 334.3% versus the same period in 2011 to $4.9 million, increasing net profit for the quarter to $40.1 million.

On June 21, 2012, Avianca and Taca Airlines officially joined the Star Alliance.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N936TA (msn 19000215) lands at Miami.

Avianca: 

TACA: 

AviancaTaca Holding S.A. (subsidiary of Synergy Group) (Bogota), formed in February 2010 with the merger of Avianca (Bogota) and the TACA Group (San Salvador) has decided to consolidate all operations under the Avianca brand. All carriers in the new group will retain their legal names in their respective countries. A new livery is expected for the “new Avianca”. The group issued the following statement:

After rigorous market research and business analysis carried out with Lippincott – a world recognized marketing firm - Avianca was selected to be the single commercial brand for the airlines that today comprise AviancaTaca Holding S.A.

According to the results of the studies, positioning brand equity, and history of Avianca make it the best choice to expand and commercialize the products and services of all the airlines integrated in AviancaTaca Holding S.A.

From its official launch in 2013, the Avianca brand will be adopted as the commercial name for: Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. Avianca and Tampa Cargo S.A., incorporated in Colombia, Aerolíneas Galápagos Aerogal S.A., incorporated in Ecuador and the airlines of the TACA Group: TACA Internacional Airlines S.A. incorporated in El Salvador, Líneas Aéreas Costarricences S.A. LACSA, incorporated in Costa Rica, Transamerican Airlines S.A. (TACA Peru) incorporated in Peru and Aviateca S.A., incorporated in Guatemala.

The companies will retain their legal name and add the trading name Avianca in their respective territory of incorporation. The airlines will maintain their respective legal and labor structures. The brand Avianca will be used in communication with clients and marketing in all the territories where the airlines operate.

After an intense reorganization of operations, with the goal of providing a superior travel experience to customers in Latin America and travelers from across the world, the airlines that conform AviancaTaca Holding S.A. prepare their migration to a single commercial brand. With this decision, the companies are seeking to consolidate their presence in markets and be more competitive in an increasingly complex and demanding environment.

Since the integration announcement in October 2009, the member airlines have moved forward with its modernization and growth program along with its plan to capture synergies. 45 routes to new destinations have been launched, capacity has been expanded by more than 37% and the fleet has been simplified from 11 to 4 types of aircraft families. These efforts, coupled with the adoption of a single technological platform for customer service, unification of the frequent flyer programs under the LifeMiles brand and integration to Star Alliance, sets the foundations to commercialize our products and services under a single brand.

The official launch of the new image and the start of commercialization under the brand will be carried out during the first half of 2013, after complying with the legal requirements in each country. Implementation will be rolled out throughout the year, beginning in the first half with the airlines of the TACA Group, Avianca and Tampa Cargo and Aerogal in the second half (once the Ecuadorean airline completes its technological standardization process and operational integration with the other airlines).

The CEO of AviancaTaca Holding S.A., Fabio Villegas Ramirez, said that: “As part of the integration process, the organization has been very visible driving activities that are highly relevant to the travelers and regions served by the group’s airlines. In parallel with the modernization of infrastructure, both on ground and on board, the network expansion and incorporation of new technologyl to improve the travel experience, the companies have simultaneously yielded sought after results in domestic and international markets, as well as impressive customer satisfaction figures, which drive growth and positive financial results.”

In announcing the decision to adopt a single commercial brand for the integrated airlines, the Chairman of the Board, Roberto Kriete, noted: “The goal is to position the airlines under the Avianca brand as the Leading Airline in Latin America and the traveler’s favorite. It is a company with Latin American roots with the best human talent of the industry in the region, looking to anticipate customer needs and renowned for the superior quality of service. This is how we can make sure that the new Avianca reflects the best operational practices of the airlines of the group enabling a strong presence. Under the brand Avianca we continue to fulfill our mission of integrating El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and the nations of the Americas with the world at large through commercial aviation, which has been the inspiration since the companies were founded. We offer travelers a service that is both competitive, efficient and sustainable and we’ll continue creating jobs and aiding the development in the countries where we operate.”

In line with the decision to adopt a single commercial brand, expert staff and external consultants are working on the integration project of the Avianca brand image. The new image will be extended to all the products and services of the company, as well as the aircraft, uniforms and spaces used as customer touch points.

Both shareholders and executives of AviancaTaca Holding S.A. are confident that the consolidation of business activities under the Avianca brand constitute a new opportunity to reach the integration objectives. These goals are focused on providing a safe, friendly and efficient service for travelers in the region and across the world, who day after day choose to fly on the route network of the AviancaTaca Holding S.A. airlines.

Company management extend their gratitude and appreciation to the authorities of El Salvador and other countries where the companies of the TACA Group are incorporated, for their continuous support in the business development initiatives over nearly 85 years of uninterrupted operations in the region, enabling progress and improvements in the quality of life for Central American countries and the Americas as a whole.

