Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas

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For the defunct Brazilian Airline LAP, see Linhas Aéreas Paulistas – LAP.
Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas S.A.
LAPlineasaereasParaguayas1.jpg
IATA ICAO Callsign
PZ LAP PARAGUAYA
FoundedNovember 17, 1962
Commenced operationsAugust 20, 1963
Ceased operationsOctober 6, 1996
HubsSilvio Pettirossi International Airport
Fleet size27
Destinations30
Parent companySAETA (1995-1996)
HeadquartersAsunción, Paraguay
Key peopleAdrian Jara (Founder)

LAP - Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas (also referred as LAP and later LAPSA) was a Paraguayan airline that was founded in 1962 to be the flag carrier airline of Paraguay. Its main base was Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, in Asunción. The airline ceased operations in 1996 after being sold to TAM Airlines.

History[]

Early Operations[]

A Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas Lockheed L-188C Electra at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in 1975

LAP was a creation of the Paraguayan Military Aviation in November 17, 1962. It was officially founded by the government through the Decree Nr.337 of March 18, 1963.[1] It began services on August 20, 1963, using three Convair CV-240 aircraft. Services included flights to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Sao Paulo and Curitiba from the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion.

The CV-240s were replaced by three Lockheed L-188A Electra turboprop airliners which were acquired from Eastern Air Lines in 1969 and were operated by LAP for over 20 years.[2] On February 26, 1969, the airline entered into regular operation, with 3 weekly frequencies for Sao Paulo. Once a week, the flight continued to Rio de Janeiro, before returning to Asunción. In 1970, service started to Santa Cruz, Resistencia and Salta with a Douglas C-47 transferred from the Military Air Transport of the FAP. In 1972, La Paz, Bolivia was added to LAP's network. In 1973 a route to Lima was inaugurated and in 1978 to Santiago, Chile.

Jet operations[]

A Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas Douglas DC-8-61 at Miami International Airport in 1989

The good service offered by the Lockheed Electras made LAP have a presence in Latin America. By March 1977, the number of weekly frequencies for Brazil had already increased. The pure jet age came in 1978 with the purchase of two Boeing 707-320 from Pan American Airways and with those services to Miami began. In 1979, services started to Madrid and Frankfurt. When another 707 was bought in 1982, service to Brussels started. Due to noise restrictions, a DC-8-63 ex-Air Canada was bought in 1984 for the route to Miami. During the 1980s other routes were tried like Mexico City and Panama City, but just for a few months. In 1988, an ex-Spantax DC-8-61 was bought. This plane had an accident in Bs.As. in 1990 and was replaced by a leased DC-8-62 for a few months.

In February 2, 1989, General of the Paraguayan Army carried out a coup, putting an end to the dictatorial government of General Alfredo Stroessner. A short time later, the changes that took place in the country would reach LAP. Audits carried out revealed that there were other officials and the quality of LAP's services was deteriorating. The president would order in 1989 that the airline be maintained using its own income. Also in 1990, LAP received an ex-United Airlines DC-8-71, followed by another similar aircraft in 1991.

In 1992 a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 came into service. Eventually LAP received two more DC-10-30, one ex-Air France for a few months and the other ex-Varig. Operations to US and Europe were performed by the DC-10s and regional flights with a 707 and the DC-8-63. In 1993, and for a few months, a BAe 146-300 operated in LAP on loan from the factory. Since LAP was a government losing company, attempts to privatize were not fruitful and the money losing operation was shut down in March 8, 1994.

Restart and End[]

A LAPSA Airbus A310-300 at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in 1995

In October of that year, it was privatised and sold to SAETA, along with an Ecuadorian-Paraguayan Consortium, which restarted operations in February 7, 1995 under the new name, LAPSA Air Paraguay with two Boeing 737-200 for regional routes, one Airbus A320-200 for medium range routes in South America and one Airbus A310-300 for the route to Miami. Flights to Europe were not initiated.

This company was resold to the Brazilian TAM Airlines on September 1, 1996, which used only Fokker 100 jets to cover all regional destinations. The airline was renamed TAM Mercosur (Transportes Aéreos del Mercosur). Routes to Miami and Europe never restarted. In 2008, TAM Mercosur was renamed as TAM Paraguay, which continues in service.

Possible Return[]

On August 3, 2020, the director of the Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil, Félix Kanazawa, announced that the state had reacquired the company and consequently its routes in the Americas, the United States and Europe. The Director also mentioned that a decision has not yet been made on whether the company will be 100% state-owned, but has announced that a possible reactivation of the defunct Paraguayan flag airline is being considered.[3]

Destinations[]

Fleet[]

A Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas Boeing 707-320B at Frankfurt Airport in 1988

LAP used throughout the years the following aircraft:[4][5][6]

LAP/LAPSA fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A310-300 1 1995 1996 Leased from SAETA
Airbus A320-200 2 1995 1996 Operated by SAETA
Boeing 707-320B 3 1978 1994
Boeing 737-200 2 1995 1996 Leased from SAETA
British Aerospace BAe 146-300 1 1992 1993
Convair CV-240 3 1963 1972
Douglas C-47 Skytrain 1 1972 1977
Douglas C-54 Skymaster 2 1963 1964
Douglas DC-8-61 1 1988 1990
Douglas DC-8-62 2 1990 1991
Douglas DC-8-63 1 1984 1994
Douglas DC-8-71 2 1990 1993
Lockheed L-188C Electra 3 1968 1994
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 3 1992 1994

Accidents and incidents[]

  • On May 26, 1967, a Convair CV-240 (registered ZP-CDP) was approaching at runway 10 of the Ministro Pistarini International Airport. The aircraft suddenly nosed down and crashed its left wing and broke off, the aircraft skidded onto the runway and came to rest upside down.[7] All 24 occupants onboard survived.
  • On May 8, 1969, a Convair CV-240 (registered ZP-CDN) was destroyed on a collision after a Pilatus PC-6 Porter (registered N356F) was doing a demonstration flight with one pilot on board and three passengers, two of them were high ranking military officials.[8] Everyone on board the PC-6 were killed, and no one was onboard the CV-240.

See also[]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ https://www.mec.gov.py/cms_v2/recursos/8944-creacion-de-lineas-aerea-paraguayas---lap
  2. ^ Eastwood and Roach, 1998, p. 432
  3. ^ "DINAC already works in protocol for possible return from-LAP". ABC.com.py. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  5. ^ "LAPSA Air Paraguay Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "LAPSA fleet". aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  8. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved March 26, 2010.

Bibliography[]

  • Eastwood, Tony and Roach, John, Turbo Prop Airliner Production List, 1998, The Aviation Hobby Shop, ISBN 0-907178-69-3.
  • "La Historia de Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas" by Antonio Luis Sapienza Fracchia. Author's edition. Asunción. 2004

External links[]

Media related to Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas at Wikimedia Commons

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