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Línea Aérea Conviasa S.A.
IATA ICAO Call sign
V0 VCV CONVIASA
FoundedMarch 31, 2004
Commenced operationsNovember 28, 2004
HubsSimón Bolívar International Airport
Secondary hubsSantiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programInfinito
SubsidiariesEmtrasur Cargo
Fleet size29
Destinations36
Parent companyMinistry of Aquatic and Air Transport
HeadquartersMaiquetía, Venezuela
Key peopleRamón Araguayan (CEO)
Websitewww.conviasa.aero

Línea Aérea Conviasa (legally Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos[2]) is a Venezuelan airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas.[3] It is the flag carrier and largest airline of Venezuela, operating services to domestic destinations and to destinations in the Caribbean and South America. Conviasa is known to make routes from a political perspective rather than a financial standpoint.[4]

History

A former Conviasa de Havilland Canada Dash 7 approaching Piarco International Airport in 2006

In January 1997, Venezuela's former flag carrier, Viasa, ceased operations after 37 years of service due to prolonged financial problems. In May 2001, the idea to create a new flag carrier for Venezuela was proposed, but in December 2002, the project was put on hold until October 1, 2003. On March 31, 2004, then President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, signed a decree that formally established the airline. This decree was published in the nation's official gazette the next day.

On November 28, 2004, Conviasa's inaugural flight was made with a De Havilland Canada Dash 7 flying from the airport in Charallave to the Santiago Mariño International Airport, on Margarita Island. On December 10, 2004, Conviasa formally began its national and international operations. Conviasa was originally run by the now defunct Ministry of Production and Commerce, but it has since been taken over by the Ministry of Infrastructure.[5]

In October 2007, Iran Air turned its route from Caracas to Tehran via Damascus over to Conviasa, with which it had a codeshare agreement.[6][7] The flight operated on an Airbus A340-200 and primarily carried Syrian Venezuelans, Iranian businesspeople and Venezuelan officials.[8][9] The cabin was usually less than half-full. One of the company's executives stated that the service mainly existed for political reasons; Iran, Syria and Venezuela maintained warm relations with one another.[7][8] Some people raised concerns about the route. In 2008, the Italian newspaper La Stampa said Iran was using the flight to transport missile parts to Syria, enabling it to evade United Nations sanctions.[10] The Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, described the report as American propaganda.[11] Additionally, the United States, which deemed Iran and Syria state sponsors of terrorism, suspected the immigration and customs checks that passengers underwent were lax.[12][13] The Venezuelan government responded that Conviasa was running an ordinary commercial flight and that travellers were subject to standard controls.[12] The carrier had stopped flying to Tehran by 2010.[12][14]

Conviasa's first Airbus A340-200

Following the crash of Flight 2350 on September 17, 2010, the government of Venezuela grounded all Conviasa flights so that it could perform a technical review of the airline's fleet. The airline said that the temporary suspension would remain in effect until October 1, 2010. Flights were then re-instated.

In August 2012, the carrier suspended service to Damascus.[15][16] On April 3, 2012, Conviasa was banned from flying to countries in the European Union because of safety concerns. It said that Conviasa failed to show it had taken adequate steps to prevent future accidents, but had this restriction lifted on July 10, 2013.[17][18]

In September 2012, Conviasa took delivery of their first Embraer 190.[19] Twenty aircraft were ordered, but only received 15, and one Embraer Lineage 1000. [20]

Conviasa is under the authority of the Ministry of Aquatic and Air Transport.[21] The airline is owned by the Venezuelan government (80%) and the regional government of Nueva Esparta (20%). Conviasa has its headquarters on the grounds of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, near Caracas.[22][23] Originally Conviasa had its headquarters on Margarita Island.[24] At one time Conviasa had its headquarters in the East Tower of Parque Central in Caracas.[25]

In August 2016, it has been reported that over 80 percent of Conviasa pilots quit their jobs due to low and outstanding payments and the airline had to reduce operations down to around 16 flights per day subsequently. Additionally, several of the company's aircraft have been stored unused since several months.[26]

On May 5, 2017, Conviasa was forced to suspend all international operations due to a lack of foreign currency to pay for international aircraft insurance.[27] Also in May 2017, Wamos Air terminated its contract with Conviasa on short notice.[28] Wamos Air operated a single Boeing 747-400 for Conviasa between Caracas and Madrid.[27] In autumn 2019, Conviasa started again many early terminated international routes back for its network.

