The Bolivian airline Amaszonas has expressed its intention to resume its air operations, however facing significant regulatory challenges.
According to reports by the newspaper La Razón de Bolivia, the company, currently under the ownership of Luis Divino Goncalvez Ribeiro, has shown its interest to the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) to resume its flights. Nonetheless, its air operator certificate remains suspended due to the lack of accreditation of the aircraft it intends to use.
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The director of the DGAC, José García, reported that although Goncalvez Ribeiro has formally expressed his desire to restart the airline’s activities, he has not yet presented the certification of the planes to be used, nor has he set a concrete date for the resumption of operations. García emphasized that until the corresponding aircraft are presented, the operator’s certificate will remain suspended.
The situation of Amaszonas is further complicated due to its recent history. The airline stopped flying on August 8 of last year, after the withdrawal of the registration of its four Embraer E190 due to a debt with the lessor GY Aviation Lease 1816 Co. Limited, amounting to more than 17 million dollars. Subsequently, in November, the DGAC revoked its Air Operator Certificate. The Minister of Public Works, Édgar Montaño, pointed out that Amaszonas must perform at least one flight, either regular or charter, in the next 90 days to not definitively lose the certificate.
In a broader context, the DGAC has indicated that other air operators have also shown interest in operating in Bolivian territory, committing to providing the necessary information so that they can begin operations in accordance with current regulations.
The recent sale of 100% of Amaszonas‘ shares to Goncalvez Ribeiro in September 2023, along with the existing debt of 58 million dollars, highlights the challenges the airline faces in regaining its place in the Bolivian airspace.
