Argentina-Ecuador Bilateral Agreement Fuels Avianca’s Route Expansion

The Civil Aeronautics Authority of Colombia (Aerocivil) revealed that avianca, through its Ecuadorian subsidiary, requested the addition of 5 routes with daily flights to Argentina, increasing operations to Buenos Aires and introducing connections between Bogotá and Córdoba, Mendoza, and Rosario.

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The request clarifies that it activates the right of the fifth freedom of the air for the five routes, where flights will depart from Quito and/or Guayaquil with a stopover in Medellín and Bogotá. Avianca’s primary objective is to transport passengers between Argentina and Colombia.

A significant portion of this increase became possible due to the modification of the bilateral agreement between Argentina and Ecuador, signed by the Milei administration. Constrained by the frequencies of the bilateral agreement between Argentina and Colombia, which authorizes each party to operate up to 35 flights per week, the Abra Group airline leverages agreements with Colombia and Argentina that have no restrictions or caps, allowing it to increase capacity with its narrow-body aircraft.

The requested routes are planned to operate up to 7 weekly flights (or one daily flight) using Airbus A319, A320ceo, and A320neo aircraft.

• Quito and/or Guayaquil – Bogotá – Buenos Aires/Ezeiza
• Quito and/or Guayaquil – Medellín/Rionegro – Buenos Aires/Ezeiza
• Quito and/or Guayaquil – Bogotá – Córdoba
• Quito and/or Guayaquil – Bogotá – Mendoza
• Quito and/or Guayaquil – Bogotá – Rosario

It is worth noting that Colombia and Ecuador have maintained an agreement since 2011 with no frequency restrictions.

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Avianca in Argentina

Avianca has been increasing its flights in Argentina over the past two years, operating up to five daily flights to San José, Quito, Guayaquil, Medellín, and Bogotá from Buenos Aires.

According to the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) of Argentina, between January and October 2024, avianca transported 336,558 passengers, with a load factor of 88%. It is the tenth most important airline in the South American country in terms of international travelers.

• From Buenos Aires/Ezeiza (EZE)
  • Bogotá, 17 weekly flights, reduced to 14 per week in December, using A320neo and Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
  • Guayaquil, 4 weekly flights, increasing to 6 per week starting December 19, with A320neo.
  • Medellín, 7 weekly flights with A320neo.
  • Quito, 4 weekly flights, increasing to 6 starting December 16, with A320neo.
  • San José, Costa Rica, 8 weekly flights, increasing to 12 per week in December, with a stopover in Quito and Guayaquil, using A320neo.
• From Buenos Aires/Aeroparque (AEP)
  • Bogotá, 3 weekly flights, using A320neo, starting December 9.