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.En marzo, Avianca Holdings estrena su aerolínea regional eltiempo.com, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
History The peculiarity of Avianca Holdings' then-new strategy is that flights are not routed through an airline hub, but from point-to-point.Las rutas que cubrirá Regional Express Américas, la nueva aerolínea de Avianca lafm.com.co, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch) In return, Avianca gradually withdrew from regional centers and intended to serve only important national and international destinations in the future.Regional Express Américas volará desde el próximo mes en Manizales lapatria.com, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
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.Colombia's Regional Express Americas commences ops ch-aviation.com, retrieved 28 April 2019
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.
The airline, previously known under its working title Regional Express Américas, received its final name Avianca Express in mid-February 2020.
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. 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.
On May 10, 2020, Avianca filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States after failing to pay bondholders, becoming one of the major airlines to file for bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Destinations As of June 2023, the following destinations are served by Avianca Express:
CountryCityAirportNotesRefsColombiaArmeniaEl Edén International AirportBogotáEl Dorado International AirportBarrancabermejaYariguíes Airport BucaramangaPalonegro International Airport CartagenaRafael Núñez International Airport CorozalLas Brujas Airport CúcutaCamilo Daza International AirportFlorenciaGustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport IbaguéPerales Airport ManizalesLa Nubia AirportMedellínOlaya Herrera AirportNeivaBenito Salas Airport PopayánGuillermo León Valencia Airport QuibdóEl Caraño AirportTumacoLa Florida AirportVillavicencioLa Vanguardia Airport YopalEl Alcaraván Airport
Fleet Current fleet , Avianca Express operates the following aircraft:
+ Avianca Express fleetAircraftIn serviceOrdersPassengersNotesWY+YTotalAirbus A32012—1260108180Total12—
Former fleet , Avianca Express operated 4 Airbus A320
Avianca Express previously also operated the following aircraft:
+ Avianca Express former fleetAircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotesAirbus A319-100120222023ATR 72-6001120192022
Accidents and incidents 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. All 49 passengers and 5 crew members were uninjured.
See also List of airlines of the Americas List of airlines of Colombia List of regional airlines
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External links