Aviacsa

Aviacsa

IATA 6A ICAO CHP Callsign AVIACSA
Founded	1990 (flag carrier)
Commenced operations	2007 (low-cost carrier)
Hubs	Mexico City International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Aviacpass
Fleet size	TBA
Destinations	8
Company slogan	La Línea Aérea de México
Parent company	Aeroexo, SA.
Headquarters	Garcia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Key people	Andrés Fabre(CEO)
Website	http://www.aviacsa.com/

Consorcio Aviaxsa, S.A. de C.V.,^[1] doing business as Aviacsa, is a low-cost airline of Mexico with its headquarters in Hangar 1 of Zone C on the property of Mexico City International Airport in Venustiano Carranza, Mexico City, Mexico.^[2] The airline operated domestic services until the airline's grounding, radiating from major hubs at Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara and international service to Las Vegas, Nevada in the USA.^[3] Aviacsa also had a U.S. office in Houston.^[4]

According to the Department of Communications and Transportation, as of September 2008, Aviacsa ranked as the seventh largest Mexican airline in domestic and international flights, down from the third largest at the end of 2007.^[5]

History

Flagship era (1990–2007)

The airline was established on May 5, 1990, as a flag carrier airline by the government of the Mexican state of Chiapas in order to fulfill the transportation needs of the fast-growing communities located in that state. It operated its first flight on September 20, 1990, using one 89-seat British Aerospace 146 (BAe 146) regional aircraft between Mexico City and the cities of Tapachula, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, both located in the state of Chiapas. By the end of the year, the airline received a second BAe 146 and had initiated service from the two towns in Chiapas to Villahermosa, Mérida, Oaxaca, Chetumal, and Cancún.^[6]

In 1991, Aviacsa exchanged its fleet of BAe 146 aircraft for four 108-seat Fokker F100 aircraft. With these new planes, the airline was able to initiate flights from Monterrey to Mérida and Cancún, as well as service from Mexico City to Mérida and Villahermosa. Between 1992 and 1995 its main operation hubs were Mérida and Tuxtla Gutiérrez.^[6]

In 1994, Aviacsa exchanged its fleet of Fokker F100s for a fleet of four 164-seat Boeing 727-200s. The airline also launched a charter division, temporarily utilizing the Fokker F100s. The company was privatized and sold to Aerojecutivo, also known as Aeroexo, a charter company based in Monterrey.^[6]

In 1995, it changed its livery to a white plane, blue stripes, gray bottom, and painted its iconic smile painted on the nose of its airplanes, making it the second airline to have a smile; the first was Pacific Southwest Airlines.

In 1997, Aviacsa leased two Douglas DC-9-15 aircraft and was able to increase frequencies to its destinations. It announced that in its three years of charter operations, it had successfully carried out 1020 charter flights to cities within Mexico, the United States, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. In December 1999 the airline acquired four Boeing 737-200s and added them to its fleet.^[6]

Between 2000 and 2005, Aviacsa introduced new flights and destinations throughout Mexico, as well as scheduled service to five US cities. In 2000, it changed its image, slogan, and corporate logo. Between 2001 and 2004, the airline began leasing and purchasing used 737-200s to help increase its route capabilities.^[6]

In 2005, Aviacsa launched its online ticket shopping webpage,^[6] and introduced Boeing 737-300s to replace its 727s.

Low-cost era (2007-2009)

On January 1, 2007, seriously affected by the recently launched Interjet, VivaAerobus and Volaris, Aviacsa began marketing as a Low-cost airline, ending service to Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami, focusing instead on the domestic market.

Suspension and resume era (2009-present)

In June 2009 the Mexican government grounded 25 aircraft after officials said that the airline had maintenance irregularities. The airline is appealing this ruling citing, among other things, reports from the FAA and third party inspectors which have deemed the airline to be safe.^[7]

On July 6, 2009 the Mexican government again grounded the airline for the third time in five weeks over claims that the airline owed over 292 million pesos (about $22 million) in fees for use of Mexican airspace. AVIACSA officials have accused the government of trying to put them out of business in response to pressure from other Mexican airlines. Some of its routes are now being served by Aeromexico Connect and Interjet.

Although Aviacsa was slated to resume operations, on May 4, 2011 it was announced that ticket sales would not continue^[8], casting doubt on the airline's future.

Destinations

Main article: Aviacsa destinations

Fleet

The Aviacsa fleet includes the following aircraft (as of March 2011):

• 3 Boeing 737-200 (120 seats)

As of 2011, the average age of the Aviacsa fleet is 26.3 years, the oldest fleet of the Mexican airlines.^[9]

Retired Fleet

• BAe 146
• Boeing 727-100
• Boeing 727-200 Advanced
• Fokker 100
• McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15
• Boeing 737-300

Gallery

• 

  Aviacsa Boeing 737-300

• 

  Aviacsa Boeing 737-201/Adv

• 

  Aviacsa Boeing 737-201/Adv

References

1. ^ "Air Carrier codes (Sorted by 2-Char IATA code)." International Air Transport Association. January 11, 2010. Retrieved on January 23, 2011.
2. ^ "Directorio." Aviacsa. Retrieved on January 23, 2011. "DIRECCIÓN COMERCIAL Hangar 1, Zona "C", Col. Aviación Gral. [...] Aeropuerto Int. de la Cd. de México. C.P. 15520"
3. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International: p. 81. 2007-03-27. 
4. ^ "Proposed Charging Letter." U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security. Retrieved on January 23, 2011. "6100 Westheimer Road Suite 116 Houston, Texas 77057"
5. ^ Department of Communications US
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Aviacsa History
7. ^ Staff. "Mexico grounds Aviacsa airline, deeming planes unsafe." Associated Press at Houston Chronicle. June 3, 2009. Retrieved on June 3, 2009.
8. ^ Aviacsa suspends ticket sales El Semanario, May 4, 2011. Retrieved on May 4, 2011.
9. ^ http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Aviacsa.htm

External links

• Aviacsa