On February 7, 2020 the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") added Conviasa and its fleet of 40 aircraft to the Specially Designated Nationals list. In practice this makes it extremely unlikely that Conviasa will be able to source replacement parts for its fleet of airworthy and grounded B737 aircraft. Additionally, US Nationals are prohibited from flying on Conviasa's domestic and international flights. Finally, to the extent that other countries abide by OFAC policy, those countries (Brazil, France, UK) will refuse to sell Conviasa replacement parts for Embraer and Airbus aircraft, prohibit its nationals from flying Conviasa, and will cancel Conviasa-serviced routes to their respective countries (Panama, Mexico, Bolivia, and Ecuador).[29]

In July 2020, Conviasa bought a 23-year old Airbus A340-300 to supplement its single A340-200, as well as to reinforce air cargo and long radius.[30] In March and June 2022, Conviasa received two 20-year old Airbus A340-600s as part of the company’s fleet expansion, also announcing that it will receive a A340-500 in the following months.[31] This means Conviasa will be the only commercial operator that operates all models of the Airbus A340.[citation needed]

Destinations

As of November 2023, Conviasa serves the following scheduled destinations:[32]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
 Argentina Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport Suspended [33]
 Aruba Oranjestad Queen Beatrix International Airport Terminated
 Barbados Bridgetown Grantley Adams International Airport [34]
 Bolivia Santa Cruz de la Sierra Viru Viru International Airport
 Brazil Manaus Eduardo Gomes International Airport [35]
São Paulo São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport Launch date TBA [36]
 Chile Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport Suspended [33]
 China Guangzhou Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Terminated [37]
 Colombia Bogotá El Dorado International Airport Terminated
 Cuba Havana José Martí International Airport [38]
 Dominica Roseau Douglas–Charles Airport Terminated
 Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Las Americas International Airport Terminated
 Ecuador Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport Resumes December 1, 2023 [39]
Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport Resumes December 3, 2023 [39]
 Grenada St. George's Maurice Bishop International Airport Terminated
 Iran Tehran Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport [40]
 Mexico Cancún Cancún International Airport
Mexico City Felipe Ángeles International Airport [41]
Toluca Toluca International Airport Terminated
 Nicaragua Managua Augusto C. Sandino International Airport Focus city [42]
 Panama Panama City Tocumen International Airport Terminated
 Peru Lima Jorge Chávez International Airport Charter
 Qatar Doha Hamad International Airport Terminated [43]
 Russia Moscow Vnukovo International Airport [38]
 Suriname Paramaribo Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport Terminated
 Syria Damascus Damascus International Airport [44]
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Kingstown Argyle International Airport [45]
 Spain Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport Operated by Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas [46]
 Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain Piarco International Airport Terminated
 Venezuela Acarigua Oswaldo Guevara Mujica Airport
Barcelona General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport
Barinas Barinas Airport [47]
Barquisimeto Jacinto Lara International Airport
Cabimas Oro Negro Airport Terminated
Canaima Canaima Airport
Caracas Simón Bolívar International Airport Hub
Carúpano General José Francisco Bermúdez Airport
Ciudad Guayana Manuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport
Coche Island Andrés Miguel Salazar Marcano Airport Terminated
Coro José Leonardo Chirino Airport Terminated
Cumaná Antonio José de Sucre Airport
El Vigía Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonzo Airport
Gran Roque Los Roques Airport
La Fría La Fría Airport
Las Piedras Josefa Camejo International Airport
Maracaibo La Chinita International Airport Focus city
Maturín José Tadeo Monagas International Airport
Mérida Alberto Carnevalli Airport
Porlamar Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport Hub
Puerto Ayacucho Cacique Aramare Airport [48]
Puerto Cabello General Bartolomé Salom Airport Terminated
San Antonio del Táchira Juan Vicente Gómez International Airport [49]
San Fernando de Apure Las Flecheras Airport [50]
Santa Elena de Uairén Santa Elena de Uairén Airport Terminated
Santo Domingo Mayor Buenaventura Vivas Airport
San Tomé San Tomé Airport
Tucupita San Rafael Airport Terminated
Valencia Arturo Michelena International Airport
Valera Dr. Antonio Nicolás Briceño Airport [51]

Codeshare agreements

Conviasa has codeshares agreements with the following airlines:

Fleet

Current fleet

Conviasa ATR 42-400
Conviasa Embraer 190
Conviasa Airbus A340-300
Conviasa Airbus A340-600

As of November 2023, the Conviasa fleet includes the following aircraft:[54][55]

Conviasa fleet
Aircraft In
service 		Orders Passengers Notes
F C Y Total
Airbus A340-200 1 — TBA [56]
Airbus A340-300 1 — 8 28 219 255 Parked
Airbus A340-600 3 — – 45 263 308
ATR 42-400 1 — – – 48 48
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan 6 — – – 12 12 Operating under Conviasa Regional banner[57]
Embraer 190 15 — – – 104 104
Government fleet
Airbus A340-500 — 1[58] VIP Operating for the Government of Venezuela
Embraer Lineage 1000 1 — VIP
Emtrasur Cargo fleet
Boeing 747-300M 1 — Cargo Detained at Buenos Aires-Ezeiza by authorities.[59]
Total 29 1

