Editing Avianca (section)

==History==
===SCADTA (1919–1940)===
{{Main|SCADTA}}
[[File:SCADTA Junkers W 34 "Magdalena".jpg|thumb|left|A SCADTA [[Junkers W 34]] "Magdalena", circa 1920s]]

The airline traces its history back to December 5, 1919, in the city of [[Barranquilla]], Colombia. Colombians Ernesto Cortissoz Alvarez-Correa (the first President of the airline), Rafael María Palacio, Cristóbal Restrepo, Jacobo Correa and Aristides Noguera and [[German people|Germans]] Werner Kämmerer, Stuart Hosie and Albert Tietjen founded the Colombo-German Company, called ''Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos'' or '''SCADTA'''. The company accomplished its first flight on September 5, 1920, between Barranquilla and the nearby town of [[Puerto Colombia]] using a [[Junkers F.13]], transporting 57 pieces of mail. The flight was piloted by German Helmuth von Krohn. This and another aircraft of the same type were completely mechanically constructed [[monoplane]]s, the engines of which had to be modified to efficiently operate in the climate of the country. There were nine aircraft in the fleet with a total range of {{convert|850|km|0|abbr=on}} which could carry up to four passengers and two crewmen. Due to the topographic characteristics of the country and the lack of airports at the time, floats were adapted for two of the [[Junkers]] aircraft to make [[water landing]]s in the rivers near different towns. Using these floats, Helmuth von Krohn was able to perform the first inland flight over Colombia on October 20, 1920, following the course of the [[Magdalena River]]; the flight took eight hours and required four emergency landings in the water.

Soon after the airline was founded, German scientist and [[philanthropy|philanthropist]] Peter von Bauer became interested in the airline and contributed general knowledge, [[Financial capital|capital]] and a tenth aircraft for the company, as well as obtaining [[concession (contract)|concessions]] from the Colombian government to operate the country's [[airmail]] transportation division using the airline, which began in 1922. This new contract allowed SCADTA to thrive in a new frontier of aviation. By the mid-1920s, SCADTA started its first international routes covering destinations in Venezuela and the United States. In 1924, the aircraft that both Ernesto Cortissoz and Helmuth von Krohn were flying crashed into an area currently known as Bocas de Ceniza in Barranquilla, killing them. In the early 1940s, Peter von Bauer sold his shares in the airline to the US-owned [[Pan Am]].

===National Airways of Colombia (1940–1994)===
[[File:Avianca Boeing 747-259B (M); EI-CEO@MIA, June 1993 (5659668614).jpg|thumb|Former Avianca [[Boeing 747-100]] at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1993]]
On June 14, 1940, in the city of Barranquilla, SCADTA, under ownership by United States businessmen, merged with regional Colombian airline [[SACO (Colombia)|SACO]], forming the new '''''A'''ero'''vía'''s '''N'''acionales de '''C'''olombi'''a''' S.A.'' or '''Avianca'''. Five Colombians participated in this: Rafael María Palacio, Jacobo A. Correa, Cristobal Restrepo, and Aristides Noguera, as well as [[Germany|German]] citizens Albert Teitjen, Werner Kämerer, and Stuart Hosie, while the post of first President of Avianca was filled by Martín del Corral. Avianca claims SCADTA's history as its own.

