Conviasa

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Línea Aérea Conviasa S.A.
File:Conviasa Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
V0 VCV CONVIASA
FoundedMarch 31, 2004
HubsSimón Bolívar International Airport
Secondary hubsSantiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programInfinito
Subsidiaries
  • EANSA
  • Emtrasur Cargo
Fleet size28
Destinations32
Parent companyMinistry of Aquatic and Air Transport
HeadquartersMaiquetía, Venezuela
Key peopleRamón Araguayan (CEO)
Websitewww.conviasa.aero

Línea Aérea Conviasa (legally Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos, S.A.[2]) is a Venezuelan airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas.[3] It is the flag carrier and largest airline of Venezuela, operating services to domestic destinations and to destinations in the Caribbean and South America.

History

Early years

A former Conviasa de Havilland Canada Dash 7 approaching Piarco International Airport in 2006
A former Conviasa Boeing 737-200 parked at Simón Bolívar International Airport in 2008

In January 1997, Venezuela's former flag carrier, Viasa, ceased operations after 37 years of service due to prolonged financial problems. In May 2001, the idea to create a new flag carrier for Venezuela was proposed, but in December 2002, the project was put on hold until October 1, 2003. On March 31, 2004, then President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, signed a decree that formally established the airline. This decree was published in the nation's official gazette the next day.

On November 28, 2004, Conviasa's inaugural flight was made with a De Havilland Canada Dash 7 aircraft flying from the airport in Charallave to the Santiago Mariño International Airport, on Margarita Island. On December 10, 2004, Conviasa formally began its national and international operations. Conviasa was originally run by the now defunct Ministry of Production and Commerce, but it has since been taken over by the Ministry of Infrastructure.[4]

On April 17, 2006, José David Cabello replaced Wilmer Castro Sotelo as head of Conviasa. On June 30, 2006, Jose David Cabello Rondon replaced Ramon Alonzo Carrizalez Rengifo as the Minister of Infrastructure and on July 18, 2006, Franklin Fernandez Martinez became president of Conviasa.

Development since 2010

Conviasa's sole Airbus A340-200. This aircraft was also the last of its type in commercial service

Following the crash of Flight 2350 on September 17, 2010, the government of Venezuela grounded all Conviasa flights so that it could perform a technical review of the airline's fleet. The airline said that the temporary suspension would remain in effect until October 1, 2010. Flights were then re-instated.

Decree No. 7838 of the Official Gazette No. 39,558 published on Wednesday, provides for the appointment of Colonel citizen (AVB) Jesús Rafael Viñas García, President of the Venezuelan Consortium Trading Company Aircraft Industries and Air Services SA (CONVIASA) under the Ministry of Popular Power for Transportation and Communications.

On April 3, 2012, Conviasa has been banned from flying to countries in the European Union because of safety concerns. It said that Conviasa failed to show it had taken adequate steps to prevent future accidents, but had this restriction lifted on 10 July 2013.[5][6]

Conviasa is under the authority of the Ministry of Aquatic and Air Transport.[7] The airline is owned by the Venezuelan government (80%) and the regional government of Nueva Esparta (20%). Conviasa has its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas.[8][9] Originally Conviasa had its headquarters on Margarita Island.[10] At one time Conviasa had its headquarters in the East Tower of Parque Central in Caracas.[11]

In August 2016, it has been reported that over 80 percent of Conviasa pilots quit their jobs due to low and outstanding payments and the airline had to reduce operations down to around 16 flights per day subsequently. Additionally, several of the company's aircraft have been stored unused since several months.[12]

On May 5, 2017, Conviasa was forced to suspend all international operations due to a lack of foreign currency to pay for international aircraft insurance.[13] Also in May 2017, Wamos Air terminated its contract with Conviasa on short notice.[14] Wamos Air operated a single Boeing 747-400 for Conviasa between Caracas and Madrid.[13] In autumn 2019, Conviasa started again many early terminated international routes back for its network.

On February 7, 2020 the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") added Conviasa and its fleet of 40 aircraft to the Specially Designated Nationals list. In practice this makes it extremely unlikely that Conviasa will be able to source replacement parts for its fleet of airworthy and grounded B737 aircraft. Additionally, US Nationals are prohibited from flying on Conviasa's domestic and international flights. Finally, to the extent that other countries abide by OFAC policy, those countries (Brazil, France, UK) will refuse to sell Conviasa replacement parts for Embraer and Airbus aircraft, prohibit its nationals from flying Conviasa, and will cancel Conviasa-serviced routes to their respective countries (Panama, Mexico, Bolivia, and Ecuador).[15]

In July 2020, Conviasa bought a 23-year old Airbus A340-300 to supplement its single A340-200, as well as to reinforce air cargo and long radius.[16] In March and June 2022, Conviasa received two 20-year old Airbus A340-600s as part of the company’s fleet expansion, also announcing that the company will receive a A340-500 in the following months.[17] Conviasa however, retired their last commercial A340-200 in October 2022.[18] This means Conviasa will be the only commercial operator that operated all models of the Airbus A340.

