Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela

Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetia Simón Bolívar

The Aeropostal - Alas de Venezuela ( short Aeropostal ) is a Venezuelan airline based in Caracas Avianca and after the second- oldest existing airline in South America. Along with Santa Barbara Airlines Aeropostal is the leading airline in the country.

The foundation of the state-owned airline Conviasa, which competes on some routes with Aeropostal from spring or summer of 2005, the line has to face new challenges. Even if Aeropostal and Santa Barbara Airlines have very good starting positions, the long -term survival of private airlines is not secured in Venezuela.

History

The airline was founded in 1929 by the Frenchman Marcel Bouilloux - Dafont under the name " Aéropostale ". The aim of the society was the city Maracay to connect with the mineral rich areas in the south and the oil region to Maracaibo, where the French had survey and drilling rights. First aircraft were the LATECOERE 26 and 28 Latécoère

On December 31, 1933, the Venezuelan government took over part of the company, after France had set the subsidies for the airline. The company was named " Linea Aeropostal Venezolana ". 1935 was the management for the first time to a Venezuelan Francisco Leonardi, and on May 21, 1937, the Company entered fully into the hands of the Venezuelan government. The French machines were then replaced by Fairchild 71 and later by Lockheed Electra 10A.

In 1939, the base was due to the proximity to the growing capital Caracas Maiquetia to (Caracas / Simón Bolívar ) Airport relocated, which today is still base the airline. This year also saw the first Douglas DC-3 were added to the fleet. 1943 was founded with Avensa the first strong competitor. This of Pan Am launched and thus private company should be Aero postals " nemesis " to AVENSAs cessation in 2002. After the war, the Electras left the fleet, and it came Martin 202 and Douglas DC-4 added. With these aircraft first international connections to Brazil and the Netherlands Antilles were taken. In 1947 were introduced on routes to the U.S. Lockheed Constellations. The further development of Lockheed L -1049 " Super Constellation" allowed the initiation of flights to Europe in the 50s. Aeropostal was also one of the first airlines that ordered a pure jet with the DeHavilland Comet 106. After the accident with the Comet series 1 the mid-50s, however, the order was canceled.

1959 ] it was decided to enter the international routes to a new flag carrier from which the VIASA arose. With the start of flight operations VIASA 1961 Aeropostal ceased its international routes and was a purely domestic airline. 1968 came with Douglas DC- 9, the first jets to society, which gradually replaced the propeller-driven pattern. In the 70 years already some routes were resumed in neighboring countries and some Caribbean countries again. Early 80s heralded the appointment of three new factory McDonnell Douglas MD -83, a new chapter. The route network was again greatly expanded, especially in the Caribbean and the United States (Atlanta and Orlando). Early 90s came three leased McDonnell Douglas MD -83 fleet, two machines of that time failed German Wings from Germany with a pure business class seating and a Midway Airlines from the USA. All three machines were returned to the lessor after only two years.

1994 had to stop after a long flight operations financial difficulties the company. The fleet has been ' mothballed ' in Maiquetia ( Caracas Airport ). The three MD -83 's were sold in order to continue to operate the maintenance operation can.

In 1996 the rest of the company was sold for the relatively low price of just $ 30 million to private owners, including some British businessmen and the present chairman Nelson Ramiz. The new owners carried the additional title " Alas de Venezuela " a. Flight operations resumed on 7 January 1997 with a DC-9, and in the summer the DC-9 reached - again a fleet size of nine machines. Aeropostal had plans to convert its fleet over the long term on Airbus A320 aircraft ( for short and medium distances) and A310 (for the newly acquired route rights to Frankfurt and Zurich ), and even of modern Airbus A330 -200 was the speech. The expansion plans were scaled back after the project proved to be too large. The already rented Airbus A310 and A320 were returned to their owners after the North and South American routes came only a short time to use. The European routes were never recorded.

Due to the new U.S. laws that classify Venezuela as unsafe in the area of ​​air transport, the Society for U.S. routes aircraft from Falcon Air Express had to rent. This is Boeing 727-200, which were replaced by 2005, however, McDonnell Douglas MD -80. In 2004, again MD -80 added to the fleet. They have their own Boeing 727 replaced on the South America routes.

Aeropostal has participated in the Honduran airline Air Sol. Then the name was changed to Aerohonduras. Two Boeing 737-300 arrived at this airline used. However, these deals have turned to flight operations in 2005 again.

In order to strengthen its position in Latin America, Aeropostal is currently setting up another airline in Costa Rica. A DC-9 -20 is already parked in the full colors of Aeropostal Costa Rica.

Today, the route network covers destinations in North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. The time-honored Aeropostal is regarded as a positive example of Venezuelan airlines and together with Santa Barbara Airlines is the leading airline in the country.

Fleet

As of October 2013, the fleet of Aeropostal of 8 planes of:

The following well-known aircraft types were for Aeropostal in use but are now retired:

• Airbus A310
• Airbus A320
• Curtiss C-46
• Douglas DC-3
• Douglas DC-4
• Douglas DC- 9-30
• Lockheed Constellation
• Lockheed 10 Electra
• Martin 202
• McDonnell Douglas MD -82
• Vickers Viscount