In 1946, Avianca began flights to [[Quito]], [[Lima]], [[Panama City]], [[Miami]], [[New York City]] and Europe, using [[Douglas DC-4]]s and [[C-54 Skymaster]]s. In 1951, Avianca acquired [[Lockheed Constellation]]s and [[Super Constellation]]s.{{cn|date=June 2024}} In 1956, the company transported the Colombian delegation to the [[Melbourne Olympics]] on a 61-hour trip, stopping only to refuel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avianca |url=https://www.seatmaestro.com/airlines-seating-maps/avianca/history/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=SeatMaestro |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the 1960s, the company built the [[Avianca Building]] in Bogotá, designed by the architect Germán Samper, which was inaugurated in 1969 on the south side of [[Santander Park]]. In 1961, Avianca leased two [[Boeing 707]]s to operate its international routes, and on November 2, 1961, it acquired its own [[Boeing 720]]s. In 1976, Avianca became the first [[Latin America]]n airline to continuously operate the [[Boeing 747-100]]. Three years later, it started operations with more 747s, including two Combi aircraft, mixing cargo and passenger operations.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In 1981, Avianca undertook the construction of a new exclusive terminal called the [[Terminal Puente Aéreo]], which was eventually inaugurated by President Julio César Turbay Ayala. Avianca's original purpose for the terminal was for flights serving Cali, Medellín, Miami, and New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://colombia.as.com/actualidad/por-que-el-aeropuerto-internacional-de-colombia-se-llama-el-dorado-historia-y-origen-del-nombre-n/|title=¿Por qué el aeropuerto internacional de Colombia se llama El Dorado?: historia y origen del nombre|website=Colombia.as.com|author=María Fernanda Cedeño|date=15 July 2022 |language=es|access-date=July 15, 2022}}</ref>

===Merger system (1994–2002)===
[[File:Avianca Boeing 767-200ER Dallimonti.jpg|thumb|Former Avianca [[Boeing 767-200ER]] taxiing at [[José María Córdova International Airport]] in 2004]]
In 1994, Avianca, the regional carrier [[SAM Colombia|SAM]] and the helicopter operator [[Helicol]] merged, beginning Avianca's new system of operations. This arrangement allowed for specialized services in cargo (Avianca Cargo) and postal services, as well as a more modern fleet, made up of [[Boeing 767]]s, [[Boeing 757]]s, [[MD-83]]s, [[Fokker 50]]s, and [[Bell Helicopter|Bell]] helicopters. In 1996, Avianca Postal Services became ''Deprisa'', which provided various mail services.

On December 10, 1998, Avianca officially opened its new hub in Bogotá, offering around 6,000 possible connections per week, and an increased number of frequencies, schedules, and destinations, taking advantage of the privileged geographical location of the country's capital, for the benefit of Colombian and international travelers between South America, Europe, and North America.

===Summa Alliance (2002–2004)===
After the [[September 11 attacks]], Avianca, SAM, and their major rival [[ACES Colombia|ACES]] joined efforts to create the ''Alianza Summa'', which began merged operations on May 20, 2002, to offer a more efficient service with concerns to quality, quantity, security and competition in a new struggling marketplace. However, adverse circumstances within the industry and markets forced the alliance to disband. In November 2003, the Alianza Summa was disbanded, ACES was liquidated altogether and SAM was acquired to be a regional carrier under Avianca's brand.

===Airways of the Americas (2004–2009)===
On December 10, 2004, Avianca concluded a major reorganization process, undertaken after filing for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11]] bankruptcy protection, by obtaining confirmation of its reorganization plan, which was financially backed by the Brazilian consortium, [[Synergy Group]] and the [[Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia|National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia]], allowing the airline to obtain funds for US$63 million, in the 13 months following withdrawal from bankruptcy.

[[File:Avianca.svg|thumb|Avianca's former logo (2005–2013)]]

Under this plan, Avianca was bought by Synergy Group and was consolidated with its subsidiaries [[OceanAir]] and [[VIP Ecuador|VIP]]. The company's full legal name was changed from ''Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia'' (National Airways of Colombia) to ''Aerovías del Continente Americano'' ([[Airline|Airways]] [[Flag carrier#List of flag-carrying airlines|of]] [[Americas|the continent of America]]), retaining the acronym Avianca. On February 28, 2005, Avianca presented its new logo and livery.

