The Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (annato) reiterated to the national government a request that it has been making in recent months regarding verifying or analyze the financial strength of the airlines that currently have activities in Colombia or that would enter the country to operate.
This request arises from the events that occurred with airlines such as live airthat by canceling its operations suddenly, affected users and travel agencies.
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According to Anato, the suspension of flights by Viva Air left the realization of the trips that consumers had purchased with the airline on hold, leaving the responsibility in the hands of the travel agencies that have already sent the money from your sales to the airline.
We cannot let situations like these affect the dynamism that the sector has had
«Upon seeing this decision, we have asked the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and the superintendencies to take measures that will allow travelers rearrange your trips or receive your money backand we listen,» said Paula Cortés Calle, executive president of Anato.
Indeed, the Superintendency of Transportation announced that it submitted Viva Air to control and requested the Superintendency of Companies to admit it to the business reorganization process to overcome the critical situations that it is currently going through.
Likewise, the company must define the status of issued and confirmed reservations for passengers. In addition, you must keep the liability received for the resources collected from the advance sale of tickets, ticket holders and non-regular passenger aviation, to guarantee the return of these monies to the users.
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«We cannot let situations like these affect the dynamism that the sector has been having, the trust earned by travelers and the good work that the companies have been doing. travel agency«said the union leader.
According to figures from Anato, due to the suspension of Viva Air operations more than 5,500 million pesos would be at riskwhile the number of passengers affected by this decision exceeds 11,600 passengers.
Viva Air’s participation in the movement of passengers on domestic flights during January was 20 percent and the main destinations where it had the greatest participation in connectivity were Riohacha, Medellín, Leticia, Santa Marta, San Andrés, Cartagena, Pereira and Pasto.