Venezolana

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Venezolana
Logo ravsa.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
VN VNE VENEZOLANA
Founded2001 (as RAVSA)
HubsSimón Bolívar International Airport
Secondary hubsLa Chinita International Airport
Fleet size4
Destinations8
HeadquartersMaracaibo, Venezuela
Key peopleErwin Genie (President)
Websitevenezolana.aero

Venezolana - Linea Aérea de Venezuela RAV S.A. is a Venezuelan charter airline headquartered in Maracaibo.[1]

History[]

The airline was founded by Venezuelan investors in 2001 as RAVSA - Rutas Aéreas de Venezuela S.A.. In 2007, the airline started up operations under its brand name Venezolana.[2] When operations started, Venezolana began to acquire through the years a mixed fleet of used Boeing 737-200, McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and the Bae Jetstream in order to start more scheduled services to other destinations inside and outside of Venezuela. During the 2000s, the airline experienced a rapid expansion around the international and domestic market, 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 a turmoil with its reputation in the international market between 2009 and 2011, because of delays and cancellations due to mechanical problems, mismanagement in its operation procedures, and ransacking of passengers' baggage. This eventually brought criticism from passengers and as a response, the airline began re-organization procedures which eventually decreased 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 the fleet, causing disruptions of the airline's 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 lack of available aircraft, since all but one of its aircraft were unairworthy due to inability to buy replacement parts. As a consequence, the National Institute of Civil Aviation decided to again ground the airline, causing disruptions on domestic and international operations indefinitely. On March 26, 2014, the airline was bought by a group of private investors and resumed operations.[3]

Destinations[]

Venezolana Boeing 737-200
Venezolana McDonnell Douglas MD-83

Venezolana flies to the following cities (as of August 2021):

Country City Airport Notes Refs
Aruba Oranjestad Queen Beatrix International Airport Terminated
Colombia Cartagena Rafael Núñez International Airport Terminated
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Las Américas International Airport
Mexico Cancún Cancún International Airport Charter
Panama Panama City Tocumen International Airport
Trinidad & Tobago Port of Spain Piarco International Airport Terminated
Venezuela Barcelona General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport
Venezuela Barquisimeto Jacinto Lara International Airport
Venezuela Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport Hub
Venezuela Maracaibo La Chinita International Airport Hub
Venezuela Maturín José Tadeo Monagas International Airport Terminated
Venezuela Porlamar Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport
Venezuela Puerto Ordaz Manuel Carlos Piar International Airport Terminated
Venezuela San Antonio Juan Vicente Gómez International Airport Terminated

Fleet[]

Current fleet[]

As of July 2021, the Venezolana fleet consists of the following aircraft:[4]

Venezolana fleet
Aircraft In
service 		Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Boeing 737-200 2 — — 136 136
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 1 — — 155 155
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 1 — — 172 172
Total 4 —

Former fleet[]

Venezolana had in the past operated the following aircraft

Venezolana former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
British Aerospace Jetstream 31 5 2003 2007 Replaced by Jetstream 41s aircraft
British Aerospace Jetstream 41 4 2007 2011 Replaced by MD-80s aircraft

Accidents and incidents[]

  • On November 18, 2004, a BAe Jetstream 31 (registered YV-1083C) 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.[5]
  • On April 27, 2009, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV268T) suffered hydraulic problems causing the crew to burn off fuel in a holding pattern and landed back at La Chinita International Airport.[6] None of the 84 occupants were injured while the aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
  • On May 30, 2019, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV502T) 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 onboard the plane.[7][8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Venezolana Airline Profile". centreforaviation.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "RAVSA history from Americas, Venezuela". Airlinehistory.com.uk. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "RAVSA Venezolana sold to new investors, resumes local flights". Ch-Aviation.com. March 25, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  4. ^ "Venezolana Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  6. ^ "Incident Description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  7. ^ "Venezolana Boeing 737 Suffers Engine Fire". Simpleflying.com. Chris Loh. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  8. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved May 31, 2019.

External links[]

Media related to Venezolana at Wikimedia Commons

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