The Colombian state-owned airline SATENA (Servicio Aéreo a Territorios Nacionales) celebrated its 60th anniversary at an event held on May 14th. The ceremony was attended by President Iván Duque, who expressed his desire for a «stronger, more robust, but also more social company, because that is the difference between SATENA and other airlines».
The company was created on April 12th, 1962, to offer air services to the less connected regions of the country. Since its inception, the Colombian Air Force (FAC) have operated it. It is also part of the Grupo Social y Empresarial de la Defensa (GSED), a conglomerate of 17 companies and foundations in the industrial, commercial, tourism, social services and security areas.
At the ceremony, the Minister of Defense, Diego Andrés Molano Aponte, revealed that the company will acquire two new ATR 72 aircraft that will allow it to increase its frequencies. «With the arrival to SATENA of these two new aircraft for regional trips, the acquisition for Colombia of one of the most modern aircraft in the aviation world for short-haul flights is materialized», he highlighted.
According to the Minister, the new units will allow the company to have 24% more frequencies, increase connectivity by 11% and increase its seat offer by up to 32%. According to him, the acquisition of the aircraft «seeks to cover a demand that was unattended in previous years».
SATENA has already received the first of the aircraft, an ATR 72-600. It will be the first aircraft of this variant at the airline, which operated two ATR 72-500s between 2012 and 2015. Its manufacturer’s serial number (MSN) is 969. It is ten and a half years old and previously operated for Azul Linhas Aéreas and Nordic Aviation Capital. Its Colombian registration number is HK-5399. There is still no news about the second aircraft’s provenance.
Currently, the fleet consists of eight ATR 42-500 and 42-600 aircraft for up to 48 passengers and three Embraer 145 configured to carry up to 50 passengers. The company has a special presence in the Pacific and eastern regions of Colombia.
See also: Colombia: Satena’s Embraer E170 for sale
