Avianca

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Colombia's flag carrier and one of the world's oldest continuously operating airlines.

Last updated August 21, 2026

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First read: Nov 4, 2026
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Overview

Avianca is Colombia's flag carrier and the principal airline brand of Avianca Group. Its history begins on 5 December 1919, when Colombian and German entrepreneurs established Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos, or SCADTA, in Barranquilla. The company began scheduled flying in 1920 with Junkers aircraft and developed early domestic and international services despite Colombia's difficult terrain and limited airport infrastructure. It used river operations and float-equipped aircraft to connect communities along the Magdalena River and later expanded toward Venezuela, the United States and other international destinations. In 1940, SCADTA merged with Colombian carrier SACO and adopted the Avianca name, derived from Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia. Avianca became an important instrument of Colombian national connectivity and progressively expanded its long-haul network. Its fleet history includes Douglas DC-4 and C-54 aircraft, Lockheed Constellations, Boeing 707s, Boeing 720s and Boeing 747s. The airline became the first South American carrier to operate the Boeing 747 continuously. In Bogotá, it opened the Avianca Building in 1969 and later developed the Terminal Puente Aéreo for selected domestic and international services. The business was reorganized several times from the 1990s onward. In 1994, Avianca, regional carrier SAM and helicopter operator Helicol were combined into a broader operating system with dedicated cargo and postal activities. After the industry disruption that followed the September 2001 attacks, Avianca, SAM and ACES cooperated through Alianza Summa, although the alliance was later dissolved. Avianca entered Chapter 11 protection in the United States in 2003 and completed its reorganization in 2004 with financial backing from Synergy Group and Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers. The airline's legal name was changed to Aerovías del Continente Americano while retaining the Avianca identity. A major regional expansion followed the 2009 agreement to combine Avianca with TACA Airlines. The resulting holding company became one of Latin America's largest airline groups. Avianca and TACA joined Star Alliance on 21 June 2012, strengthening international connectivity and replacing some previous alliance and codeshare arrangements. In 2013, AviancaTaca Holding changed its name to Avianca Holdings, and the group's airlines adopted the Avianca brand more consistently. The company experienced operational disruption in 2018 following crew-scheduling problems and the effects of a prolonged pilots' dispute that began in 2017. In 2019 it launched Avianca Express for regional Colombian services using ATR 72 aircraft. The COVID-19 pandemic then sharply interrupted scheduled flying. Avianca Holdings and affiliated debtors filed for Chapter 11 protection on 10 May 2020, while Avianca Perú was liquidated. The restructuring simplified the fleet, reduced costs, redesigned cabins and introduced a more segmented fare structure. Avianca emerged from Chapter 11 on 1 December 2021. Avianca Group subsequently pursued a combination with Viva Air and GOL under the proposed Abra Group. The proposed Avianca–Viva transaction encountered Colombian regulatory scrutiny, received conditional approval in March 2023 and was withdrawn by Avianca in May 2023 after the parties concluded that the imposed conditions did not provide a workable transaction structure. Avianca continues to operate as a major Colombian network airline, with Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport as its principal hub, passenger and cargo activities, and a network spanning the Americas and selected European destinations. Since October 2023, the consumer-facing brand has generally been stylized in lowercase as "avianca".

