Avianca Ecuador

Avianca Ecuador S.A.[1] (formerly known as AeroGal) is an airline based in Quito, Ecuador.[2] It operates passenger and cargo flights within Ecuador, between the mainland and the Galápagos Islands, and between Ecuador and Colombia (on behalf of Avianca). It is one of the seven nationally branded airlines (Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca El Salvador, etc.) in the Avianca Group of Latin American airlines.

Avianca Ecuador S.A.
IATA ICAO Callsign
2K GLG GALAPAGOS
FoundedNovember 1985 (1985-11) (as AeroGal)
HubsQuito
Secondary hubsGuayaquil
Frequent-flyer programLifeMiles
AllianceStar Alliance (affiliate)
Fleet size8
Destinations18
Parent companyAvianca Group
HeadquartersQuito, Ecuador
Key peopleAnko Van Der Werff (CEO)
FounderCarlos Serrano Lusetti
Websitewww.avianca.com/es-ec

History

AeroGal was founded in November 1985 by the Ecuadorian businessman Carlos Serrano Lusetti, with the objective of offering air transportation of passengers and cargo in Continental Ecuador and in the Galapagos Archipelago. It began operating in 1986 with 2 Dornier Do 28s with capacity for 12 passengers each.

In October 2009, AeroGal was 80% taken over by Synergy Group, and announced its merger with Avianca, and TACA Airlines.[3] With the merger, the company expanded its connections to Europe. It also merged with Vuelos Internos Privados, being the first Ecuadorian company of this firm, the codes shared with this airline were still preserved in Aerogal's image, but since it merged with AviancaTaca Holding, it was part of the same company.

Avianca made an investment of US$7.2 million to strengthen and modernize the company. Despite the purchase by Avianca, AeroGal continued using its separate identity until June 18, 2014, when the airline Avianca Ecuador, and continues to operate in Ecuador. On June 18, 2014, AeroGal was renamed under the brand Avianca Ecuador, but the official name was not changed accordingly until in early 2018, when the company was officially renamed to Avianca Ecuador S.A.[4]

Destinations

Avianca Ecuador serves the following destinations:

Country City Airport Notes Refs
 ArubaOranjestadQueen Beatrix International AirportVia Bogotá
 BoliviaSanta Cruz de la SierraViru Viru International AirportTerminated
La PazEl Alto International AirportVia Lima
 ColombiaBogotáEl Dorado International Airport
CaliAlfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport
CartagenaRafael Núñez International Airport[5]
MedellínJosé María Córdova International Airport[5]
 CuraçaoWillemstadCuraçao International AirportTerminated
 Dominican RepublicPunta CanaPunta Cana International AirportLaunch date TBA[6]
 EcuadorBaltra IslandSeymour Airport
CuencaMariscal Lamar International Airport[7]
El CocaFrancisco de Orellana Airport
GuayaquilJosé Joaquín de Olmedo International AirportHub
MantaEloy Alfaro International Airport
Nueva LojaLago Agrio Airport[8]
QuitoMariscal Sucre International AirportHub
San Cristóbal IslandSan Cristóbal Airport
 MexicoCancúnCancún International Airport[9]
 PanamaPanama CityTocumen International AirportVia Bogotá
 PeruCuscoAlejandro Velasco Astete International AirportLaunch date TBA[6]
LimaJorge Chávez International Airport
 United StatesMiamiMiami International AirportTerminated
New York CityJohn F. Kennedy International Airport[10]
 VenezuelaCaracasSimón Bolívar International AirportLaunch date TBA[11]

Fleet

Current fleet
AeroGal's only Boeing 767-300ER parked at José María Córdova International Airport in 2009
An AeroGal Airbus A320-200 taxiing at Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in 2010

As of May 2023, Avianca Ecuador operates the following aircraft:[12][13]

Avianca Ecuador fleet
Aircraft In
service		 Orders Passengers Notes
W Y+ Y Total
Airbus A319-100 1 — 12 48 84 144
Airbus A320-200 6 — 12 60 108 180
Airbus A320neo 1 —
Total 8 —

Former fleet

As AeroGal, the airline previously operated the following aircraft:[14][15]

Avianca Ecuador former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Boeing 727-200 2 2002 2007
Boeing 737-200 9 2003 2011
Boeing 737-300 2 2008 2012
Boeing 757-200 2 2008 2012
Boeing 767-300ER 1 2009 2012 Leased from Avianca
Dornier Do 28 2 1986 Un­known
Fairchild F-27 2 1993 1996
Fairchild Hiller FH-227D 2 1995 2002

Accidents and incidents
  • On October 28, 1997, a Fairchild Hiller FH-227D (registered HC-BUF) was carrying company staff and equipment to the provisional operations base at Ambato. The approach was flown at 100 knots. The touchdown was very late, with just 900 meters of the runway remaining. Ground fine pitch was selected, but the aircraft overran the runway and fell into a deep ravine.[16] All seven occupants survived with various injuries.
  • On May 2, 2009, a Boeing 757-200 (registered HC-CHC) was taking off from José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, when its right engine suffered repeated compressor stalls and lost power. The crew reduced thrust on that engine to idle, levelled off and returned to Guayaquil for a safe landing about 13 minutes later.[17]
  • On September 19, 2010, AeroGal's Boeing 767-300ER (registered HC-CIJ) was involved in a near-miss at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Initial reports by the NTSB indicated that the flight was cleared to land on runway 13L, but instead attempted to land on runway 13R. The runway was in use by a JetBlue aircraft who had been cleared for takeoff. The error was spotted by a Delta crew in line for takeoff, who relayed the information to the tower. The air traffic controller issued an order for the flight to turn immediately and was able to prevent the collision.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Desde hoy Aerogal cambia su nombre a Avianca en Ecuador". ecuavisa.com. 18 June 2014.
  2. "Contáctenos." AeroGal. Retrieved on November 21, 2010. "Quito Dirección Matriz : Amazonas 7797 y Juan Holguín."
  3. "La fusión Avianca-TACA-Aerogal puede generar planes similares en América Latina". Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  4. "AeroGal to rebrand as Avianca Ecuador". ch-aviation.com. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  5. Nicolás Larenas (20 December 2022). "Avianca anuncia tres nuevas rutas desde Ecuador" (in Spanish). Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  6. "Avianca Ecuador solicitó vuelos a República Dominicana y un nueva ruta a Perú". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). 16 March 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  7. "Avianca reanuda a partir del 4 de octubre la ruta Quito-Cuenca". Ecuavisa.com (in Spanish). August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  8. "Avianca aumenta vuelos Quito-Guayaquil y confirma horarios a Lago Agrio". Nicolás Larenas (in Spanish). February 21, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  9. Nicolás Larenas (21 August 2022). "Avianca solicita vuelos directos entre Quito y Cancún". Nicolás Larenas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  10. "Avianca Ecuador inaugurates flights to New York". Aviacionline.com. 6 December 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  11. David Casey (25 January 2023). "Avianca Adds Honduras Service, Plans Ecuador Routes". Routesonline.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  12. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 13.
  13. "Avianca Ecuador Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  14. "AeroGal fleet". Aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  15. "AeroGal Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
  16. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  17. "Incident: AeroGal B752 at Guayaquil on May 1st 2009, engine failure on takeoff". avherald.com. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  18. "Incident: Aerogal B763 at New York on Sep 19th 2010, approached wrong runway". avherald.com. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
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