Venezolana

Venezolana - Rutas Aéreas de Venezuela RAV S.A. is a Venezuelan charter airline headquartered in Maracaibo.

History

The airline was founded by Venezuelan investors in 2001 as RAVSA - Rutas Aéreas de Venezuela S.A.. The airline operated charter flights using Jetstream 31s. In 2007, the airline started up operations under its brand name Venezolana. When operations started, Venezolana began to acquire through the years a mixed fleet of used Boeing 737-200, MD-80s and British Aerospace Jetstream 41s to start more scheduled services to other destinations inside and outside of Venezuela. During the 2000s, the airline experienced a rapid expansion in the international and domestic markets, especially with the regional route between the cities of Maracaibo and Caracas, which is one of the most popular routes in Venezuela.
However, Venezolana had turmoil with its reputation in the international market between 2009 and 2011, following delays and cancellations due to mechanical problems, mismanagement in its operation procedures, and ransacking of passengers' baggage. This led to the retirement of their Jetstream 41s and eventually brought criticism from passengers, and as a response, the airline began reorganizing procedures, eventually decreasing the passenger complaints rate. On February 27, 2012, the Venezuelan Ministry of Transportation indefinitely suspended Venezolana's air operator certificate due to unpaid insurance premiums for their fleet, causing disruptions in its domestic and international operations. However, it was reported that the airline paid the premiums and resumed operations the same day.
In January 2014, due to the Venezuelan government's CADIVI currency-exchange administration making delayed payments to domestic and international airlines, Venezolana had problems with its flights due to a lack of available aircraft since all but one of its aircraft were unairworthy due to the inability to buy replacement parts. Consequently, the National Institute of Civil Aviation decided to ground the airline again, causing disruptions in domestic and international operations indefinitely. On March 26, 2014, the airline was bought by a group of private investors and resumed operations.

Destinations

Venezolana flies to the following cities :

Country	City	Airport	Notes	Refs
Panama	Panama City	Tocumen International Airport
Venezuela	Barquisimeto	Jacinto Lara International Airport
Venezuela	Caracas	Simón Bolívar International Airport
Venezuela	Las Piedras	Josefa Camejo International Airport
Venezuela	Maracaibo	La Chinita International Airport
Venezuela	Porlamar	Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport
Venezuela	Puerto Ordaz	Manuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport

Fleet

Current

, the Venezolana fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Aircraft	In service	Orders	Passengers	Notes
Boeing 737-200	1	—	117
McDonnell Douglas MD-83	1	—	150
McDonnell Douglas MD-88	—	1	166
Total	2	1

Former

Venezolana had in the past operated the following aircraft:

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
British Aerospace Jetstream 31	5	2002	2007
British Aerospace Jetstream 41	5	2006	2010
McDonnell Douglas MD-82	1	2011	2022

Accidents and incidents

On November 18, 2004, a BAe Jetstream 31 was on a passenger flight when it crashed during a runway excursion at Simón Bolívar International Airport which the runway was wet due to rain. Of the 21 occupants on board, only 2 people were killed. The aircraft was written off and scrapped.
On April 27, 2009, a Boeing 737-200 suffered hydraulic problems causing the crew to burn off fuel in a holding pattern and landed back at La Chinita International Airport. None of the 84 occupants were injured while the aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
On May 30, 2019, a Boeing 737-200 was flying from Port of Spain to Caracas when the aircraft suffered an engine failure and a subsequent uncontained engine fire. There were no reports of injuries to any of the 80 passengers on board the plane.