Destinations

As of November 2022, Conviasa serves the following scheduled destinations:[19]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
 Argentina Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport Suspended [20]
 Aruba Oranjestad Queen Beatrix International Airport Terminated
 Bolivia Santa Cruz de la Sierra Viru Viru International Airport
 Brazil Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport Terminated
 Chile Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport Suspended [20]
 China Guangzhou Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Via Tehran [21]
 Colombia Bogotá El Dorado International Airport Terminated
 Cuba Havana José Martí International Airport
 Dominica Roseau Douglas–Charles Airport Terminated
 Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Las Americas International Airport
 Ecuador Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport
Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport
 Grenada St. George's Maurice Bishop International Airport Terminated
 Iran Tehran Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport [22]
 Mexico Cancún Cancún International Airport
Mexico City Felipe Ángeles International Airport [23]
Toluca Toluca International Airport Terminated
 Nicaragua Managua Augusto C. Sandino International Airport Focus city [24]
 Panama Panama City Tocumen International Airport
 Peru Lima Jorge Chávez International Airport
 Qatar Doha Hamad International Airport Begins on November 18, 2022 [25]
 Russia Moscow Vnukovo International Airport
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Kingstown Argyle International Airport [26]
 Spain Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport [27]
 Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain Piarco International Airport Terminated
 Venezuela Barcelona General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport
Barinas Barinas Airport Terminated
Barquisimeto Jacinto Lara International Airport
Cabimas Oro Negro Airport Terminated
Canaima Canaima Airport
Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport Hub
Carúpano General José Francisco Bermúdez Airport
Ciudad Guayana Manuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport
Coro José Leonardo Chirino Airport Terminated
Cumaná Antonio José de Sucre Airport
El Vigía Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonzo Airport
Gran Roque Los Roques Airport
La Fría La Fría Airport
Las Piedras Josefa Camejo International Airport
Maracaibo La Chinita International Airport Focus city
Maturín José Tadeo Monagas International Airport
Mérida Alberto Carnevalli Airport Terminated
Porlamar Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport Hub
Puerto Ayacucho Cacique Aramare Airport [28]
Puerto Cabello General Bartolomé Salom Airport Terminated
San Antonio del Táchira Juan Vicente Gómez International Airport Terminated
San Fernando de Apure Las Flecheras Airport Terminated
Santa Elena de Uairén Santa Elena de Uairén Airport Terminated
Santo Domingo Mayor Buenaventura Vivas Airport
San Tomé San Tomé Airport Terminated
Tucupita San Rafael Airport
Valencia Arturo Michelena International Airport
Valera Dr. Antonio Nicolás Briceño Airport Terminated

Codeshare agreements

Conviasa has codeshares agreements with the following airlines:

Fleet

Current fleet

A Conviasa Embraer 190 taking off from Simón Bolívar International Airport in 2014

As of November 2022, the Conviasa fleet includes the following aircraft:[31][32]

Conviasa fleet
Aircraft In
service 		Orders Passengers Notes
F C Y Total
Airbus ACJ319 1 — VIP Operated for the Government of Venezuela
Airbus A340-300 1 — 8 28 219 255
Airbus A340-500 — 1 VIP To be operated for the Government of Venezuela[33]
Airbus A340-600 2 — – 45 263 308
ATR 42-400 — 1 – – 42 42 Being restored to return to service[34]
Boeing 737-200 1 — VIP Operated for the Government of Venezuela
Embraer 190 15 — – – 104 104
Embraer Lineage 1000 1 — VIP Operated for the Government of Venezuela
Conviasa Regional fleet
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 6 — – – 12 12
Emtrasur Cargo fleet
Boeing 747-300M 1 — Cargo Detained at Buenos Aires-Ezeiza by authorities[35]
Total 28 2

Former fleet

Conviasa had in the past operated the following aircraft:

Conviasa former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A330-200 1 2015 2015 Leased from Hi Fly
Airbus A330-300 1 2015 2015 Leased from Air Asia X[36]
Airbus A340-200 1 2007 2022 Last commercial operator[18]
ATR 42-300 2 2006 2010
ATR 72-200 3 2007 2013
Boeing 737-300 4 2005 2016
Boeing 747-400 2 2015 2017 Leased from Wamos Air
Boeing 767-300ER 1 2014 2015 Operated by Blue Panorama Airlines
Bombardier CRJ700 4 2009 2019 Leased from PDVSA
De Havilland Canada Dash 7 2 2004 2010

