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Servivensa

Servivensa S.A. (legally Servicios Avensa S.A.) was a low-cost airline based in Caracas, Venezuela that operated scheduled domestic and international flights.

Servivensa
IATA ICAO Call sign
VC SVV SERVIVENSA
Founded1989
Ceased operationsMay 1, 2003
HubsSimón Bolívar International Airport
AllianceAeroperú (1999)
Fleet size39
Destinations20
Parent companyAvensa
HeadquartersCaracas, Venezuela

History

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Servivensa was established by Avensa in 1989 to counteract the unionized workforce demands of Avensa's employees. By the mid-1990's it had grown to become larger than its parent company, and Servivensa crews of contract workers began operating Avensa aircraft. However, Venezuela's macroeconomic problems, especially its currency exchange restrictions, caused the airline to have trouble procuring spare parts and led to the widespread grounding of its aircraft.[1]

For a short time in 1999, the airline had an alliance with Aeroperú that operated codeshare flights between Caracas and Lima.[citation needed]

By 2001, Servivensa and Avensa were close to bankruptcy and were being sued by BP for over $1 million in unpaid fuel bills.[2] Servivensa operations were officially ceased on May 1, 2003, when its parent company, Avensa announced that it was grounding its aircraft due to a drop in demand of air traffic.[citation needed]

Destinations

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A Servivensa McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 at Miami International Airport in 1993
 
A Servivensa Boeing 727-200 at Miami International Airport in 1997

Fleet

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A Boeing 737-200 in an Servivensa/Aeroperú hybrid livery at Miami International Airport in 1999

Servivensa operated the following aircraft:[4][5]

Accidents and incidents

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  • On December 17, 1994, Douglas C-47A (registered YV-761-C) crashed on approach to Cerro Aicha Airport, killing all nine people on board.[6]
  • On October 2, 1998, Douglas DC-3C (registered YV-611C) crashed on approach to Canaima Airport. The aircraft had been on a local sightseeing flight to view the Angel Falls. One of the 25 people on board was killed.[7]
  • In 2000, U.S. federal prosecutors indicted 18 individuals for a drug trafficking conspiracy centered around using Servivensa flight attendants to smuggle heroin into the United States, following a year-long investigation known as Operation Aeromoza.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lynn, Barry (1996-09-01). "Where angels fear to tread". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  2. ^ Guthrie, Amy (2001-06-22). "Beleaguered South American Carriers Are in Dire Need of Superhero Rescue". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  3. ^ "Servivensa Bids To Renew Caracas-New York Authority". Aviationweek.com. January 16, 1996.
  4. ^ Flight International, 3–9 October 2006
  5. ^ "Servivensa Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  6. ^ "YV-761-C Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  7. ^ "YV-611C Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  8. ^ "HEROIN RING IN THE SKY IS GROUNDED". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
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