===Avianca–TACA merger (2009–2013)===
[[File:Avianca Airbus A330-243 Bogota PAOC.jpg|thumb|Former Avianca [[Airbus A330-200]] at [[El Dorado International Airport]] in 2009]]
In October 2009, it was announced that Avianca would merge with [[TACA Airlines]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Avianca confirms 'strategic merger' with TACA|date= 10 July 2009|publisher=Flightglobal|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/07/333194/avianca-confirms-strategic-merger-with-taca.html|access-date=10 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8296256.stm|title=Latin American airlines to merge|date=8 October 2009|access-date=12 December 2014|website=BBC}}</ref> This created [[AviancaTaca Holding]], which instantly became one of the region's largest airlines, with 129 aircraft and flights to more than 100 destinations.

In November 2009, the airline's Chief Executive Fabio Villegas announced that the airline was looking to replace its [[Fokker 50]] and [[Fokker 100]] with newer aircraft of 100 seats or less.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eturbonews.com/13018/fabio-villegas-avianca-replace-fokker-jets|title=Avianca looking to replace Fokkers 100|publisher=Eturbonews.com|date=30 November 2009|access-date=4 December 2011|archive-date=3 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303212741/http://www.eturbonews.com/13018/fabio-villegas-avianca-replace-fokker-jets|url-status=dead}}</ref> On January 1, 2011, the airline decided to retire the Fokker 100 in 2011 and replace them with 10 [[Airbus A318]]s leased from [[GECAS]]. The aircraft were delivered from February to April 2011.

====Star Alliance====
On November 10, 2010, [[Star Alliance]] announced that Avianca (and its merger counterpart, TACA) were full members in 2012. Due to Avianca's entry into Star Alliance, it ended its [[codeshare agreement]] with [[Delta Air Lines]] and began a new codeshare agreement with [[United Airlines]]. TACA has been codesharing with United Airlines since 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avianca.co.uk/news/copa-airlines-copa-airlines-colombia-united-airlines-and-avianca-taca-announce-their-intention-to-establish-close-cooperation-agreements|title=Copa Airlines, Copa Airlines Colombia, United Airlines and Avianca-TACA announce their intention to establish close cooperation agreements|publisher=avianca.co.uk|date=28 January 2011|access-date=4 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002003422/http://www.avianca.co.uk/news/copa-airlines-copa-airlines-colombia-united-airlines-and-avianca-taca-announce-their-intention-to-establish-close-cooperation-agreements|archive-date=2 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 21, 2012, Avianca and TACA were both officially admitted into Star Alliance.

===Avianca Holdings (2013–2019)===
On March 21, 2013, at the annual general meeting, the shareholders approved the change of corporate name from ''AviancaTaca Holding'' to [[Avianca Holdings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/economia/articulo-411841-avianca-se-quito-el-apellido-taca|title=Avianca se quitó el apellido Taca|work=ElEspectador|access-date=24 April 2015|archive-date=20 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420004338/https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/economia/articulo-411841-avianca-se-quito-el-apellido-taca|url-status=dead}}</ref> TACA and all other AviancaTaca airlines changed their brand to Avianca on May 28, 2013.

As of 2017, Avianca operates the second-most daily international flights from Miami with 16, second only to [[American Airlines]].

In August 2018, Avianca had some operational difficulties due to problems with the platform it used to assign crew schedules. This resulted in the cancellation of several flights within Colombia. Likewise, due to the stoppage of ACDAC pilots in 2017, only in October 2018 were all flight itineraries managed by the airline restored.

On March 1, 2019, Avianca launched a subsidiary named [[Avianca Express]], which operated [[ATR-72]]s on short regional flights within Colombia.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

[[File:A320 de Avianca celebrando 100 años con sus colores antiguos.jpg|thumb|Avianca [[Airbus A320-200]], painted in retro livery, celebrating the airline's 100th anniversary]]

===2020 bankruptcy (2020–2021)===
{{See also|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation}}

Avianca had significant financial liabilities in 2019. Because of this, they issued more debt to cover short-term liabilities and concluded a debt exchange on December 31, 2019. In response to the global outbreak of [[COVID-19]], the Colombian government's [[COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia|lockdown]] suspended Avianca's domestic and international operations; most of the company’s 20,000 employees went without pay throughout this period, and the airline operated no scheduled passenger flights between late March and May outside of repatriation missions. As a result of this temporary cessation of business, the company had seen 80% of its revenue stopped.

