# Avensa > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Avensa > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Avensa.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avensa > Source revision: 1356364753 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Venezuelan airline This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Avensa" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Avensa - Aerovías Venezolanas Sociedad Anónima Boeing 737-200 IATA ICAO Call sign VE AVE AVENSA Founded 13 May 1943 (1943-05-13) Commenced operations December 1943 (1943-12) Ceased operations 31 December 2004 (2004-12-31) Hubs Simón Bolívar International Airport Subsidiaries Servivensa Fleet size 3 (2004) Destinations 7 (2004) Parent company Government of Venezuela (100%) Headquarters Caracas, Venezuela Founder Andres Boulton Pietri Website www.avensa.com.ve **Avensa** (***A**erovías **Ven**ezolanas **S**ociedad **A**nonima*) was a [Venezuelan](/source/Venezuela) airline that operated from its hub at [Simon Bolivar International Airport](/source/Sim%C3%B3n_Bol%C3%ADvar_International_Airport_(Venezuela)) in [Maiquetía](/source/Maiquet%C3%ADa).[1] At one time, it had its headquarters in the now Government-owned Torre El Chorro in [Caracas](/source/Caracas) and in the Torre Humboldt complex in East Caracas.[2] Although Avensa was reported to be in the process of economic restructuring, as of 2024, the airline has not been able to return to the skies.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## History Avensa was created on 13 May 1943, as a [cargo airline](/source/Cargo_airline) by the Venezuelan businessman, Andres Boulton Pietri (1909-1994), and [Pan American World Airways](/source/Pan_American_World_Airways). Its first flight occurred in December 1943, flying cargo to Venezuela's oil-rich Carteru region with [Ford Trimotors](/source/Ford_Trimotor) and [Stinson Reliants](/source/Stinson_Reliant). By 1944, Avensa had started passenger flights with Lockheed 10A twins.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] After [World War II](/source/World_War_II), Douglas [DC-3s](/source/DC-3) were added to the fleet. These were the backbone of the fleet until 1955 when [Convair 340](/source/Convair_240) twins were introduced for a new service to [Miami](/source/Miami). Avensa had set up an extensive domestic route network by the beginning of the 1960s. The airline also flew internationally to Miami, [Aruba](/source/Aruba), [Jamaica](/source/Jamaica) and [New Orleans](/source/New_Orleans).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Avensa's only [SE-210 Caravelle](/source/SE-210_Caravelle) landing at [Simón Bolívar International Airport](/source/Sim%C3%B3n_Bol%C3%ADvar_International_Airport_(Venezuela)) in 1972 Avensa merged its international routes with the international routes of [Línea Aeropostal Venezolana](/source/L%C3%ADnea_Aeropostal_Venezolana) and the resulting network was the basis for a new international Venezuelan airline called [Viasa](/source/Viasa), in which Avensa had a 45% holding. Avensa purchased jet equipment in the form of a single [Sud Caravelle](/source/Sud_Aviation_Caravelle) jet in 1964. Turboprop aircraft were introduced in 1966 when the airline purchased [Convair 580s](/source/Convair_580). [McDonnell Douglas DC-9](/source/McDonnell_Douglas_DC-9) jets were introduced to give the airline a competitive edge. Pan Am sold its 30% holding of Avensa to the Venezuelan government in 1976, making it completely [state-owned](/source/Public_ownership).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Later, Avensa introduced the [Boeing 727-100](/source/Boeing_727-100) with two [Boeing 737-200s](/source/Boeing_737-200) being later introduced. A fleet renewal program was set in motion at the end of the 1980s and new [Boeing 737-200s](/source/Boeing_737-200) were added. Two [Boeing 757-200s](/source/Boeing_757-200) were also introduced in the renewal program. These new aircraft were returned during the 1990s when Avensa fell into financial difficulties and had to make cutbacks. This left the fleet with eleven aging Boeing 727s, five DC-9s, and two 737-200s at the end of the 1990s. Avensa took over many of the international routes formerly flown by [Viasa](/source/Viasa) after that airline collapsed in 1997. During the late 1990s, Avensa operated wide body [McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30](/source/McDonnell_Douglas_DC-10-30) flights to Europe including service to [Lisbon](/source/Lisbon), [London](/source/London), [Madrid](/source/Madrid), [Paris](/source/Paris), [Rome](/source/Rome) and [Tenerife](/source/Tenerife).[3] Avensa also controlled a smaller [low-cost airline](/source/Low-cost_carrier) called *[Servivensa](/source/Servivensa)*, which primarily operated the Boeing 727 and DC-9 jets. Avensa later[*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*] served only a domestic network of three cities as it attempted to reestablish services during a time of continuing financial difficulties. The airline went into bankruptcy due to poor management in 2002, with [Santa Barbara Airlines](/source/SBA_Airlines) taking over its routes, although a single [Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia](/source/Embraer_EMB_120_Brasilia) continued to carry the Avensa name in service until it was grounded for good in 2004. Even though the airline ceased operations more than a decade ago, around Venezuela's airports, Avensa relics can be seen everywhere: old check-in signs, rusted luggage carts, derelict airplane stairways, the name still visible through cracked blue paint around Venezuela's airports.