Accidents and incidents

  • On December 16, 2005, Conviasa Flight 2600, a De Havilland Canada Dash 7 (registered YV-1003) with 36 passengers and 4 crew members on board, was forced to make a belly landing at Porlamar's airport when the landing gear failed to deploy. After circling Porlamar for an hour and a half to burn off fuel, the aircraft touched down without any injuries.[37][38]
  • On August 30, 2008, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV102T), took off from Caracas, and was bound to Latacunga, Ecuador, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Quito. Three crew members (a captain, a first officer and a mechanic) were on board. The aircraft crashed in the mountainous area in Ecuador's Andes, killing all the three people on board. The Boeing 737 had been stored for a while at Caracas. It was being ferried to Latacunga, reportedly underway to a new owner.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Maracaibo La Chinita Airport Profile - CAPA - Centre for Aviation". Centreforaviation.com.
  2. ^ "Corporate Mail." Conviasa. Retrieved on May 22, 2017. Spanish page
  3. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. April 3, 2007. p. 68.
  4. ^ [1] Archived April 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Neuman, William (April 4, 2012). "Venezuela: Airline Banned by Europe". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "EU Removes Philippine Air, Conviasa From Access Blacklist" Bloomberg, 10 July 2013
  7. ^ "Organigrama." () Ministry of Aquatic and Air Transport. Retrieved on April 17, 2012.
  8. ^ "Contacts." Conviasa. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.[dead link]
  9. ^ "Sede Principal[permanent dead link]." Conviasa. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Av. Intercomunal Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetía Edf. Sector 6.3, Zona Estratégica, Lado Este del Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetía, Adyacente a Tránsito Terrestre. Venezuela."
  10. ^ Bloomberg News and Wire Reports. "GLOBAL BUSINESS." South Florida Sun. March 12, 2004. 3D. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Conviasa which will have headquarters on the tourist island of Margarita."
  11. ^ "Contactos." Conviasa. July 11, 2007. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Dirección Sede Principal Av. Lecuna, Parque Central, Torre Oeste, Piso 49, Caracas, Venezuela."
  12. ^ aerotelegraph.com - "Pilot shortage puts Conviasa into struggle" (German) 17 August 2016
  13. ^ a b ch-aviation.com - Venezuela's Conviasa suspends international operations May 9, 2017
  14. ^ "Wamos Air anula contrato con Conviasa".
  15. ^ "OFAC Recent Actions".
  16. ^ "Conviasa Takes Another Airbus A340". Simpleflying.com. 10 January 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Garbuno, Daniel Martínez (2022-03-22). "Venezuela's Conviasa Launches A340-600 Flights With An Ex-Virgin Atlantic Aircraft". Simple Flying. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  18. ^ a b "Conviasa Puts An End To Global Airbus A340-200 Passenger Operations". Simple Flying. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  19. ^ conviasa.aero - Flight Frequencies retrieved March 21, 2022
  20. ^ a b "Conviasa suspende vuelos a Argentina, Chile y Perú". Aero-naves.com. 27 June 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  21. ^ Su Wu (3 July 2022). "Venezuela To China: Conviasa Set For Guangzhou Flights". Simpleflying.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  22. ^ "Conviasa resumes flights between Caracas and Tehran". Aviacionline.com. 20 June 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  23. ^ "Venezuela's Conviasa Sets Sights On Mexico City's New Airport". Simpleflying.com. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  24. ^ "Conviasa retoma sus vuelos a Nicaragua". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). 15 November 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  25. ^ "Conviasa adds Doha to its network". Aviacionline.com. 6 July 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  26. ^ "Conviasa inaugurates flights to St. Vincent and the Grenadines". Aviacionline.com. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Conviasa ofrecerá un vuelo semanal a Madrid". Elnacional.com (in Spanish). Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  28. ^ Dergam Mousa (7 May 2022). "Conviasa will resume flights to Puerto Ayacucho starting in June". Aviacionaldia.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  29. ^ "Conviasa and Iraqi Airways in talks to establish a code-sharing agreement". Aviacionaldia.com. 23 April 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  30. ^ "Conviasa, Syrian Arab Airlines Sign Code-Share Agreement". Aviationweek.com. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  31. ^ "Conviasa Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  32. ^ "ConViasa Fleet - Airfleets aviation". Airfleets.net. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  33. ^ "Conviasa takes delivery of a second Airbus A340-600 from Mahan Air and programs regular flights to Iran". Aviacionline.com. 13 June 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  34. ^ "Conviasa to add an ATR 42 to its domestic routes". Aviacionaldia.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  35. ^ "Emtrasur's Drama: What Has Happened With Conviasa's Boeing 747 Stuck In Argentina?". Simpleflying.com. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  36. ^ "Conviasa increases flights between Caracas and Madrid with A330-300 from Malaysia". Newsavia.com (in Portuguese). 28 February 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  37. ^ "Avión de Conviasa aterrizó de emergencia en aeropuerto de Margarita". Primera-clase.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  38. ^ "ATERRIZAJE DE EMERGENCIA DEL YV-1003 EN MARGARITA, VENEZUELA". Rescate.com. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  39. ^ "Plane crashes in eastern Venezuela". BBC News Online. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  40. ^ "Crash: Conviasa AT42 near Puerto Ordaz on Sep 13th 2010, impacted terrain". Aviation Herald. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  41. ^ "Aumentan a 17 fallecidos por accidente de avión de Conviasa - El Universal Venezuela" (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 September 2010.

External links

Media related to Conviasa at Wikimedia Commons


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