{{Short description|Airline of Colombia}} {{distinguish|Sabena {{!}} SABENA}} {{Infobox airline | airline = SATENA | logo = SATENA logo.gif | logo_size = | fleet_size = 19 | destinations = 58 | IATA = 9R | ICAO = NSE | callsign = SATENA | parent = Colombian Air Force | founded = {{start date and age|1962|04|12}} | commenced = | headquarters = El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, Colombia | key_people = Brigadier General Óscar Zuluaga Castaño | hubs = El Dorado International Airport | secondary_hubs = *Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport *Olaya Herrera Airport | focus_cities = | frequent_flyer = | alliance = | founder = Alberto Lleras Camargo | website = {{URL|www.satena.com}} }}
'''SATENA''' (Spanish acronym of ''Servicio Aéreo a Territorios Nacionales'') is a Colombian airline based in Bogotá, Colombia.<ref>"[http://www.satena.com/MainAcercaSatena.aspx?urls=AcercaSatena/Oficinas.aspx&Nivel=3&op=3 Oficinas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210203825/http://www.satena.com/MainAcercaSatena.aspx?urls=AcercaSatena%2FOficinas.aspx&Nivel=3&op=3|date=2011-02-10}}." SATENA. Retrieved on January 20, 2011. "Oficina Principal Av. El Dorado No. 103 - 08, entrada 1, interior 11."</ref><ref>"[http://intranet.satena.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=116 Mecanismos de Control] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811052803/http://intranet.satena.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=116|date=2010-08-11}}." SATENA. Retrieved on January 20, 2011. "Oficina Principal: Avenida Eldorado Entrada 1, Interior 11."</ref><ref>"[http://www.bogota.gov.co/mad/visor.php?id_sitio=72448&zoom=1&colorpunto=0xCC0000&id_afiliado=83&id_mapa=762 Satena Aerolíneas]." City of Bogota. Retrieved on January 20, 2011.</ref><ref>"[http://www.bogota.gov.co/mad/info_sitio.php?idioma=es&id_sitio=72448&id_tema=762 Satena]." City of Bogota. Retrieved on January 20, 2011. "Avenida El Dorado # 103 - 08."</ref> It is majority-owned by the Government of Colombia which operates it to provide connectivity to less connected areas of the country.
Its main hub is El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. It also maintains a secondary hub at Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín.
==History== [[File:Satena-Do328-BOG.jpg|thumb|A former SATENA Dornier 328 at El Dorado International Airport in 2009]] [[File:HK-4528 - FAC-1180 Embraer 170 SATENA (7496799876).jpg|thumb|A former SATENA Embraer ERJ 170 at La Vanguardia Airport in 2012]]
SATENA was first established on April 12, 1962, by the President of the Republic, Alberto Lleras Camargo, who created the airline using Decree 940 in order.
''"to form an aerial transport service for the benefit of the underdeveloped regions of the country, with the object of promoting the welfare of educational campaigns, agricultural and pastoral development, and the economic and social progress of such territories."''
To achieve this under government auspices, the airline was then entrusted to the control of the Colombian Air Force, initiating its first operations with the routes Bogotá - Leticia and Leticia – Tarapacá – El Encanto – Puerto Leguízamo. The Government equipped the company with one C-54, two C-47, two Beaver L-20, and later added two PBY Catalina amphibious, the property of the Rotary Fund of the Colombian Air Force. Later, in 1964, it added three additional C-47 and two more C-54 aircraft, all of them donated by the United States International Development Agency.
In 1965, SATENA, in coordination with the Bank of Bogotá, began a new service named ''AeroBanco'', which was created to facilitate air travel to other areas largely or completely inaccessible by road. Due to great success in the areas served by the airline, President Carlos Lleras Restrepo put into effect Law 80 of December 12, 1968, where it was decreed that SATENA would be treated as a public establishment, with all legal functions controlled by the Ministry of National Defence.
In 1972, SATENA acquired newer British-Built AVRO HS-748 turboprops capable of carrying 48 passengers. Between 1984 and 1985, the airline incorporated two Fokker F28 jet aircraft with the capacity to transport 65 passengers.