[4] ## Destinations This is the list of places to which Avensa flew: ### Domestic - [Anaco](/source/Anaco) - [Barcelona](/source/Barcelona%2C_Venezuela) - [Barquisimeto](/source/Barquisimeto) - [Caracas](/source/Caracas) **Hub** - [Carúpano](/source/Car%C3%BApano) - [Ciudad Bolivar](/source/Ciudad_Bolivar) - [Cumaná](/source/Cuman%C3%A1) - [La Fría](/source/La_Fr%C3%ADa) - [Las Piedras](/source/Las_Piedras%2C_Venezuela) - [Maturín](/source/Matur%C3%ADn) - [Mérida](/source/M%C3%A9rida%2C_M%C3%A9rida) - [Porlamar](/source/Porlamar) - [Puerto Ordaz](/source/Puerto_Ordaz) - [San Antonio del Táchira](/source/San_Antonio_del_T%C3%A1chira) - [Santa Bárbara del Zulia](/source/Santa_B%C3%A1rbara_del_Zulia) - [Valencia](/source/Valencia%2C_Carabobo) - [Valera](/source/Valera) - [Maracaibo](/source/Maracaibo) - [San Tomé](/source/San_Tom%C3%A9%2C_Venezuela) ### International - [Aruba](/source/Aruba) - [Bogota, Colombia](/source/Bogot%C3%A1) - [Bonaire](/source/Bonaire) - [Curaçao](/source/Cura%C3%A7ao) - [Lima, Peru](/source/Lima%2C_Peru) - [Lisbon, Portugal](/source/Lisbon%2C_Portugal) - [London, UK](/source/London%2C_UK) - [Madrid, Spain](/source/Madrid%2C_Spain) - [Medellin, Colombia](/source/Medell%C3%ADn) - [Mexico City, Mexico](/source/Mexico_City) - [Miami, USA](/source/Miami%2C_USA) - [Milan, Italy](/source/Milan%2C_Italy) - [Montreal, Canada](/source/Montreal%2C_Canada) (Charter) - [New York City](/source/New_York_City) (JFK) - [New Orleans, USA](/source/New_Orleans%2C_USA) - [Oporto, Portugal](/source/Oporto%2C_Portugal) - [Panama City, Panama](/source/Panama_City%2C_Panama) - [Paris, France](/source/Paris%2C_France) - [Quito, Ecuador](/source/Quito%2C_Ecuador) - [Rio de Janeiro, Brazil](/source/Rio_de_Janeiro%2C_Brazil) - [Rome, Italy](/source/Rome%2C_Italy) - [Santiago de Compostela, Spain](/source/Santiago_de_Compostela%2C_Spain) - [São Paulo, Brazil](/source/S%C3%A3o_Paulo%2C_Brazil) - [Tenerife, Spain](/source/Tenerife%2C_Spain) - [Toronto, Canada](/source/Toronto%2C_Canada) (Charter) ## Fleet Over the years, Avensa had operated the following aircraft:[5] Avensa fleet Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes Boeing 727-100 11 1982 2002 Included the combi version for both passengers and freight pallets[6][7] Boeing 727-200 13 1979 2002 Boeing 737-200 3 1991 2002 Boeing 737-300 1 1989 1996 Sold to Western Pacific Airlines Boeing 757-200 2 1990 1994 Convair CV-340 5 1954 1977 Convair CV-440 3 1963 1977 Convair CV-540 1 1963 1979 Convair CV-580 10 1964 1991 Curtiss C-46 Commando 4 1944 1946 Douglas C-47 Skytrain 19 1946 1972 Douglas C-54 Skymaster 4 1948 1955 Douglas DC-2 5 1944 1946 Douglas DC-3 11 1947 1973 Douglas DC-6B 2 1958 1964 Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia 1 2002 2004 Leased from Boeing Capital Fairchild F-27 5 1958 1963 Ford Trimotor 2 1943 1946 Lockheed Model 10 Electra 1 Unknown Unknown Lockheed L-188 Electra[citation needed] 6 1959 1983 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-14 4 1967 1983 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 2 1975 1978 Leased from McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 1 1991 1996 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 7 1976 1985 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 4 1991 1999 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 3 1998 2002 Sud Aviation Caravelle 1 1970 1973 Written off ## Images gallery - Douglas DC-9-15. - [Convair CV-580](/source/Convair_CV-580) at [Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport](/source/Santiago_Mari%C3%B1o_Caribbean_International_Airport) in 1988. - [Boeing 727-100](/source/Boeing_727-100) taxiing at [Miami International Airport](/source/Miami_International_Airport) in 1990. - Boeing 757 landing at [Miami International Airport](/source/Miami_International_Airport). - [McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51](/source/McDonnell_Douglas_DC-9#Series_50) at Caracas-Simon Bolivar International Airport in 2000. - [Boeing 737-200](/source/Boeing_737-200) taxiing at Caracas Simon Bolivar International Airport. ## Accidents and incidents - On 20 August 1948, a [Douglas DC-3](/source/Douglas_DC-3) disappeared off the coast of Las Piedras, [Falcón State](/source/Falc%C3%B3n_State). All 3 crew members died.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - On 27 November 1961, a [Douglas DC-6B](/source/Douglas_DC-6B) was hijacked by five armed students who forced the pilot to circle [Caracas](/source/Caracas) while they dropped anti-government leaflets on the city. After that, the crew was forced to fly them to [Curaçao](/source/Cura%C3%A7ao).[8] - On 25 February 1962, a [Fairchild F-27](/source/Fairchild_F-27) was descending through thick clouds until it [crashed into a mountain](/source/1962_Avensa_Fairchild_F-27_accident) on departure from [Margarita Island](/source/Margarita_Island). All 23 occupants on board were killed.[9] - On 28 November 1963, a [Convair CV-440](/source/Convair_CV-440) (registered YV-C-AVH) was hijacked by six young rebels armed with machine guns shortly after it took off from [Ciudad Bolívar](/source/Ciudad_Bol%C3%ADvar). They forced the crew to circle the city while they dropped leaflets. They were later demanded to be flown to [Port of Spain](/source/Port_of_Spain), [Trinidad and Tobago](/source/Trinidad_and_Tobago) where they surrendered.