Following a 21-month absence, Avianca resumed operations to Lima (LIM), Peru, from Bogota (BOG), Colombia, to be joined later by El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Ecuador.
This first flight had an occupancy rate of 91.30% and was operated in an Airbus A320 with a capacity of 150 passengers. According to the company, it will have a daily flight between Colombia and Peru, providing 1,920 seats per week.
«As of this month, our customers have an important flight offer to connect from Lima to Bogota and San Salvador, from where they can link up with one of the most robust networks in the continent; they will also find a simpler product, for everyone and with the best service that characterizes the airline», commented Erika Hundskopf, Commercial Manager for Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.
Schedules and Frequencies to Colombia
Avianca will have to compete against VIVA and LATAM, which were the first to restart operations, once Colombia lifted its restrictions on international flights in September 2020. There is also Wingo, which recently inaugurated operations between the two destinations.
The ultra-low-cost VIVA, which flies 14 times a week to Bogota and 7 times a week to Medellin with Airbus A320neo, has 7,896 seats a week and is the dominant airline between the two countries.
LATAM currently operates 14 weekly flights with Airbus A319 and A320, giving it 4,872 seats per week.
Finally, Wingo operates three times a week with Boeing 737-800, giving it availability of 1,116 seats per week.
Return to other destinations, but without Avianca Peru
The connection to El Salvador will be served by its Salvadoran subsidiary starting December 17 with a weekly flight. Avianca Costa Rica will do its part by connecting to San José from January 23, 2022, with a weekly service. Meanwhile, Avianca Ecuador will connect to Guayaquil, which will start on January 21, 2022, also with a weekly flight.
The resumption will be minor since prior to the pandemic the three connections had a daily flight.
Schedules and Frequencies to Central America and Ecuador
| Flights | From | Departure | To | Arrival | Frequencies | Aircraft |
| AV 429 | El Salvador (SAL) | 21:30 | Lima (LIM) | 02:45 | FR | A320 |
| AV 428 | Lima (LIM) | 03:45 | El Salvador (SAL) | 07:00 | SA | A320 |
| AV 7390 | San José (SJO) | 08:55 | Lima (LIM) | 10:50 | MO-FR-SA-SU | A319 / A320 |
| AV 7391 | Lima (LIM) | 11:50 | San José (SJO) | 14:10 | MO-FR-SA-SU | A319 / A320 |
| AV 613 | Guayaquil (GYE) | 07:30 | Lima (LIM) | 12:10 | SU | A320 |
| AV 612 | Lima (LIM) | 13:16 | Guayaquil (GYE) | 16:05 | SU | A320 |