Since its creation, the airline has performed many public services on behalf of the Colombian people, having provided service during crises in the country's history, as was the case of the Huila and Cauca earthquake of June 6, 1994, when SATENA performed search and rescue operations, airlifted residents, as well as transporting needed medicines, foods and aid in general to the site of the tragedy.
In 1996, the largest modernization of the airline began, with the arrival of six Dornier 328s capable of carrying 32 passengers. These aircraft represent the new generation of equipment for regional routes.
In 2002, SATENA incorporated into its fleet one Embraer ERJ 145 with a capacity for 50 passengers, which arrived to replace the departing Fokker F28, which was reaching its maximum airframe hours. In 2004, SATENA became the airline with the newest and most modern aerial fleet in Colombia, when it incorporated two new Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft, allowing it to perform faster and more efficient services to its most isolated destinations.
At the end of 2010, SATENA suffered a financial crisis, consisting of bank debts amounting to 120 billion pesos and losses totaling 25 billion pesos. Due to this, the National Government proposed a law that would allow the commercial airline to get out of said crisis and compete in the air transport market in the country. This law consists of capitalizing this company at 98 billion pesos, where 49% of the company's shares will be put up for sale in a democratic process and within two years, while the remaining 51% would continue in the hands of the state, something that was never done in the end.
On April 29, 2018, the airline moved all its routes to Terminal Puente Aéreo belonging to El Dorado International Airport, to facilitate the service to passengers on regional flights.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pattara|first=Laura|date=2018-04-03|title=Bogota International Airport Guide|url=https://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2018/04/bogota-international-airport-guide/|access-date=2023-01-25|website=Chimu Adventures Blog|language=en-AU}}</ref>
==Destinations== SATENA operates to the following airports (as of January 2026):<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.satena.com/comercial/rutas-destinos/|title=Conoce nuestros destinos|website=Satena.com}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Country !City !Airport !Notes !class="unsortable"|Refs |- |rowspan="57"|Colombia||Acandí||Alcides Fernández Airport||align=center| ||<ref name="Acandoto">{{cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/satena-launches-services-from-medellin-to-acandi-and-condoto-1266602|title=SATENA launches services from Medellin to Acandi and Condoto|website=Centreforaviation.com|date=June 4, 2024}}</ref> |- |Aguachica||Hacaritama Airport||align=center| || |- |Apartadó||Antonio Roldán Betancourt Airport||align=center| || |- |Araracuara||Araracuara Airport||align=center| || |- |Arauca||Santiago Pérez Quiroz Airport||align=center| || |- |Bahía Solano||José Celestino Mutis Airport||align=center| || |- |Barranquilla||Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport||{{Airline hub}}||<ref name="BAQ">{{cite web|title=Barranquilla se ratifica como el hub de conectividad del Caribe: SATENA llegó con 4 nuevas rutas|url=https://barranquilla.gov.co/mi-barranquilla/barranquilla-se-ratifica-como-el-hub-de-conectividad-del-caribe-satena-llego-con-4-nuevas-rutas|website=gov.co|date=December 5, 2025|language=es|access-date=December 11, 2025}}</ref> |- |Bogotá||El Dorado International Airport||{{Airline hub}}|| |- |Bucaramanga||Palonegro International Airport||align=center| || |- |Buenaventura||Gerardo Tobar López Airport||align=center| || |- |Cali||Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport||align=center| || |- |Cartagena||Rafael Núñez International Airport||align=center| ||<ref name="CTG">{{cite web|url=https://aviacionline.com/2024/06/satena-conecta-cartagena-y-mompox-con-nueva-ruta-aerea/|title=SATENA conecta Cartagena y Mompox con