Former fleet

Conviasa had in the past operated the following aircraft:[54]

Conviasa former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus ACJ319 1 2019 2023 Operated for the Government of Venezuela
Airbus A330-200 1 2015 2015 Leased from Hi Fly[55]
Airbus A330-300 1 2015 2015 Leased from AirAsia X[60]
ATR 42-300 2 2006 2010
ATR 72-200 3 2007 2013
Boeing 737-200 10 2004 2012
1 2019 2019 Operated for the Government of Venezuela
Boeing 737-300 4 2005 2016
Boeing 747-400 2 2015 2017 Leased from Wamos Air
Boeing 767-300ER 1 2014 2015 Operated by Blue Panorama Airlines[61]
Bombardier CRJ700 4 2009 2019 Leased from PDVSA
De Havilland Canada Dash 7 2 2004 2010

Accidents and incidents

  • On December 16, 2005, Conviasa Flight 2600, a De Havilland Canada Dash 7 (registered YV-1003) with 36 passengers and 4 crew members on board, was forced to make a belly landing at Porlamar's airport when the landing gear failed to deploy. After circling Porlamar for an hour and a half to burn off fuel, the aircraft touched down without any injuries.[62][63]
  • On August 13, 2012, Conviasa Flight 2197, an ATR 72-200 (registered YV2421), made a high-speed aborted takeoff resulting in a runway excursion close to a ravine. All 67 occupants on board sustained minor injuries, while the aircraft sustain minor damage.[67]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Maracaibo La Chinita Airport Profile - CAPA - Centre for Aviation". Centreforaviation.com.
  2. ^ "Corporate Mail." Conviasa. Retrieved on May 22, 2017. Spanish page
  3. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. April 3, 2007. p. 68.
  4. ^ "Conviasa anuncia vuelos entre Venezuela y Siria". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  5. ^ [1] Archived April 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "La compañía venezolana Conviasa inaugura la ruta Caracas-Teherán con escala en Damasco". Notimérica (in Spanish). October 7, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Romero, Simon (March 3, 2007). "Venezuela and Iran Strengthen Ties With Caracas-to-Tehran Flight". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Primera, Maye (November 23, 2009). "Caracas-Damasco-Teherán, un vuelo de lo más misterioso". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "Itinerarios". Conviasa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  10. ^ Molinari, Maurizio (December 21, 2008). "Pact Between Caracas and Tehran: Airplanes in Return for Weapons". La Stampa. Translated by the BBC. ProQuest 458647340.
  11. ^ "Venezuela Denies Ferrying Iranian Missile Parts To Syria". Dow Jones Institutional News. Agence France-Presse. December 23, 2008. ProQuest 2241570128.
  12. ^ a b c McConnell, Dugald; Todd, Brian (August 21, 2010). "Venezuela defends controversial flights to Iran and Syria". CNN. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Chapter 2. Country Reports: Western Hemisphere Overview". Country Reports on Terrorism 2008. United States Department of State. April 30, 2009. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  14. ^ "Gobierno de Chávez aspira reconocimiento mundial para la aerolínea Conviasa". EFE News Service (in Spanish). November 29, 2010. ProQuest 814675612.
  15. ^ "Destinos internacionales". Conviasa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Conviasa resumes Syria service from late-May 2023". AeroRoutes. March 25, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  17. ^ Neuman, William (April 4, 2012). "Venezuela: Airline Banned by Europe". The New York Times.
  18. ^ "EU Removes Philippine Air, Conviasa From Access Blacklist" Bloomberg, 10 July 2013
  19. ^ "First EMB-190 delivered to Conviasa on September 21". Ch-aviation.com. September 21, 2012.
  20. ^ "Conviasa Orders 20 New Embraer 190 Jets, Hints at US Flights". nycaviation.com. July 31, 2012.
  21. ^ "Organigrama." () Ministry of Aquatic and Air Transport. Retrieved on April 17, 2012.
  22. ^ "Contacts." Conviasa. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. [dead link‍]
  23. ^ "Sede Principal [permanent dead link‍]." Conviasa. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Av. Intercomunal Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetía Edf. Sector 6.3, Zona Estratégica, Lado Este del Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetía, Adyacente a Tránsito Terrestre. Venezuela."
  24. ^ Bloomberg News and Wire Reports. "GLOBAL BUSINESS." South Florida Sun. March 12, 2004. 3D. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Conviasa which will have headquarters on the tourist island of Margarita."
  25. ^ "Contactos." Conviasa. July 11, 2007. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. "Dirección Sede Principal Av. Lecuna, Parque Central, Torre Oeste, Piso 49, Caracas, Venezuela."
  26. ^ aerotelegraph.com - "Pilot shortage puts Conviasa into struggle" (German) 17 August 2016
  27. ^ a b ch-aviation.com - Venezuela's Conviasa suspends international operations May 9, 2017
  28. ^ "Wamos Air anula contrato con Conviasa".
  29. ^ "OFAC Recent Actions".
