Aserca Airlines

Aserca Airlines C.A. (Aero Servicios Carabobo) was[1][2] an airline based in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. It operated domestic and regional scheduled services to destinations in the Caribbean, Central America and the United States. Its main base was Arturo Michelena International Airport, Valencia, with a hub at Simón Bolívar International Airport, Caracas.[3]

Aserca Airlines C.A
IATA ICAO Callsign
R7 OCA ASERCA
FoundedMarch 6, 1968
Commenced operationsSeptember 14, 1992
Ceased operationsMay 22, 2018
HubsSimón Bolívar International Airport
Frequent-flyer programPrivilege
AllianceSBA Airlines
Fleet size11
Destinations9
Parent companyGrupo Cóndor C.A.
HeadquartersValencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Key people
  • Simeon Garcia
  • Migdalia Garcia
Websitewww.asercaairlines.com

History
Old Aserca Airlines Logo

The airline was established on March 6, 1968 as a private air transport company. Subsequently, on July 27, 1990, the Valencian businessman Simeón García, acquired all the shares and decided to direct it to passenger air transport. The airline started operations on September 4, 1992 with small aircraft for private transport. In 1992 it entered the domestic scheduled market with a leased Douglas DC-9-30. Aserca's operations were centred on Valencia, but it managed to develop Caracas as a hub after 1994 which, combined with the demise of flag carrier Viasa in 1997, made Aserca experience a significant growth in its market share, expanding its network to Bogotá, Lima and Miami (no longer in service) via Aruba. Between 1998 and 2000 Aserca had a controlling interest in Air Aruba.

In September 2008, the airline created a commercial alliance with SBA Airlines, also from Venezuela with whom it undertakes international expansion through, unifying the corporate image of both airlines and coordinating their respective itineraries to improve their connection times between the flights of both airlines, to facilitate connections between the national destinations of Aserca with international destinations of SBA. A proposed merger was in discussion. On the other hand, it collaborated with the Dominican airline PAWA Dominicana and in February 2016, the alliance now called Grupo Cóndor C.A. announced the purchase of Línea Turística Aereotuy.

In June 2013, Venezuela's National Institute of Civil Aviation (Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil - INAC) announced that it will prohibit operations of classic aircraft types like the Douglas DC-9, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737-200 in Venezuela from November 1, 2013. Aserca Airlines could obtain a special dispensation from INAC allowing the airline to operate its remaining two DC-9 until July 1, 2014. Aserca has chosen to replace its DC-9 with two ex-Aeromexico MD-87 that went to Miami Opa-locka Airport awaiting delivery.

In February 2018, it was announced that Venezuela's National Institute of Civil Aviation had withdrawn the airline's operating license until further notice. The country's newspapers blame the lack of proof of insurance for the aircraft in the fleet. Aserca Airlines planned to restart operations. But on May 22, 2018, Aserca announced it had ceased all operations due to financial bankruptcy after returned its air operator's certificate.[4][2][1]

Destinations
Former Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 in its former color scheme

Aserca Airlines served the following destination at the time of its demise:

Country City Airport Refs/Notes
ArubaOranjestadQueen Beatrix International Airport
CuraçaoWillemstadCuraçao International Airport
Dominican RepublicSanto DomingoLas Américas International Airport
VenezuelaBarquisimetoJacinto Lara International Airport
VenezuelaCaracasSimón Bolívar International AirportHub
VenezuelaLas PiedrasJosefa Camejo International Airport
VenezuelaMaracaiboLa Chinita International Airport
VenezuelaMaturínJosé Tadeo Monagas International Airport
VenezuelaPuerto OrdazManuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport

Aserca Airlines additionally had codeshare agreements with PAWA Dominicana (on routes to Antigua, Havana, Miami, Port-au-Prince, San Juan and St. Maarten) and SBA Airlines.

Fleet

Final Fleet
A former Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 in its new scheme
An Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82

The Aserca Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft (as of March 2018):[5]

Aserca Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Passengers Notes
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 5 152
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 6 152 2 leased to SBA Airlines
Total 11

Former Fleet

Over the years, Aserca Airlines has operated the following aircraft types:[5]

Aserca Airlines Former Fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Boeing 737-200 3 2001 2004 Leased from TACA Airlines
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-10 1 2002 2003
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 30 1992 2014
McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 1 1998 2000 Leased from Air Aruba

Accidents and Incidents

References
  1. ch-aviation.com - Ascera Airlines retrieved 24 March 2018
  2. eluniversal.com - Aserca Airlines cierra operaciones en Venezuela (Spanish) 24 March 2018
  3. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 27 March 2007. pp. 77–78.
  4. https://www.el-carabobeno.com/aserca-anuncio-el-cese-de-sus-operaciones-tras-25-anos-de-operaciones/
  5. Aserca Airlines Fleet Details and History
  6. https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/ground-accident-dc-9-31-caracas
  7. http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/144288
  8. http://www.nycaviation.com/2012/03/plane-hits-cows-when-they-fail-to-mooove-off-venezuela-runway/20729

Media related to Aserca Airlines at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.