Avianca Argentina, legally incorporated as Avian Líneas Aéreas S.A., was an Argentineairline headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with its operational hub at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in the city. The airline operated commercially under the Avianca brand through a license agreement; however, it was independent of the Avianca Holdings. The airline ceased all operations on 7 June 2019.[2]
History
The airline was founded in March 2016, after Synergy Group, the parent company of Avianca Holdings, acquired Argentina-based charter airline Macair Jet.[3] In November 2016, Synergy Aerospace announced a firm order for the purchase of 12 ATR 72-600s for the airline to be operated under the Avianca brand.[4] The first ATR 72 was delivered on 13 January 2017.[5] Following the use of the two ATR 72 aircraft for charter flights from July 2017, the airline began scheduled services on 21 November 2017.[6][7]
By April 2019, Avianca Argentina was reported to be struggling, having cut its route network to two destinations from the five it had planned to operate from Buenos Aires, and employing as many as 80 pilots while the airline's fleet remained at two aircraft, out of the four aircraft it had originally planned to operate at the time.[11] The airline's CEO Carlos Colunga described the conditions as "unsustainable" and attributed the operational difficulties to the strengthening US dollar and rising fuel costs.[11] On 7 June 2019, the airline requested a 90-day suspension of operations starting from 9 June in order to restructure the company, but the airline subsequently ceased operations.[2]
As of September 2021, the airline is looking into restarting operations sometime.
Destinations
Avianca Argentina served or previously served the following destinations by the time of the airline's closure in June 2019:
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