  30. ^ "Conviasa Takes Another Airbus A340". Simpleflying.com. January 10, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  31. ^ Garbuno, Daniel Martínez (March 22, 2022). "Venezuela's Conviasa Launches A340-600 Flights With An Ex-Virgin Atlantic Aircraft". Simple Flying. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  32. ^ conviasa.aero - Flight Frequencies retrieved March 21, 2022
  33. ^ a b "Conviasa suspende vuelos a Argentina, Chile y Perú". Aero-naves.com. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  34. ^ Sheria Brathwaite. "Barbados welcomes inaugural Conviasa flight from Venezuela". Barbadostoday.bb. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  35. ^ "Conviasa inaugura ruta entre Puerto Ordaz y Manaos". Analitica.com. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  36. ^ "Conviasa evaluates opening a route to Brazil". Aviacionline.com. January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  37. ^ Dergam Mousa (July 31, 2022). "Conviasa inauguró nueva ruta entre Caracas y Guangzhou, China". Aviacionaldia.com. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  38. ^ a b "Conviasa Extends Havana – Moscow Service into 2024". AeroRoutes. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  39. ^ a b "Conviasa reanuda vuelos a Quito y Guayaquil". Nlarenas.com (in Spanish). October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  40. ^ "Conviasa resumes flights between Caracas and Tehran". Aviacionline.com. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  41. ^ "Venezuela's Conviasa Sets Sights On Mexico City's New Airport". Simpleflying.com. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  42. ^ "Conviasa retoma sus vuelos a Nicaragua". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  43. ^ "Conviasa inauguró ruta directa entre Caracas y Doha, Qatar". Aviacionaldia.com (in Spanish). December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  44. ^ "Conviasa reactivates commercial flights between Caracas and Damascus". Ultimasnoticias.com.ve. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  45. ^ "Conviasa inaugurates flights to St. Vincent and the Grenadines". Aviacionline.com. April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  46. ^ "Conviasa ofrecerá un vuelo semanal a Madrid". Elnacional.com (in Spanish). October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  47. ^ "Conviasa inició ruta aérea Caracas-Barinas este viernes 7 de abril". El-carabobeno.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  48. ^ Dergam Mousa (May 7, 2022). "Conviasa will resume flights to Puerto Ayacucho starting in June". Aviacionaldia.com. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  49. ^ "Conviasa inaugurará operaciones aéreas entre Caracas y San Antonio del Táchira". Eluniversal.com. September 15, 2023.
  50. ^ Raquel Almérida. "Conviasa reanudará vuelos entre Caracas y San Fernando de Apure con esta tarifa". Noticias24carabobo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  51. ^ "Conviasa estrena su destino nacional número 22". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  52. ^ "Conviasa and Iraqi Airways in talks to establish a code-sharing agreement". Aviacionaldia.com. April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  53. ^ "Conviasa, Syrian Arab Airlines Sign Code-Share Agreement". Aviationweek.com. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  54. ^ a b "Conviasa Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  55. ^ a b "ConViasa Fleet - Airfleets aviation". Airfleets.net. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  56. ^ "Los negocios del eje Venezuela-Irán: Conviasa recibe en leasing un Airbus A340 de Mahan Air". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  57. ^ "Conviasa Regional". Ch-aviation.com.
  58. ^ "Conviasa takes delivery of a second Airbus A340-600 from Mahan Air and programs regular flights to Iran". Aviacionline.com. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
  59. ^ "Emtrasur's Drama: What Has Happened With Conviasa's Boeing 747 Stuck In Argentina?". Simpleflying.com. June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  60. ^ "Conviasa increases flights between Caracas and Madrid with A330-300 from Malaysia". Newsavia.com (in Portuguese). February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  61. ^ "Italy's Blue Panorama axes Conviasa lease over unpaid debts". Ch-aviation.com. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  62. ^ "Avión de Conviasa aterrizó de emergencia en aeropuerto de Margarita". Primera-clase.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  63. ^ "Aterrizaje de Emergencia del YV-1003 en Margarita, Venezuela". Rescate.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  64. ^ "Plane crashes in eastern Venezuela". BBC News Online. September 14, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  65. ^ "Crash: Conviasa AT42 near Puerto Ordaz on Sep 13th 2010, impacted terrain". Aviation Herald. September 13, 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  66. ^ "Aumentan a 17 fallecidos por accidente de avión de Conviasa - El Universal Venezuela" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  67. ^ "Incident: Conviasa AT72 at Valera on Aug 13th 2012, rejected takeoff, runway excursion". Avherald.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.

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