[[Avianca Holdings]] and 23 affiliated debtors filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York]] on May 10, 2020, as a direct result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and subsequent global shutdown, and their financial situation before and during the crisis. The airline holding liquidated their subsidiary [[Avianca Perú]] the same day. The debtors were granted joint administration of the cases under Case No. 20-11133. The airline had accumulated a total debt of USD 7.3 billion at the end of 2019.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-avianca-holding-bankruptcy-idUSKBN22M0N1|title=Latin America's second-biggest airline, Avianca, driven to bankruptcy by coronavirus|date=10 May 2020|access-date=10 May 2020|work=[[Reuters]]|last1=Rochabrun|first1=Marcelo|last2=Kumar|first2=Devika Krishna|last3=Bocanegra|first3=Nelson}}</ref>

Avianca implemented numerous cost-reduction plans during and following their bankruptcy including increasing the passenger capacity and redesigning the cabin of their [[Airbus A320]]s, simplifying their fleet to only the A320 family and [[Boeing 787]], the latter of which will also feature an economy class cabin redesign, and introducing new, cheaper, and more competitive fares with increased options for flexibility including checked and carry-on bags, seat selection, and priority boarding.<ref>{{Cite web|last=de 2021|first=2 de Junio|title=Avianca anuncia que saldrá del Capítulo 11 y superará la crisis financiera en los próximos meses|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/colombia/2021/06/02/avianca-anuncia-que-saldra-del-capitulo-11-y-superara-la-crisis-financiera-en-los-proximos-meses/|access-date=2021-06-04|website=infobae|date=2 June 2021 |language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Avianca signs agreement with Easyfly and farewells its ATR fleet|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/11/avianca-signs-agreement-with-easyfly-and-farewells-its-atr-fleet/|website=Aviaciononline|date=4 November 2021|access-date=5 December 2021}}</ref>

In November 2021, Avianca Holdings announced they would move their legal address from [[Panama]] to the [[United Kingdom]], and that they would change their name to [[Avianca Group]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/colombias-avianca-move-domicile-united-kingdom-2021-11-03/|title=Colombia's Avianca to move domicile to the United Kingdom|website=Reuters.com|date=3 November 2021|access-date=November 3, 2021}}</ref> Their global [[headquarters]] remains in [[Bogotá]]. On November 2, 2021, Avianca's reorganization plan was approved by the court,<ref>{{cite news|title=Avianca says U.S. court approves bankruptcy reorganization plan|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/avianca-says-us-court-approves-bankruptcy-reorganization-plan-2021-11-02/|website=Reuters|date=2 November 2021|access-date=5 December 2021}}</ref> and on December 1, 2021, more than a year and a half after filing, Avianca emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in its history.<ref>{{cite news|title=Colombian airline Avianca says has completed bankruptcy process|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/colombian-airliner-avianca-says-has-completed-bankruptcy-process-2021-12-01/|website=Reuters|date=December 2021|access-date=5 December 2021}}</ref>

