Avianca Ecuador
Avianca Ecuador S.A. is an airline based in Quito, Ecuador. It operates passenger and cargo flights within Ecuador, between the mainland and the Galápagos Islands, and between Ecuador and Colombia. It is one of the seven nationally branded airlines in the Avianca Group of Latin American airlines.
History
AeroGal was founded in November 1985 by Ecuadorian businessman Carlos Serrano Lusetti to offer air transportation of passengers and cargo in Continental Ecuador and the Galapagos Archipelago. It began operating in 1986 with 2 Dornier Do 28s with a 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. 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 invested 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 was renamed to 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 early 2018, when the company was officially renamed to Avianca Ecuador S.A.
On May 10, 2020, Avianca filed for Chapter 11, Title 11, [United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy] in the United States after failing to pay bondholders, becoming one of the major airlines to file for bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Destinations
Avianca Ecuador serves the following destinations:Interline agreements
- Air Canada
- APG Airlines
- Hahn Air
Fleet
Current fleet
, Avianca Ecuador operates the following aircraft:Former fleet
As AeroGal, the airline previously operated the following aircraft:| 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 | ||
| Douglas C-54 Skymaster | 1 | 1988 | 1990 | - |
| 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 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. A fine ground pitch was selected, but the aircraft overran the runway and fell into a deep ravine. All seven occupants survived with various injuries.
- On May 2, 2009, a Boeing 757-200 was taking off from José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, when its right engine suffered repeated compressor stalls and lost power. The crew reduced the thrust on that engine to idle, leveled off, and returned to Guayaquil for a safe landing about 13 minutes later.
- On September 19, 2010, AeroGal's Boeing 767-300ER 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 used by a JetBlue aircraft 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.