This Saturday was a key day to find out if Viva Air could operate again in Colombia and other international destinations. The airline Avianca, with which an integration was planned for several months, had to respond to the conditions that the Civil Aeronautics raised to finalize the alliance.
(We recommend: Avianca says no to Aerocivil: reasons why they gave up their integration with Viva)
However, Avianca abandoned the integration with Viva Air. Among his reasons, he explained adrian neuhauserPresident and CEO of Avianca, the conditions of the resolution of Aerocivil “They make Viva’s rescue impossible”.
Neuhauser insists that integration is unfeasible under the conditions imposed by Aerocivil and that these “The stability of Avianca and the connectivity of Colombia would be at risk.”
Aerocivil, in resolution 873 of May 5, forced to continue with the airline’s ‘low cost’ model and presented some changes in the concentration of time slots. Among other points, it was required that the rights of travelers affected by the suspension of Viva Air operations be respected by reimbursing the money or allowing passengers with pending trips to fly.
(In context: Avianca withdraws from its integration with Viva Air)
Sergio París, director of Aerocivil, said this week thate “what changed the most were the slots, that is, the strips of track use. By giving it a new order, a new space is guaranteed for Viva’s return to operations, but effective competition is also allowed for airlines that offer flights to other destinations.”
However, after the no of the integration, Avianca said that “this long process puts Viva at imminent risk of disappearance”; However, this ‘low cost’ airline has one exit left that depends on the request for a reorganization process that is in the hands of the Superintendence of Companies.
(Read: Avianca and Viva Air: Aerocivil modified conditions for integration)
In fact, according to Valor Analitik, This Saturday, Viva employees received an internal email in which the end of the airline was announced: “The company is no longer viable.” Meanwhile, Aerocivil is expected to rule after Avianca’s decision.
What will happen to the passengers?
The former Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, who at the time had to face chaos after the suspension of air operations, said days before leaving the portfolio that “Passengers are left in the air, waiting for lawsuits that in the contentious jurisdiction can take about 15 years. Second, the situation of the workers in suspense. And with the slots left in the air, Avianca can go for them, there is in no way an impossibility for it to do so.”
Passengers affected by the suspension of Viva two months ago.
Jaiver Nieto Álvarez/El Tiempo
(Also: Avianca once again expands the aid plan for those affected by Viva Air and Ultra Air)
He also stated that Avianca “does not have the upper hand” and much less “a silver tray” because the authorities put conditions on the process in order to protect users as long as they are reimbursed for canceled flight tickets and those who have tickets pending execution are allowed to fly.
For now, Avianca reiterated this Saturday that the protection plan for users of Viva Air and Ultra Air airlines was confirmed until May 31.
How to do it?
The Avianca airline stated that the relocation for the affected passengers has no additional cost, but is subject to space and in order of arrival at the airport.
“Users who have confirmed tickets or reservations issued to fly with Viva and Ultra airlines until May 31, Approach the airports the day they have their flight or maximum one day before it”, said Avianca.
He also said that it has protection rates in national and international destinations. However, for flights from June 1 there are still no measures and Avianca has not stated whether it follows its aid plan for those affected.
Do you want to sue?
The Superintendence of Industry and Tourism (SIC) is in charge of guiding the people affected. “In case you have bought flight tickets from the VIVA airline and have been affected by the suspension of the air operation, you can go to the Delegation for Jurisdictional Affairs of the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce, to resolve your case by filing a lawsuit for an alleged violation of his rights as a consumer,” the agency said.
The SIC explained that, if it is a domestic flight, the claim must be filed against the company Fast Colombia SAS On the other hand, if the flight is international, the claim must be against Viva Airlines Perú SAC.
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