Avianca recently confirmed a leasing agreement with Aviation Capital Group (ACG) for eight Airbus A320neo aircraft. These new aircraft, equipped with CFM International LEAP-1A engines, will be delivered throughout 2023 and will be based at various locations in South America (Colombia and Ecuador) and Central America (San Salvador and San José).
“We are excited to expand our relationship with Avianca and see how these aircraft continue to serve passengers in Colombia and throughout the Avianca network,” said Tom Baker, CEO and President of ACG.
With these additional aircraft, Avianca is prepared to strengthen its operations and offer enhanced services to passengers throughout the region.
“We celebrate our growing alliance with ACG and the addition of these eight additional aircraft to the Avianca fleet, which will be composed of a total of 150 passenger and cargo aircraft,” said Adrian Neuhauser, President and CEO of Avianca.
Currently, Avianca’s fleet has 21 Airbus A320neo aircraft. However, in 2022, they confirmed an order for another 88 aircraft of the same model, with options for another 50 NEO aircraft. These deliveries are expected to be made between 2025 and 2031.
Several A320neo from VIVA will end up in Avianca
The ACG’s A320neo aircraft are independent of the order placed in 2022. The company confirmed that these aircraft, to be incorporated this year, belonged to the defunct VIVA Colombia. These aircraft, delivered new between 2020 and 2022, will now find a new home in Avianca’s fleet.
See Also: Viva received its eighth A320neo
On June 16, VMO Aircraft Leasing delivered to Avianca an Airbus A320neo, formerly known as “Go Pink” in the colors of VIVA, with registration HK-5378. Another NEO aircraft, also from the low-cost Colombian airline, with registration HK-5389, will be delivered to the Colombian company. Both aircraft were prematurely withdrawn from the low-cost fleet in November 2022.
In 2022, Avianca received another A320neo that belonged to VIVA, which could not be delivered due to the financial difficulties that the low-cost airline faced at that time. Another A320neo, also owned by DAE Capital, is pending delivery to Avianca and is currently stored in Toulouse.
See Also: VIVA withdraws two Airbus A320neo from its fleet
Avianca is in negotiations for two more Airbus A320neo that still retain the colors of VIVA, with their respective lessors.
VIVA received its first NEO aircraft in October 2020, but after ceasing operations, the ten aircraft received were stored at two Colombian airports:
- In Medellín/Rionegro (MDE) and Bogota (BOG):
- HK-5352 “Boomerang”,
- HK-5360 “See you Viva, baby
”, - HK-5361 “Rayo McViva
”, - HK-5365 “Yellow Submarine”,
- HK-5366 “The Viva effect”.
- HK-5367 “I will fly, oh oh
”, - HK-5368 “Waffles”.
- HK-5388 “Fly more”.
- In Bogota (BOG):
- HK-5353 “I ♡ Viva”,
- HK-5390 “Go Rigo Go ????”.
See Also: VIVA received its first A320neo with a completely new scheme
Initially, Viva intended to receive around thirty Airbus A320neo aircraft. Several of the NEOs manufactured were not received by the low-cost airline and ended up in the hands of Easyjet.
Where are VIVA’s aircraft?
Up to February 2023, when it suspended all its operations, VIVA had more than 21 Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft. The NEOs remained in Colombia.
Meanwhile, the eleven A320ceo were returned to their respective lessors and stored at various airports in the United States. However, LATAM incorporated four aircraft and Cebu Pacific one. The rest remain stored in Victorville (VCV), California since March 2023 awaiting to be incorporated by a new airline.
As for Ultra Air, the second airline that ceased operations this year, its six Airbus A320ceo were returned to lessors and stored in Dothan (DGN) and Roswell (ROW), both located in the United States. The former aircraft HK-5402 was the only one transferred to a new operator, Electra Airways from Bulgaria.
