Albatros Airlines (Venezuela)

Albatros Airlines
IATA ICAO Call sign
G0 GAL ERRANTE
FoundedDecember 27, 2007
Commenced operationsMay 13, 2010
AOC #GAL-035
HubsMariscal Sucre Airport
Fleet size2
Destinations5
Parent companyNella Linhas Aéreas
HeadquartersSindoni Tower, Maracay, Venezuela
Key peopleMarvin Linares (CEO)
Employees400
Websitealbatrosair.aero

Albatros Airlines is a Venezuelan charter airline with private capital, authorized to carry out flights for the transfer of passengers and cargo.

History

Albatros Airlines was founded on December 27, 2007, and received its air operator's certificate issued by the National Institute of Civil Aviation, to carry out commercial air transport operations, passengers, cargo, and mail on a national and international level.[citation needed]

On May 13, 2010, the airline made its first commercial flight with a Cessna 208B Caravan from Porlamar to Carúpano. During the rest of that year, new routes were opened in the eastern region of Venezuela, with departures from Porlamar to Maturín, Cumana, Barcelona, and Güiria to Los Roques, with departures from Caracas and Maracay.

The airline has made charter flights to various international destinations, including Aruba, Curaçao, Port of Spain, and Haiti.

In mid-2010 and 2011, the airline dedicated itself exclusively to the corporate market, serving different passenger and cargo transfer companies on different national routes.

On July 27, 2012, Albatros introduced the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia for commercial flights from Porlamar to Carúpano and Maturín, and including flights to Tucupita and Maracay and the Carúpano route to Caracas.

In the expansion project of the company, the acquisition of one Boeing 737-500 was made to increase its fleet and services. With it, it operates flights to San José, Costa Rica with two weekly frequencies, being the only direct flight between Maiquetía and San José.[1][2]

On December 5, 2018, Albatros began commercial flights from Caracas to Barranquilla, on a 2-day frequency, flying non-stop direct.[3]

On November 12, 2019, the airline received its first Airbus A320-200 from Montreal under a wet-lease scheme, landing in Porlamar, becoming the second Venezuelan commercial airline with this aircraft type, after Aeropostal operated under this same scheme between 1998 and 2001.

On July 19, 2021 it was announced Brazilian start-up airline Nella Linhas Aéreas acquired Albatros Airlines.[4][5]

Destinations

Albatros Airlines serves the following destinations (as of February 2024):

Country City Airport Notes Refs
Aruba Oranjestad Queen Beatrix International Airport Terminated
Colombia Barranquilla Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport Terminated
Bogotá El Dorado International Airport Terminated
Cali Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport Terminated
Medellín José María Córdova International Airport Terminated
Costa Rica San José Juan Santamaría International Airport Suspended [6]
Curaçao Willemstad Curaçao International Airport Charter [7]
Dominican Republic Punta Cana Punta Cana International Airport Terminated
Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain Piarco International Airport Terminated
Venezuela Barcelona General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport Terminated
Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport Terminated
Carúpano General José Francisco Bermúdez Airport Terminated
Las Piedras Josefa Camejo International Airport Charter [7]
Maracay Mariscal Sucre Airport Hub [8]
Porlamar Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport Charter [8]
Puerto Cabello General Bartolomé Salom Airport Terminated
San Felipe Sub Teniente Nestor Arias Airport Charter
Tucupita San Rafael Airport Terminated
Valencia Arturo Michelena International Airport Terminated

Fleet

Albatros Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
A former Albatros Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in 2011

Current fleet

The Albatros Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft as of November 2024:[9]

Albatros Airlines fleet
Aircraft In
service
Orders Passengers Notes
Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia 1 30 In storage after a fire[10]
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 1 140 [11]
Total 2

Former fleet

Albatros Airlines formerly operated the following aircraft:[citation needed]

Albatros Airlines former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A320-200 1 2019 2020 Leased from SmartLynx Airlines Estonia
Boeing 737-500 1 2015 2024 Impounded in Curaçao[12]
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 2 2010 2019

See also

References

  1. ^ "Albatros Airlines volará directo entre Costa Rica y Venezuela". La Nación. April 20, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Ahora podrás volar directamente a Costa Rica con Albatros Airlines". La Patilla. April 15, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  3. ^ "El peculiar vuelo Barranquilla-Caracas". El Heraldo. December 21, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  4. ^ "La brasileña Nella adquiere la venezolana Albatros Airlines". transponder1200.com (in Portuguese). 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  5. ^ "Albatros Airlines se fusiona con Nella Airlines". Elnacional.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  6. ^ "Return of airlines to Costa Rica has already taken off, but not flying high". Qcostarica.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Venezuela – Netherland Antilles: Albatros Airlines schedules flights to Curaçao from Valencia and Las Piedras". Aviacionline.com. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Venezuela: Albatros Airlines resumes operations with flights to Porlamar". Aviacionline.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  9. ^ "Albatros Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.com. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Fire in Albatros Airlines engine during flight for JetAir". Curacaochronicle.com. April 5, 2024.
  11. ^ "Venezuela's Albatros Airlines inducts first MD-82". Ch-aviation.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  12. ^ "Albatros Airlines aircraft seized in Curaçao". Aviacionaldia.com. March 19, 2024.

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