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. The Avianca familiar red brand will once again be updated for the larger group. Airbus A320-214 N446AV (msn 4046) taxies to the gate at Miami International Airport.

Avianca: 

TACA: 

Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. The TACA brand will now be retired. Airbus A320-233 N680TA (msn 3538) prepares to land at Los Angeles International Airport.

Avianca (Colombia) (Bogota) has ordered three additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Boeing has issued the following statement:

Boeing and Avianca Airlines have announced an order for three 787 Dreamliners. The order was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website and is valued at approximately $620 million at published list prices.

This order brings Avianca’s total 787 order count to 15 Dreamliners, which includes the 12 787s ordered in 2007. The total order value stands at more than $3.1 billion.

In other news, Avianca is adding new frequencies and routes:

From December 2012, Avianca will expand its travel offering as follows:

DESTINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

Bogota-Miami-Bogota: With the addition of a new daily flight, Avianca will operate a total of three flights per day on this route from December 16, 2012.
Bogota-New York-Bogota: Starting on December 17, 2012, Avianca will offer two daily nonstop flights between these two cities.
Bogota-Orlando-Bogota: From December 17, 2012, Avianca will operate a daily nonstop flight to Orlando.

DESTINATIONS IN THE CARIBBEAN

Bogota-Punta Cana-Bogota: From December 18, 2012, Avianca will offer four nonstop flights per week, with operations on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from Bogota to this Caribbean island and vice versa.Bogota-Santo Domingo-Bogota: From December 19, 2012, Avianca will operate a daily flight between the Colombian capital and the capital of the Dominican Republic.
Bogota-Havana-Bogota: Avianca will fly to the capital of Cuba with four flights per week, to and from Colombia, starting December 22, 2012. Flights to the island will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

DESTINATIONS IN SOUTH AMERICA

Bogota-Rio-Bogota: Starting on December 17, Avianca will operate a daily nonstop flight to this Brazilian city.
Bogota- La Paz-Bogota: Starting on December 18, 2012, Avianca will operate a new daily flight on the Bogota-La Paz-Bogota route.

Avianca is part of AviancaTaca Holding. With a modern fleet of more than 140 short, medium and long-haul aircraft and a team of more than 17,000 employees, Avianca and Taca directly service more than 100 destinations in the Americas and Europe, which connect to more than 750 destinations in the world through interline and codeshare agreements with partner airlines around the world.

Avianca: 

AviancaTaca Holding (Bogota) has signed a contract for the purchase of 15 ATR 72-600s, plus options for 15 additional aircraft. The deal, including the options, is valued at close to $700 million. Avianca and Taca recently made its final choice after an exhaustive evaluation of all the competing alternatives, opting for the ATR 72-600 to provide the best overall solution. The deliveries of the firm aircraft will start in June 2013.

AviancaTaca is one of the largest and fastest growing aviation groups in Latin America. It currently operates a combined fleet of more than 150 aircraft, the second largest fleet in Latin America. The group serves more than 100 destinations in Latin America, US, Canada, Caribbean region and Europe, and has 4 major hubs in Bogota, San Salvador, Lima and San José de Costa Rica.

With the introduction of their fleet of 15 brand new 70-seat ATR 72-600, AviancaTaca will progressively replace their Fokker 50s and ATR 42s currently in operation. Avianca will fly the new ATR 72-600s to destinations like Barrancabermeja, Florencia, Manizales, Neiva, Pasto, Popayán, Tumaco and Yopal, in Colombia. Taca will fly the aircraft to Guatemala city and Flores (Guatemala), Tegucigalpa, Roatán and San Pedro Sula (Honduras), San Salvador (El Salvador), Managua (Nicaragua), and San José and Liberia (Costa Rica).

The new aircraft will be painted in Avianca’s colors as the TACA brand is being retired. The new holding company issued this statement back in October:

The new Avianca brand will officially be launched in the first half of 2013.

After rigorous market research and business analysis carried out with Lippincott – a world recognized marketing firm – Avianca was selected to be the brand for the airlines that today comprise AviancaTaca Holding S.A.

According to the results of the studies, the history, positioning and brand equity of Avianca make it the best choice to expand and commercialize the products and services of all the airlines integrated in AviancaTaca Holding S.A.

From its official launch in 2013, the Avianca brand will be adopted as the commercial name for: Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. Avianca and Tampa Cargo S.A., incorporated in Colombia, Aerolíneas Galápagos Aerogal S.A., incorporated in Ecuador and the airlines of the TACA Group: TACA Internacional Airlines S.A. incorporated in El Salvador, Líneas Aéreas Costarricences S.A. LACSA, incorporated in Costa Rica, Transamerican Airlines S.A. (TACA Peru) incorporated in Peru and Aviateca S.A., incorporated in Guatemala.

