Given the information circulating in the media about the return of one third of Viva's fleet and the operational crisis of said company:
Avianca calls for prompt decision on integration by Aerocivil before users, workers and regions are permanently affected by the imminent disappearance of the low-cost airline
- Avianca recalls that for more than seven months it has been looking for alternatives that would help to save Viva, such as: 1. Request for integration and 2. Expanded conditions in response to Aerocivil's concerns, which include: return of slots, maintenance of the brand and jobs, and boosting Satena's social role.
- With the imminent cessation of Viva's operations, hundreds of thousands of passengers, thousands of jobs, regional connectivity and Colombia's strategic position in tourism vis-à-vis other countries in the region are at risk.
- Avianca reiterates its intention to support the rescue of the low-cost carrier and offers its free operational capacity to relocate passengers affected by Viva's recent flight cancellations.
Bogota, February 21, 2023 Avianca regrets the critical situation of Viva, its employees, suppliers and passengers, after publicly reporting the return of five more aircraft and consequently the cancellation of flights.
As reported more than seven months ago, the condition of the low-cost carrier is critical and the impact on its operation is evident to the user. In this regard, Avianca is concerned about the lack of a final decision and recent resolution #00300 extending the deadline for the intervening companies, i.e. Avianca and Viva, to refer to the process.
In this regard, Adrian Neuhauser, President and CEO of Avianca said: "We ask the Civil Aeronautics to speed up the response to the process we initiated months ago, in order to ensure Viva's permanence in the market. To delay this decision is to threaten formal employment, as well as the connectivity of the country's regions and the viability of suppliers, travel agencies, airport concessionaires and all those who depend on Viva's activity."
Thus, in view of the serious situation that Viva is going through, as is customary in similar crises in the airline industry, Avianca is offering its available seats in its route network to passengers of the low-cost company, whose flights are cancelled due to the grounding of aircraft, in order to relocate them as possible.
However, for such protection to occur, the aviation authority must enable mechanisms that allow access to accurate information on affected passengers. This is to really protect users with paid, confirmed tickets and with taxes and duties in order. We trust that all airlines that decide to help the low-cost carrier will do so by complying with the law and ensuring the existence of a ticket.
This protection offered to passengers is a palliative to the critical situation that not only impacts passengers with purchased tickets, but an entire production chain that will be seriously affected if one of the three most important players in the airline industry in Colombia, such as Viva, ceases to exist.
Neuhauser concluded: "We have to take care of Colombia. Undoubtedly, those who oppose Avianca and Viva being part of the same business group have an interest in weakening us, but by weakening us, they are weakening Colombia as a hub and engine of tourism worldwide. At Avianca we are ready to work with the government to urgently find a real and viable solution for Viva to remain in the market.”