[10] - On 21 March 1968, a [Convair CV-440](/source/Convair_CV-440) was hijacked to Cuba by three passengers.[11] - On 21 August 1973, a [Sud Aviation Caravelle](/source/Sud_Aviation_Caravelle) (registered YV-C-AVI) was landing at [Jacinto Lara International Airport](/source/Jacinto_Lara_International_Airport) in [Barquisimeto](/source/Barquisimeto) when its wing struck the runway on touchdown. No one on board was killed, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.[12] - On 22 December 1974, [Avensa Flight 358](/source/Avensa_Flight_358) crashed in [Maturín](/source/Matur%C3%ADn), shortly after take-off due to a double engine failure. All 75 passengers and crew were killed.[13] - On 11 March 1983, [Avensa Flight 007](/source/Avensa_Flight_007) crashed at [Barquisimeto Airport](/source/Barquisimeto_Airport). 22 passengers and one crew were killed.[14] ## See also - [List of defunct airlines of Venezuela](/source/List_of_defunct_airlines_of_Venezuela) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "World Airline Directory." *[Flight International](/source/Flight_International)*. 21–27 March 2000. [71](http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000%20-%200815.html?search=%22Aerolineas%20Argentinas%22). "Avenida Universidad, Caracas, 101, Venezuela." 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "[Contactos](https://web.archive.org/web/20040203194542/http://www.avensa.com.ve/contactos.asp)". Avensa. 3 February 2004. Retrieved 30 January 2011. "DIRECCIÓN Torre Humboldt, P25 (P1) Av. Rio Caura Prados del Este Caracas Venezuela" 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [https://www.airliners.net](https://www.airliners.net), photos of Avensa DC-10 aircraft in Europe 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [BootsnAll Travel](http://www.bootsnall.com/guides/05-10/pilot-report-aeropostal.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080515212708/http://www.bootsnall.com/guides/05-10/pilot-report-aeropostal.html) 15 May 2008 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) retrieved 7 April 2007 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Avensa fleet"](http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Avensa.html). *aerobernie.bplaced.net*. Retrieved 20 February 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["CCS89intro"](https://www.departedflights.com/CCS89intro.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["MIAI89intro"](https://www.departedflights.com/MIAI89intro.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Hijacking description"](https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19611127-0). Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 5 November 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [*Accident description*](https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19620225-1). Aviation Safety Network. 1974. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Hijacking description"](https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19631128-0). Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 20 November 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Hijacking description"](https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19680321-0). *[Aviation Safety Network](/source/Aviation_Safety_Network)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Accident description"](https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19730821-0). Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 5 September 2009. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [ASN Aircraft accident](http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19741222-1), Sunday 22 December 1974, Retrieved 12 December 2015 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Accident description"](https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830311-1). Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 1 October 2010. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Avensa](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Avensa). - [Avensa](https://web.archive.org/web/20050621010855/http://www.avensa.com.ve/) (in Spanish) - [Avensa](https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.avensa.com.ve/) (Archive) - [Avensa in airliners.net](http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?nr_of_rows=103&sort_order=year&first_this_page=0&page_limit=120&thumbnails=&&airlinesearch=Avensa) [Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals): - [Venezuela](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Venezuela) - [Companies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Companies) - [Aviation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Aviation) v t e Airlines of Venezuela Scheduled Aerolíneas Estelar Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Avior Airlines Conviasa LASER Airlines RUTACA Airlines Turpial Airlines Charter Albatros Airlines Venezolana Cargo Emtrasur Cargo Defunct Aero Ejecutivos Aserca Airlines Avensa Avior Regional LAI – Línea Aérea IAACA LaMia Latin Carga Línea Turística Aereotuy SBA Airlines Servivensa Sol América Transaven Vensecar Internacional Viasa Zuliana de Aviación --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Avensa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avensa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avensa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.