VIASA

Caracas

VIASA - Venezolana Internacional de Aviación, Sociedad Anonima was 1961-1997, the national airline of Venezuela and one of the largest airlines in Latin America. The airline operated almost exclusively international destinations from Caracas. In Europe, among others, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris and Rome were served. Although the color scheme has been adapted in recent years to the principal owner of Iberia, were VIASA - Aircraft known by her orange tail with white letters.

History

In the late 1950s, there were considerations in Venezuela, the national airline Aeropostal ( Linea Aeropostal Venezolana ) to merge with the private Avensa so as to establish an airline of international standing. This plan was rejected and instead transferred the international flights of Aeropostal in a new airline. The capital of the new airline comes to 51% of the Aeropostal and 49% by private investors, including Avensa who are still in possession of the Pan Am was back then. An important goal was to run the airline as possible without intervention from the government.

In November 1960 VIASA came with the appointment of two Convair 880 first appearance. Flight operations started on 1 April 1961, some destinations in Latin America, North America and the Caribbean and some European destinations that were operated by KLM Douglas DC-8. KLM contributed significantly to building the VIASA, including through the development of the art in Caracas as well as pilot training for the long-haul aircraft. VIASA was the only Latin American flag carrier, which operated exclusively jetliners.

1963 arrived the first own DC-8, while in the course of the 1960s, some rented from Avensa Douglas DC-9 880 replaced the Convair to the Caribbean and Latin America routes. Pool and partnership agreements (including with BOAC and Alitalia ) extended the European route network. During this time, a short-lived cargo subsidiary was established with the name Transcarga. In December 1968, the first long - DC 8-63 arrived. In June 1969, the single Sud Aviation SE -210 Caravelle I of the Avensa (Mark YV -C - AVI) was rented for a year and used in full VIASA colors on the route Caracas - Maracaibo.

1972, a Boeing 747-200 KLM was rented in order to satisfy the strong demand on the European routes can. The " Orinoco " baptized machine was the first operated in South America widebody aircraft. Early 1973 was rented by a KLM DC -10-30. In 1974 came the first own DC-10, which consists of a KLM - ancestral order.

Although Venezuela is a petroleum- rich country and could benefit from the crisis of the early 70s, VIASA suffered by the collapse of cargo and passenger numbers. Thus, the company was nationalized after the loss-making business year 1975/76, bringing their downfall was initiated. VIASA slipped from now on, deeper and deeper into the red, but the Venezuelan government was pumping more money into the flag carrier into it.

In the 1980s, the fleet should be completely converted to DC-10, but in the meantime met with other types of aircraft to the fleet. End of 1982, two MD -82 ( serial numbers 49103 and 49104 ) were supplied for flights from Miami to smaller airports, such as Venezuelan Barquisimeto and Barcelona. These routes have been already set and returned in 1984, however, the MD -80. In 1985, the partnership with KLM has ended. In 1987, new aircraft for North America with two former Lufthansa A300B4 - added routes. Two more Airbus A300 were acquired in 1989 from Eastern Airlines stocks. End of the 80s were two delivery options for McDonnell Douglas MD- 11 is secured ( serial numbers 48523 and 48524 ). Both options were canceled after the takeover by Iberia and the machines were not built accordingly.

1989 was already thinking again about privatization and 1991, the airline was sold to the Spanish Iberia. KLM also offered with, but not awarded the contract. Iberia restructured the company, took over the DC-10 - Fleet of VIASA and gave it back to them. A new color scheme, similar to that of Iberia was introduced. In Venezuela, this scheme " Manolo - painting " was baptized, because Manolo is considered typical Spanish name. The Airbus A300 was replaced by former Iberia 727-200, on the North America - routes could hardly compete with the more modern machines from American Airlines and United Airlines. Under the leadership of Iberia heavily loss-making VIASA slipped further into the red. It was from a catastrophic communication between the leadership in Spain and the Venezuelan airline 's speech.

On 23 January 1997 VIASA presented a final flight operations. The aircraft were integrated from Iberia in your fleet. Still applies Iberia in Venezuela as the main culprit for the demise of the national airline, even if the Spanish airline certainly was not alone pays for the misery. Many connoisseurs of Venezuelan aviation scene see it as the biggest mistake to have not sold the airline in 1991 to KLM, since KLM was considered in the history VIASAs as benevolent airline.

Since 1997, the international routes of VIASA were taken over by other Venezuelan airlines. While nearly a dozen of them tried to North America, South America and Caribbean routes (and sometimes failed ), first took Avensa and Aeropostal Europe - routes. Today's private Aeropostal withdrew after a few months and still operates many routes on the new continent, but Avensa perished in this adventure. Today, the Santa Barbara Airlines serves as the only Venezuelan airline Tenerife and Madrid, two European destinations.

The current Venezuelan government is trying with a new state airline Conviasa called to build on old times, but so far with limited success.

Fleet

The following aircraft were operated by or for VIASA:

• Airbus A300B4
• Boeing 727-256
• Boeing 747-130
• Boeing 747- 206B ( operated by KLM )
• Boeing 747- unit 273C ( operated by World Airways )
• Convair 880 ( partially operated by KLM together)
• Douglas DC-8-53/63 ( partially operated by KLM )
• Douglas DC-9-14/32/33RC ( partially operated by Avensa )
• McDonnell Douglas DC -10-30
• McDonnell Douglas MD -82

Accidents

Viasa recorded three accidents with total loss:

• On May 30, 1961 crashed a DC 8-53 (operated by KLM, Mark PH- DCL) after the start in Lisbon in the Azores, into the sea. All 61 people on board died. What led to the accident is still unknown.

• On March 16, 1969 fell one only a few weeks old DC-9 -32 ( operated by Avensa, Mark YV -C - AVD, works number 47243 ) after the start in Maracaibo in one block. All 84 people on board and 71 on the ground died. This was at that time the worst plane crash in the world.

• On November 26, 1995, a DC-10 skidded in Buenos Aires also in rainy weather over the tail and remained stuck in the swamp. None of the 123 passengers was injured, but the aircraft was so badly damaged that it had to be written off.

• Former airline ( Venezuela)
• Companies (Caracas )
• Traffic (Venezuela )