Avianca Express
IATA ICAO Callsign
EX AVR AVAEXPRESS
FoundedDecember 2018 (2018-12)
Commenced operationsMarch 1, 2019 (2019-03-01)
HubsEl Dorado International Airport
Frequent-flyer programLifeMiles
AllianceStar Alliance (affiliate)
Fleet size4
Destinations10
Parent companyAvianca Group
HeadquartersBogotá, Colombia
Key peopleSantiago Diago (CEO)
Websitewww.avianca.com/co/

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.[1]

History

The peculiarity of Avianca Holdings' new strategy is that flights are not routed through an airline hub, but from point-to-point.[2] In return, Avianca gradually withdrew from regional centers and intends to serve only important national and international destinations in the future.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

The airline, previously known under its working title Regional Express Américas, received its final name Avianca Express in mid-February 2020.[6]

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.[7] 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.

Destinations

As of June 2023, the following destinations are served by Avianca Express:[8]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
ColombiaArmeniaEl Edén International AirportTerminated
BogotáEl Dorado International AirportHub
BarrancabermejaYariguíes Airport
BucaramangaPalonegro International Airport[9]
CartagenaRafael Núñez International Airport[9]
CorozalLas Brujas Airport
CúcutaCamilo Daza International AirportTerminated
FlorenciaGustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport
IbaguéPerales Airport
ManizalesLa Nubia AirportTerminated[10]
MedellínOlaya Herrera AirportTerminated
NeivaBenito Salas Airport
PopayánGuillermo León Valencia Airport
QuibdóEl Caraño AirportTerminated
TumacoLa Florida AirportTerminated
VillavicencioLa Vanguardia Airport
YopalEl Alcaraván Airport

Fleet

Current fleet

As of September 2023, Avianca Express operates the following aircraft:[11][12]

Avianca Express fleet
Aircraft In
service		 Orders Passengers Notes
W Y+ Y Total
Airbus A319-100 1 — 12 48 84 144
Airbus A320-200 3 — 12 60 108 180
Total 4 —

Former fleet

Avianca Express previously operated the following aircraft:[12]

Avianca Express former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
ATR 72-600 12 2019 2022 Taken from Avianca and its subsidiaries[13]

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.[14] All 49 passengers and 5 crew members were uninjured.
  • On October 8, 2021 an Airbus A320 (registered N742AV) suffered a severe hard landing during a test flight at Perales airport in Ibague, the aircraft data recorder reported 5Gs during the touchdown. The aircraft flew back to its origin and landed at ElDorado international airport [15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ En marzo, Avianca Holdings estrena su aerolínea regional eltiempo.com, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
  2. ↑ Las rutas que cubrirá Regional Express Américas, la nueva aerolínea de Avianca lafm.com.co, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
  3. ↑ Regional Express Américas volará desde el próximo mes en Manizales lapatria.com, retrieved 28 April 2019 (spanisch)
  4. ↑ Colombia's Regional Express Americas commences ops ch-aviation.com, retrieved 28 April 2019
  5. ↑ "Avianca expands Bucaramanga network from mid-August 2019". Routes. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  6. ↑ "Avianca Launches New Regional Carrier In Colombia". 14 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "'Avianca Express' Launches in Return to Medellin's downtown Olaya Herrera Airport". Medellinherald.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Discover Avianca express!". Avianca.com.
  9. 1 2 "Avianca suspende temporalmente siete rutas". AviacionAlDia.com (in Spanish). 31 August 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  10. ↑ Caracol Radio (11 February 2022). "Avianca no operará más en Manizales" (in Spanish). Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 12.
  12. 1 2 "Avianca Express Fleet Details". Planespotters.net. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  13. ↑ Daniel Martínez Garbuno (9 June 2022). "Avianca Retires Its Final ATR Aircraft". Simpleflying.com. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) HK-5041". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  15. ↑ "final report Colombian aerocivil serious incident N742AV" (PDF). Aerocivil. Retrieved December 25, 2023.

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