RUTACA Airlines (legally Rutas Aéreas C.A.) is an airline headquartered in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela with its home base at Tomás de Heres Airport and a hub at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas.
History RUTACA Airlines was founded by Evard Mares Bianchi on March 26, 1974, and began operating non-scheduled cargo and passenger flights with small aircraft. It currently operates scheduled and charter services throughout the country.
The airline's operations suffered gravely during the 2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis, including suspending flights between key routes.
Destinations
, RUTACA Airlines serves the following destinations:
CountryCityAirportNotesRefsBrasilBoa VistaBoa Vista International Airport ManausEduardo Gomes International AirportCuraçaoWillemstadCuraçao International Airport PanamaPanama CityTocumen International Airport Trinidad and TobagoPort of SpainPiarco International Airport VenezuelaBarcelonaGeneral José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport BarquisimetoJacinto Lara International Airport CaracasSimón Bolívar International AirportCoroJosé Leonardo Chirino Airport Ciudad BolívarTomás de Heres Airport CumanáAntonio José de Sucre Airport MaracaiboLa Chinita International Airport MaturínJosé Tadeo Monagas International Airport PorlamarSantiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport Puerto OrdazManuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport San Antonio del TáchiraJuan Vicente Gómez International Airport Santo DomingoMayor Buenaventura Vivas Airport ValenciaArturo Michelena International Airport
Accidents and incidents On June 5, 1987, a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (registration YV-230C) was disarmed in flight over the area of Upata, Bolívar state. All 10 occupants on board died.
On January 25, 2001, RUTACA Airlines Flight 225, a Douglas DC-3 (registered YV-244C) crashed shortly after taking off from Ciudad Bolívar, killing all 20 passengers and four crew members.Aviation Safety Net accessed 15 August 2009
On October 16, 2008, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV162T) landed on runway 28R at Simón Bolívar International Airport following a domestic flight from Puerto Ordaz. After touchdown, the airplane swerved to the left. The nose came to rest on the runway embankment.
On February 15, 2009, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registered YV1950) overran the runway at Guasdualito Airport following a domestic flight from Las Flecheras Airport. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller and the underside of the fuselage.
On July 27, 2010, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV169T) made an emergency landing at Ciudad Guayana international airport following a domestic flight from Ciudad Bolivar after problems in engine number one.
See also List of airlines of Venezuela
References
External links
Official website