It’s nice to be open and honest…to a point. But idle words can cause unnecessary pain, as the Avianca Chairman found out this week. Roberto Kriete attempted to “rally the troops” to push the troubled airline back to profitability....
Avianca Brasil Will Leave Star Alliance
Troubled Avianca Brasil will leave Star Alliance on 01 September 2019. Avianca Brasil has experienced many setbacks over the last nine months. After filing for bankruptcy last December, it faced a prolonged aircraft repossession battle with creditors. Then in...
Did Avianca Bribe Government Officials With Free Tickets + Upgrades?
Avianca is performing an internal investigation into allegations that it bribed government officials from several nations with free tickets and upgrades. While the list of nations has not been disclosed, such conduct, if verified, runs afoul of both the...
Should You Be Worried About Your LifeMiles? They Don’t Think So
LifeMiles, the loyalty program from Colombian carrier, Avianca issued an email this week to reassure members that their miles are safe. But are your LifeMiles safe? I’m not so sure and, clearly, neither is Avianca. If you haven’t followed us...
United Airlines Seeks To Oust Avianca Chairman But Vows Independent Airline
United Airlines is extending an attractive loan offer to Avianca while vowing to keep the airline independent. At the same time, it is trying to oust the company’s chairman. Last week, I wrote about the possibility of United taking...
United Airlines May Acquire Avianca
Avianca finds itself in a vulnerable position thanks to a recent default by its controlling shareholder. The default gives United Airlines a chance to take majority control of the growing Colombian carrier. Avianca is majority controlled by BRW Aviation, a...
Avianca Award Changes Model Pricing Variability
Avianca announced positive changes to their award chart for domestic United States awards with some variability, It is a perfect model for how US airlines, like American, can avoid throwing out award charts but still adding value to both...
Avianca Brasil Files For Strategic Bankruptcy
Citing fear of aircraft repossession, Avianca Brasil filed for bankruptcy protection in São Paulo on Monday. Earlier this week I wrote about the issues facing Avianca Brasil…and how it might indirectly impact United Airlines. After a Brazilian court ordered...
As Court Orders Airline To Surrender 20% Of Fleet, United Watches From Afar
A Brazilian court has ordered Avianca Brasil to surrender 20% of fleet to lessors. Meanwhile, the carrier downplays the ruling as unnecessary. Even so, investor United Airlines is watching carefully. BOC Aviation and Constitution Aircraft leases aircraft, mostly Airbus A320,...
Competition For Lufthansa First Class Heats Up
If you read my blog regularly, you know that one of my favorite mileage redemptions is for Lufthansa First Class. It’s not that Lufthansa offers the best first class product in the world (though I love it). Rather, Lufthansa...
Avianca Considers European Expansion
Bogota-based Avianca will soon launch flights to Munich and is considering an even greater European expansion. Starting on November 16, 2018, Avianca will commence five weekly flights between Bogota (BOG) and Munich (MUC) utilizing a 787-8 aircraft. Day Origin...
Lifemiles Award Chart Changes Good & Bad
Avianca sent out an email this week announcing upcoming award chart changes. While Avianca is a smaller airline, they frequently sell their points inexpensively and many readers hold Lifemiles as part of their point portfolio. The changes included many...