===Abra Group and Viva Air merger (2022–present)===
On April 29, 2022, Avianca announced plans to acquire low-cost competitor [[Viva Air Colombia]] and its subsidiary [[Viva Air Perú]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avianca.com/us/en/about-us/news-center/avianca-news/avianca-and-viva-shareholders-join-economic-ownership-in-a-new-holding-company/|title=Avianca and Viva shareholders join economic ownership in a new holding company|website=Avianca.com|date=April 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/04/avianca-confirma-acuerdo-con-viva-por-sus-filiales-de-colombia-y-peru/|title=Avianca confirma acuerdo con Viva por sus filiales de Colombia y Perú|website=Aviacionline.com|date=29 April 2022|language=es|access-date=April 29, 2022}}</ref> On May 11, 2022, it was announced that Avianca planned to merge with Viva Air, and [[Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes]] to form the Abra Group, and that Avianca would be the acquiring company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/05/breaking-avianca-and-gol-set-to-merge-under-same-holding/|title=Breaking: Avianca and GOL set to become part of the same holding|website=Aviacionline.com|date=11 May 2022|access-date=May 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://airinsight.com/abra-group-limited-the-new-holding-of-avianca-gol-and-viva/|title=Abra Group Limited: the new holding of Avianca, GOL, and Viva|website=Airinsight.com|author=Daniel Martínez Garbuno|date=11 May 2022|access-date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> The merger was rejected by the [[Colombian Civil Aviation Authority]] in November 2022.{{cn|date=June 2024}} Avianca stated that the rejection of the merger would not affect the plans for the Abra Group.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

In September 2022, [[Ecuador]]'s Superintendency for the Control of Market Power became the first government body to approve the merger.{{cn|date=June 2024}} In December 2022, Avianca stated that they had reached all necessary agreements for the group bar "certain financing", and that they had obtained approval from regulatory bodies in [[Brazil]] and the [[United States]]. Avianca also stated that they do not need regulatory approval in Colombia because GOL has no presence in the country, and hence there would be no overlap in Colombia.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

On January 19, 2023, the [[Ministry of Transport (Colombia)|Ministry of Transport]] and [[Colombian Civil Aviation Authority|Aerocivil]] formally annulled the November 2022 decision to reject the Avianca–Viva Air merger, citing "procedural irregularities" found within the first review process. A second review is due to take place in "an urgent manner", because the merger proposal was filed under "exception for a company in crisis", referencing Viva Air's financial situation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Galeano Balaguera|first=Paula|date=January 18, 2023|title=Proceso de Avianca y Viva será anulado: ¿cuáles son las razones?|url=https://www.portafolio.co/negocios/empresas/avianca-y-viva-proceso-de-integracion-de-las-aerolineas-sera-anulado-577090|access-date=January 19, 2023|website=Portafolio.co}}</ref>

On March 21, 2023, Aerocivil announced that it would approve the Avianca–Viva merger conditionally if the new entity complied with the following: to either refund or honor passengers' cancelled bookings made before Viva Air suspended operations; to return some in-demand slots at [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogotá's El Dorado Airport]] previously held by Viva Air; to maintain Viva Air's low-cost model for consumers within Colombia; to reinstate flights between [[Bogotá]] and [[Buenos Aires]]; to maintain a fare cap on routes where the entity is the only operator; and, as the new entity would hold a majority of the market share in Colombia, to ensure that the market remains dynamic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beresnevicius|first=Rytis|date=March 22, 2023|title=Colombia approves Avianca-Viva Air merger following Viva's suspension of flights|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/colombia-approves-avianca-viva-air-merger-following-vivas-suspension-of-flights|access-date=March 24, 2023|website=Aerotime.aero}}</ref>

On May 13, 2023, after analyzing the "financial and technical implications" of the merger under these conditions, Avianca withdrew its plans to acquire Viva Air, given the strict requirements of Aerocivil and the damage that these would have on the airline's economy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Griffin|first=Oliver|date=March 22, 2023|title=Colombia's aviation regulator conditionally approves Avianca, Viva Air merger|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombias-aviation-regulator-conditionally-approves-avianca-viva-air-merger-2023-03-22/|access-date=March 24, 2023|website=Reuters.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/colombias-avianca-backs-down-viva-air-merger-2023-05-13/|title=Colombia's Avianca backs down from Viva Air merger|website=Reuters.com|date=13 May 2023 |access-date=May 13, 2023}}</ref>

In October 2023, the company announced a rebrand and changes to its business model. Avianca changed its name from Avianca to ''avianca'', adjusting its operating model to a more low-cost-friendly one.