Ecuador's Equair suspends operations

Ecuador's EC Plus stripped of permits; Equair to go int'l

Ecuatoriana Airlines faces uncertainty as OL set to expire

Avianca Airlines Ecuador adds first A320neo

Avianca Group has transferred a first A320-200N for its avianca airlines Ecuador (2K, Quito International) unit in the form of N776AV (msn 8280).

The 4.8-year-old aircraft leased from SMBC Aviation Capital was recently retired by avianca airlines (AV, Bogotá), entering into maintenance at Medellín José Maria Córdova on March 3, 2023. It was ferried to Quito International on March 20, repainted in a hybrid livery commemorating AeroGal, the privately-owned carrier acquired by Avianca Group in 2009 and subsequently rebranded as Avianca Ecuador.

The Ecuadorean airline has thus far operated one A319-100 (registered in the United States) and six A320-200s (five on the local Ecuadorean HC- register and one registered in the US). Avianca Airlines Ecuador operates its flights exclusively under the 'AV' code of Avianca Airlines.

Avianca Ecuador is practically tied with LATAM Airlines Ecuador (XL, Quito International) in terms of the market share out of Ecuador, with the airlines having a 31.6% and a 32.2% market share by scheduled weekly departure capacity...

Ecuador's Equair cleared to add B737 MAX

Equair (Quito International) has modified its Operating Licence to add B737-8 and B737-9 types alongside the whole range of B737NG types.

The Ecuadorian civil aviation authority (Dirección General de Aviación Civil - DGAC) consented to the airline's request for the change on March 7. The low-cost carrier is thus currently authorised to operate B737-600s, B737-700s, B737-800s, B737-900s, and the two MAX variants.

Chief Executive Frederik Jacobsen told ch-aviation that the regulatory change was in anticipation of future B737 MAX operations, as foreseen by the airline's five-year fleet plan

Last year, Jacobsen said the airline would eventually transition to B737 MAX to replace its initial fleet of B737-700s. He did not provide any tentative timeline but at the time said it was not a near-term decision.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Equair currently operates three B737-700s. It plans to add B737-800s going forward, although Jacobsen said there were no updates about that just yet.

Editorial Comment: The article updates with Equair's comments. - 15.03.2023 - 19:17 UTC