History

Avianca traces its institutional history to SCADTA, founded in Barranquilla on 5 December 1919 by Colombian and German entrepreneurs. Its first recorded flight took place on 5 September 1920 between Barranquilla and Puerto Colombia, carrying mail in a Junkers F.13. The airline adapted aircraft for river landings because Colombia lacked a developed airport system and had challenging geography. It soon obtained government support for airmail services and expanded to Venezuela and the United States. An important early figure was Peter von Bauer, who contributed capital, aviation expertise and an additional aircraft before selling his interest to Pan Am in the early 1940s. SCADTA merged with SACO on 14 June 1940 and became Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia, using the Avianca identity. The airline developed into Colombia's principal national carrier and expanded internationally after the Second World War. By the 1950s it operated Lockheed Constellations and Super Constellations; in the jet era it acquired Boeing 707 and Boeing 720 aircraft. Avianca introduced Boeing 747 operations in 1976, becoming the first South American airline to operate that type continuously. It also invested in Bogotá facilities, including the Avianca Building, opened in 1969, and the Terminal Puente Aéreo, inaugurated in 1981. A corporate restructuring in 1994 brought Avianca together with SAM and Helicol. The arrangement supported differentiated passenger, cargo, postal and helicopter activities, with Avianca Cargo and the postal-services business later known as Deprisa. In 1998, Avianca opened a new Bogotá hub, increasing the number of connections between Colombia, North America, South America and Europe. Following the post-2001 aviation downturn, Avianca participated with SAM and ACES in Alianza Summa. The alliance did not survive the industry's difficult conditions: it was dissolved in 2003, ACES was liquidated and SAM continued as a regional operation associated with Avianca. Avianca itself underwent Chapter 11 reorganization and emerged in 2004 with backing from Synergy Group and Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers. The legal name became Aerovías del Continente Americano, and a revised identity and livery were introduced in 2005. The 2009 combination with TACA created AviancaTaca Holding, significantly expanding the group's regional scale. The group joined Star Alliance in 2012, and the holding company adopted the Avianca Holdings name in 2013. The broader group subsequently aligned its airlines under the Avianca brand. Operational challenges in 2018 followed a crew-scheduling technology problem and the effects of the 2017 pilots' strike. Avianca Express was launched in 2019 to serve shorter Colombian routes with ATR 72 aircraft. The pandemic produced an unprecedented interruption. Colombia's lockdown and the wider collapse in air travel removed most scheduled passenger revenue, while the group already carried substantial financial obligations. Avianca Holdings and related entities filed for Chapter 11 in New York on 10 May 2020. The restructuring included fleet simplification around Airbus A320-family aircraft and Boeing 787-8 aircraft, cabin changes and a fare structure offering different combinations of baggage, seat selection and priority services. The company emerged on 1 December 2021 and announced a change of legal domicile from Panama to the United Kingdom while retaining Bogotá as its global headquarters. In 2022, Avianca sought to acquire Viva Air Colombia and Viva Air Perú as part of a wider plan involving GOL to establish Abra Group. Colombian regulators initially rejected the transaction, later annulled that decision because of procedural problems and conducted a second review. Conditional approval was announced in March 2023, but Avianca withdrew from the proposed Viva acquisition in May 2023. Avianca remains a major Colombian airline and continues to operate passenger and cargo services across an extensive American network.

2023
Viva Air transaction is withdrawn
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
Avianca withdraws its proposed acquisition of Viva Air after conditional regulatory approval.
2021
Avianca exits Chapter 11
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
The group completes its second bankruptcy reorganization on 1 December.
2020
Second Chapter 11 filing
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
Avianca Holdings and affiliated debtors file for U.S. Chapter 11 protection during the COVID-19 crisis.
2019
Avianca Express launches
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
Avianca introduces a regional subsidiary operating ATR 72 aircraft on short Colombian routes.
2012
Avianca joins Star Alliance
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
Avianca and TACA formally enter Star Alliance on 21 June.
2009
Avianca–TACA combination announced
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
Avianca agrees to combine with TACA Airlines, creating a major regional airline holding company.
2004
Avianca completes Chapter 11 reorganization
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
Avianca exits U.S. bankruptcy protection with support from Synergy Group and Colombia's National Federation of Coffee Growers.
1994
Avianca, SAM and Helicol combine
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
The companies form a broader operating system covering passenger, cargo, postal and helicopter activities.
1976
Boeing 747 service begins
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
Avianca becomes the first South American airline to operate the Boeing 747 continuously.
1940
SCADTA merges with SACO
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
The merger creates Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia, which operates under the Avianca name.
1920
First SCADTA flight
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
SCADTA operates its first recorded flight between Barranquilla and Puerto Colombia with a Junkers F.13.
1919
SCADTA is founded
[1]Aviancaen.wikipedia.org
The Colombo-German air transport company SCADTA is established in Barranquilla on 5 December, forming the institutional starting point of Avianca's history.

Products and positioning

A broad network airline combining Colombian flag-carrier heritage with a more segmented and price-flexible commercial model.

Scheduled passenger air transport · 1940
Avianca passenger services
Avianca operates scheduled domestic and international passenger flights from Colombia and other locations in the Americas. Its network uses Bogotá's El Dorado International Airport as its principal hub and connects Colombian cities with destinations across South America, Central America, the Caribbean, North America and Europe. Following restructuring, the airline emphasized a more segmented fare model, allowing customers to select different combinations of baggage, seats and priority services.
Air cargo · 1994
Avianca Cargo
Avianca Cargo is the group's cargo activity, developed as a specialized business during the 1990s restructuring. It transports commercial freight through dedicated cargo capacity and the belly-hold capacity of passenger aircraft, supporting trade links between Colombia, other Latin American markets, North America and Europe.
Regional air services · 2019
Avianca Express
Avianca Express was introduced in 2019 as a regional subsidiary using ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. It was designed for shorter domestic Colombian routes and for connecting smaller markets with Avianca's wider network.

