Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
A new carrier, TransVen, is to venture into the troubled Venezuelan air transport sector as the country's two major airlines, Aserca and debt-ridden Avensa, negotiate a deal to consolidate international services ahead of a possible merger.
TransVen will initially focus on charter services from Caracas to destinations such as Buenos Aires and Dominica. It is discussing the lease of two early ex-Swissair Airbus A310-300s.
The rescue plan for Avensa would see it and Aserca lease three McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s from Pegasus, allowing Avensa to re-open routes to south European cities including Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Oporto and Rome. Aserca will launch flights to destinations including Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, while connecting with Avensa flights to Europe.
Caracas-based Avensa's debts total $59 million, with the state - a 20% shareholder - unwilling to bail it out. Aserca wants to see the issue addressed before signing a deal. Wilmar Castro has replaced major shareholder Henry Boulton as Avensa's president, a transition opposed by unions, which are filing for a legal occupation of its premises and an asset seizure to safeguard wages ahead of any merger. A deal, if concluded, could be extended to include Air Aruba, which is 70% owned by Aserca.
Alternatively, there are suggestions that Aeropostal could merge with Avensa, which also flys to Bogota, Lima and Quito, and which suspended European services after returning two earlier DC-10s to Pegasus. Its pared-back fleet comprises three Boeing 727s and a McDonnell Douglas DC-9. It is trying to lease up to five EMB-120 Brasilias to bolster capacity.
Another start-up, Roraima Airlines, is to launch operations in the next 60 days in southern Venezuela and northern Brazil. Funded by investors from both countries, Roraima will have an initial capitalisation of $5 million and operate two 90-seat DC-9-50s, subject to government approval.
Based in Puerto Ordaz, it will serve frontier destinations not yet linked by air, such as Porlamar, Barcelona and Maturin in Venezuela, and Boa Vista, capital of Brazil's Roraima province.
Source: Flight International
