Avianca Ecuador

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Avianca Ecuador S.A.
Avianca Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
2K GLG GALAPAGOS
FoundedNovember 1985 (as AeroGal)
Commenced operations1986
HubsQuito
Secondary hubsGuayaquil
Frequent-flyer programLifeMiles
AllianceStar Alliance (affiliate)
Fleet size6
Destinations14
Parent companyAvianca Group
HeadquartersQuito, Ecuador
Key peopleAnko Van Der Werff (CEO)
Websitewww.avianca.com/es-ec

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 Honduras, etc.) in the Avianca Group of Latin American airlines.

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 with 2 Dornier Do 28 aircraft with capacity for 12 passengers each.

In October 2009, AeroGal announced its merger with the Colombian airline Avianca, and the Salvadoran airline TACA Airlines.[3] With the merger, the company expanded its connections to Europe. It also merged with VIP Ecuador, being the first Ecuadorian company of this firm, the codes shared with this airline are still preserved in Aerogal's image, but since it merged with AviancaTaca, the airline is 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[]

Fleet[]

Current fleet[]

An Aerogal Boeing 767-300ER at José María Córdova International Airport in 2009
An AeroGal Airbus A320-200 at Jose Maria Cordova International Airport in 2010

As of March 2021, the Avianca Ecuador fleet includes the following aircraft:[5][6]

Avianca Ecuador fleet
Aircraft In
service
Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Airbus A320-200 6 12 138 150
Total 6

Former fleet[]

As AeroGal, the airline previously operated the following aircraft:

Avianca Ecuador former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A319-100 8 2011 2021
Boeing 727-200 2 2002 2009
Boeing 737-200 9 2003 2012
Boeing 737-300 2 2008 2012
Boeing 757-200 2 2008 2012
Boeing 767-300ER 1 2009 2013 Leased from Avianca
Dornier Do 28 2 1986 Un­known
Fairchild F-27 2 1993 2004
Fairchild Hiller FH-227D 3 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.[7]
  • On May 2, 2009, a Boeing 757-200 (registered HC-CHC) was taking off from José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, when the 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.[8]
  • On September 19, 2010, a Boeing 767-300ER (registered HC-CIJ) was involved in a near-miss incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The incident was investigated by the NTSB. Initial reports indicate 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.[9]

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. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2013-06-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "AeroGal to rebrand as Avianca Ecuador". ch-aviation.com. January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  5. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 13.
  6. ^ "Avianca Ecuador Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  8. ^ "Incident: AeroGal B752 at Guayaquil on May 1st 2009, engine failure on takeoff". avherald.com. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  9. ^ "Incident: Aerogal B763 at New York on Sep 19th 2010, approached wrong runway". avherald.com. Retrieved September 21, 2010.

External links[]

Media related to Avianca Ecuador at Wikimedia Commons

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