Brand decisions

2023
Withdraw proposed Viva Air acquisitionM&A
Background
Regulatory approval required passenger compensation or booking protections, slot returns, service commitments and competition safeguards.
Action taken
Avianca withdrew from the proposed acquisition after assessing the financial and technical implications of the conditions.
Aftermath
The proposed Avianca–Viva transaction did not proceed.
Source
2022
Pursue Viva Air and Abra Group combinationM&A
Background
Avianca sought to acquire Viva Air Colombia and Viva Air Perú while combining with GOL through the proposed Abra Group.
Action taken
Avianca announced the proposed acquisition and submitted the transaction for regulatory review.
Aftermath
The transaction was initially rejected, later reconsidered and conditionally approved, but Avianca withdrew the proposal in May 2023.
Source
2020
Restructure through Chapter 11Strategy
Background
The pandemic halted most scheduled flights while the group faced significant pre-existing liabilities.
Action taken
Avianca filed for Chapter 11, simplified its fleet, redesigned cabins and introduced more differentiated fares.
Aftermath
The group completed its restructuring and exited bankruptcy in December 2021.
Reported total debt. USD 7.3 billion (At the end of 2019, before the 2020 Chapter 11 filing)
Source
2009
Combine Avianca with TACA AirlinesM&A
Background
Avianca and TACA sought greater regional scale and a stronger network position in the Latin American aviation market.
Action taken
The companies created AviancaTaca Holding, later renamed Avianca Holdings.
Aftermath
The combination expanded the group's network and preceded its entry into Star Alliance.
Source

Recent events

2021.09.08
Reported2021.09.08
TCS selected to lead Avianca cloud transformation[3]TCS获选推动Avianca云转型businesstoday.in
TCS was selected by Avianca to modernise its IT infrastructure and build a cloud-based digital core on Microsoft Azure; the work includes migrating 129 core applications and managing the cloud estate.
2021.04.28
Reported2021.04.28
Anko van der Werff to join Avianca's board[4]Anko van der Werff 将加入 Avianca 董事会prnewswire.com
Avianca announced that Anko van der Werff would join its Board of Directors; the source does not state a calendar date for the board appointment.
2021.04.28
Reported2021.04.28
Avianca names Adrian Neuhauser CEO[4]Anko van der Werff 将加入 Avianca 董事会prnewswire.com
Avianca announced that Adrian Neuhauser was named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
2021.04.28
Reported2021.04.28
Anko van der Werff resigns as Avianca CEO[4]Anko van der Werff 将加入 Avianca 董事会prnewswire.com
Anko van der Werff resigned from his role at Avianca, effective April 28, 2021, as he took a new CEO role at a company in Europe.
Unconfirmed
Avianca secures bankruptcy-loan financing[5]Avianca获得破产贷款融资breakingtravelnews.com
Avianca lined up a $2 billion bankruptcy-loan package to finance its Chapter 11 stay, with funding sourced from investors and lenders including United Airlines.
2020.08.31
Reported2020.08.31
Avianca secures government loan commitment[6]Avianca获得政府贷款承诺flightglobal.com
Colombia’s government committed $370 million in aid to Avianca as part of a $2 billion financing package intended to help the carrier weather the coronavirus downturn.
2020.05.12
Reported2020.05.12
Avianca announces planned shutdown of Peru operations[7]Avianca宣布计划停止在秘鲁的运营global.chinadaily.com.cn
Avianca said it would shut down its operations in Peru, which represented 5 percent of the airline's revenue. The source describes this as a future plan, not a completed shutdown.
2020.05.12
Reported2020.05.12
Avianca announces planned layoffs[7]Avianca宣布计划停止在秘鲁的运营global.chinadaily.com.cn
Avianca said it would lay off hundreds of employees within the next 10 days. The source describes this as a future plan, not completed layoffs.
2020.05.10
Reported2020.05.10
Avianca files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy[8]Avianca申请第11章破产保护nationalpost.com
Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after the coronavirus pandemic grounded passenger operations and sharply reduced revenues.
2020.05.10
Reported2020.05.11
Avianca files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy[9]哥伦比亚航空申请第11章破产保护finance.sina.com.cn
Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York and said it would continue operating during debt restructuring. The airline's administration later confirmed it had failed to repay a debt due that day.

Sources21 sources

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