Suspension of Viva Air airline leaves passengers stranded inside and outside Colombia

The low-cost Colombian airline Viva Air temporarily suspended its operations due to the financial difficulties it faces to function, while it continues to await a decision from the Civil Aeronautics on its eventual alliance with Avianca, the company reported.

The suspension of operations was informed by the airline on Monday night with “immediate effect” and without indicating to passengers the steps to follow to continue their itineraries.

Dozens of passengers who were stranded in Colombian airports due to the suspension of operations began protests and blockades inside the air terminals.

On Tuesday, dozens were demanding an immediate solution at the Bogotá international airport while they waited with their suitcases on chairs or lying on the ground. The same situation was replicated in other cities such as Barranquilla, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali and Pereira.

In Peru, where Viva Air also operates, there were hundreds of passengers affected, especially at the country’s most important airport, Jorge Chávez, located in Lima, the capital.

The suspension of operations occurred after the Civil Aeronautics admitted the intervention of third parties interested in the integration process of Viva with Avianca.

Colombia’s flagship airline, Avianca, signed an agreement with Viva in April 2022 for a business integration process aimed at rescuing the low-cost company, but Aeronáutica Civil objected to the operation in November. After an appeal by Avianca and Viva, the aviation governing body annulled the integration process in January due to irregularities in the procedure and reopened it.

Although the two companies are still awaiting a response to their integration process from the Civil Aeronautics, this month the ultra-low-cost airline JetSMART announced its intention to buy 100% of Viva, a bid to which added LATAM Airlines.

Guarantees for passengers

The Superintendency of Transportation, the authority in charge of monitoring the sector, urged Viva Air on Tuesday to guarantee the rights of users by maintaining communication channels and immediately seeking solutions “that the transportation contract demands” and announced the opening of a investigation and possible sanctions to the airline.

The Civil Aeronautics indicated that LATAM, Avianca and Satena will offer transportation alternatives, at no additional cost and according to availability, to passengers who have a confirmed Viva Air ticket or reservation for February 27 and 28 and 1 of March.

In the case of passengers bound for Lima and Mexico City, the help will be provided free of charge by LATAM and Avianca. While the airlines Viva Aerobús, Volaris and Wingo will apply special rates for passengers to Mexico City and Cancun.

Viva Air, which assured that despite the paralysis it will continue negotiations with creditors under a business reorganization process, emerged as a low-cost airline with operations in Colombia and Peru, has a fleet of 16 aircraft and 5,000 direct and indirect employees , and represents approximately 20% of the market in Colombia with national and international flights.

Dozens of his collaborators protested Tuesday in Bogotá in front of the office of the air authority with yellow balloons and signs: “Reconsider the decision to secure jobs.”

The airline is going through a complex financial situation due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, aggravated by the rise in the price of fuel during 2022 and the devaluation of the Colombian peso.

[Con información de Reuters y AP]

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