They approve the integration of Aviance with Viva Air in Colombia

The Civil Aeronautics of Colombia (Aerocivil) confirmed the conditional integration this Wednesday Airlines Avianca and Iva Air, the latter has been out of service since February 27, when appeals from interested parties and other companies are being resolved.

The Administration for air traffic and aerocommercial affairs Aerocivil issued a decision resolving the appeals filed by Avianca, Viva, Wingo, Ultra Air and Jetsmart, that they had different interests in the operation, “confirming the conditional approval of the integration operation.”

The Aerocivil ratified the conditions set out on March 22 when he gave the green light to the integration of Aviance with Viva Air, the low-cost airline that went out of business two months ago due to a severe financial crisis that left tens of thousands of passengers stranded.

“The conditions that have been ratified are mainly aimed at forcing the integrated entity (…) to respect the rights of Viva Air users, to refund canceled tickets, and to allow those with pending reservations to fly,” Aerocivil said in a statement.

According to Aviance data, from February 28 to April 24, it carried 113,400 passengers who bought tickets with Viva.

Aerocivil also maintains the demand for the return of ‘slots’ (permits to carry out air operations), “both in departures and arrivals, in order to guarantee the conditions of competition by mediating the efficient use of the infrastructure of El Dorado Airport ” from Bogotá.

It also mandates the maintenance of Viva Air’s low-cost model “as an option that offers an alternative to users of the air transport service, especially on those routes operated only by that airline”.

Another important condition is “the return of frequencies on the Bogotá-Buenos Aires line, which is particularly affected, without affecting the offer of seats”which opens the possibility for new operators, they add from the state body.