The companies will retain their legal name and add the trading name Avianca in their respective territory of incorporation. The airlines will maintain their respective legal and labor structures. The brand Avianca will be used in communication with clients and marketing in all the territories where the airlines operate.

US Airways (Phoenix) and Avianca (Colombia) (Bogota) have announced a new bilateral codeshare agreement after receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The airline also announced an expansion of its codeshare with TACA. US Airways customers will enjoy new access to destinations throughout Colombia with Avianca and expanded access in Central and South America with TACA, along with the convenience of a single-ticket purchase for a seamless travel experience and the ability to redeem status Dividend Miles for travel. Customers traveling on Avianca and TACA will also receive expanded access to the United States.  Both Avianca and TACA are subsidiaries of AviancaTaca Holdings.

US Airways customers will be able to connect to the Colombian cities of Bogota, Barranquilla, Cali, Cartagena and Medellin on Avianca. Conversely, Avianca customers in these cities will have access to US Airways’ hub cities of Charlotte, N.C., Philadelphia, Phoenix and the airline’s focus city at Washington’s Reagan National Airport. All fights are available for sale starting December 21  for travel beginning on January 7, 2013.  Specific connection information is as follows:

US Airways will also be expanding its codeshare with TACA (San Salvador). With the expansion US Airways customers will now able to reach San Salvador, El Salvador and Guatemala City, Guatemala. TACA customers will have access to the US Airways’ hub cities. Specific codeshare information is as follows:

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-214 N109UW (msn 1065) departs the runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood.

US Airways: 

TACA: 

Avianca: 

Bottom Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Airbus A319-115 N647AV (msn 3647) arrives at Washington (Dulles).

Avianca (Colombia) (Bogota) has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped A320 becoming the first Latin American carrier to take benefit of the new fuel-saving wing-tip devices. A320-214 N477AV (msn 5477), powered by CFM engines, was delivered in Toulouse, France on February 12.

Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall. They are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft and allow Airbus’ airline customers to reduce fuel burn by up to four per cent and CO2 emissions by approximately 1,000 tons per aircraft and year. Sharklets offer operators the flexibility of either adding an additional 100 nautical miles range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

Avianca currently operates 98 A320 Family aircraft, and has 70 on order with the option to be Sharklet equipped. Sharklets are standard on all members of the A320neo Family. In 2012, Avianca placed an order for 33 A320neo aircraft along with 18 incremental A320ceos. With nearly an all-Airbus fleet, AviancaTaca has purchased 190 aircraft and has a backlog of 74 Airbus aircraft.

Image: Airbus.

Avianca: 

AviancaTaca Holding S.A. (Avianca Colombia and TACA) (Bogota) issued this financial report for 2012:

In the first two months of 2013, Avianca and TACA recorded a 9.7% increase in passenger numbers compared to the same period of 2012.

During 2012, AviancaTaca Holding SA reported net income of COP $351,684 million ($192.1 million), up 73.9% from net income obtained in 2011.

In February 2013, attached to the Holding airlines transported nearly two million passengers.

In the first two months of the year, airlines mobilized attached to 3,982 .201 AviancaTaca Holding passengers, registering an increase of 9.7% from January to February 2012.

Only in the month of February, Avianca, TACA and its subsidiaries 1,866 .367 mobilized passengers, 6.8% above the passengers carried in February 2012. The capacity, measured in ASKs (available seats per kilometer flown) increased 1.6%, while passenger traffic measured in RPKs (paying passengers per kilometer flown) grew 5.5%. The load factor for the month reached 80.7%.

Domestic markets of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador

During January and February 2013, the number of passengers moved in markets within Colombia, Peru and Ecuador amounted to 2,278 .645, 11.4% more than in 2012. The capacity (ASKs) in these markets increased by 15.1%, while passenger traffic (RPKs) increased 14.1%. Consequently, the load factor stood at 79.5%.

In February, the carriers assigned to the Holding transported within these markets a total of 1,089 .289 travelers, up 7.9% from February 2012. The capacity (ASKs) in these markets increased 13.6%, while passenger traffic (RPKs) increased 11.1%. As a result, the load factor stood at 78.8%.

International markets

During January and February 2013, the number of passengers on international routes mobilized amounted to 1,703 .556, 7.4% higher than the figure recorded in the same period of 2012. The capacity (ASKs) rose 1.9% and passenger traffic (RPKs) increased by 6.7%. As a result, the load factor reached 82.9%.

In February, Avianca, TACA and its subsidiaries carried 777,078 passengers on international routes to an increase of 5.4% over the same period of 2012. Product of a reorganization of the operation, capacity (ASKs) decreased 1.2% while passenger traffic (RPKs) increased by 4.1%. The load factor stood at 81.2%.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. The TACA fleet will start to be repainted in the Avianca brand in the second quarter. TACA’s Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N984TA (msn 19000273) arrives at Miami International Airport.

Avianca Colombia: 

TACA: