Spotlight
Avianca expands long-haul network
In early July, Avianca inaugurated their new long-haul route to London Heathrow. To be initially served four times weekly, this new service will be operated using their newest A330-200. Configured with 238 seats, this route will use the 11th & 12th aircraft of this type to enter the Avianca fleet.
Historically, Avianca has used these aircraft as the backbone of their network since 2008, operating the non-stop trans-Atlantic routes to Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the major trunk operations to cities such as Miami and New York in the US. This new route allows them to expand and diversify their network further, by offering one of Latin America’s only direct services to the UK’s capital. Surprisingly, for a city of this size and with its cultural, economic and political reach, there are only a handful of direct services operating as of today. So by taking advantage of the A330-200’s capabilities from a challenging location such as Bogotá, Avianca aims to achieve a first mover advantage for the northern part of the continent.
The service will be operated with 32 innovative, four-abreast full-flat business class seats and 206 spacious economy class seats. The flight is scheduled to leave Bogotá late at night and arrive back in Bogotá in the early morning, allowing Avianca to capture significant regional traffic at their home airport, while operating the all-important night-night flight that is so crucial for the time-conscious business traveler.
Prior to opening of the Bogota-Heathrow route, options for traveling to London, as with many European destinations, involved connecting via a hub - often located in North America, Madrid or Lisbon. This resulted in spilling passengers, and ultimately revenue opportunities, to direct competition or alliance members operating the international sector. Foreign carriers were growing market share in the region at the detriment of local carriers like Avianca. By opening this new route Avianca is taking the commercial battle to the competition and are choosing to defend their territory and grow.
For more information contact:
David Forrester
Airline Marketing Manager
david.forrester@airbus.com