nueva ruta aérea|language=es|author=Edgardo Gimenez Mazó|date=June 18, 2024}}</ref> |- |Cartago||Santa Ana Airport||align=center| || |- |Caucasia||Juan H. White Airport||align=center| || |- |Condoto||Mandinga Airport||align=center| ||<ref name="Acandoto"/> |- |Corozal||Las Brujas Airport||align=center| || |- |Cúcuta||Camilo Daza International Airport||align=center| || |- |El Bagre||El Bagre Airport||align=center| || |- |Florencia||Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport||align=center| || |- |Girardot||Santiago Vila Airport||align=center| || |- |Guapi||Guapi Airport||align=center| || |- |Ipiales||San Luis Airport||align=center| || |- |La Chorrera||La Chorrera Airport||align=center| || |- |La Macarena||La Macarena Airport||align=center| || |- |La Pedrera||La Pedrera Airport||align=center| || |- |Leticia||Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport||align=center| || |- |Medellín||Olaya Herrera Airport||{{Airline hub}}|| |- |Mitú||Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport||align=center| || |- |Montelíbano||Montelíbano Airport||align=center| || |- |Montería||Los Garzones Airport||align=center| || |- |Neiva||Benito Salas Airport||align=center| ||<ref name="NVA">{{cite web|url=https://hjdoblekhuila.com/post/la-aerolinea-satena-hoy-inaugura-nuevas-rutas-para-neiva-y-pitalito|title=La aerolínea Satena hoy inaugura nuevas rutas para Neiva y Pitalito|language=es|website=hjdoblekhuila.com|date=September 23, 2024}}</ref> |- |Nuquí||Reyes Murillo Airport||align=center| ||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.areacucuta.com/satena-inaugura-la-ruta-bogota-nuqui-y-conecta-a-la-capital-con-el-corazon-del-pacifico-colombiano/|title=SATENA inaugura la ruta Bogotá–Nuquí y conecta a la capital con el corazón del Pacífico colombiano|website=Areacucuta.com|language=es|date=October 31, 2025}}</ref> |- |Ocaña||Aguas Claras Airport||align=center| ||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/satena-expands-regional-coverage-with-new-medellin-ocana-and-cucuta-ocana-routes|title=SATENA Expands Regional Coverage with New Medellín–Ocaña and Cúcuta–Ocaña Routes|website=Aviacionline.com|date=February 18, 2025}}</ref> |- |Paipa||Juan José Rondón Airport||align=center| || |- |Pitalito||Contador Airport||align=center| ||<ref name="NVA"/> |- |Popayán||Guillermo León Valencia Airport||align=center| || |- |Providencia Island||El Embrujo Airport||align=center| || |- |Puerto Asís||Tres de Mayo Airport||align=center| || |- |Puerto Carreño||Germán Olano Airport||align=center| || |- |Puerto Inírida||César Gaviria Trujillo Airport||align=center| || |- |Puerto Leguízamo||Caucayá Airport||align=center| || |- |Quibdó||El Caraño Airport||align=center| || |- |Riohacha||Almirante Padilla Airport||align=center| || |- |San Andrés||Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport||align=center| || |- |San José del Guaviare||Jorge Enrique González Torres Airport||align=center| || |- |San Vicente del Caguán||Eduardo Falla Solano Airport||align=center| || |- |Santa Cruz de Mompox||San Bernardo Airport||align=center| ||<ref name="CTG"/> |- |Saravena||Los Colonizadores Airport||align=center| || |- |Tame||Gabriel Vargas Santos Airport||align=center| || |- |Tarapacá||Ipiranga Airport||align=center| || |- |Timbiquí||Timbiqui Airport||align=center| || |- |Tolú||Golfo de Morrosquillo Airport||align=center| || |- |Tumaco||La Florida Airport||align=center| || |- |Valledupar||Alfonso López Pumarejo Airport||align=center| ||<ref name="BAQ"/> |- |Villagarzón||Villa Garzón Airport||align=center| || |- |Villavicencio||La Vanguardia Airport||align=center| || |- |Yopal||El Alcaraván Airport||align=center| || |- |rowspan="3"|Venezuela||Caracas||Simón Bolívar International Airport||{{Terminated}}||<ref>{{cite web|title=Satena started direct flight operations Bogota - Caracas|url=https://comando-general-pruebas.sasoftco.com/en/multimedia/noticias/satena-started-direct-flight-operations-bogota-caracas|website=gov.co|access-date=January 31, 2026}}</ref> |- |Maracaibo||La Chinita International Airport||{{Terminated}}|| |- |Valencia||Arturo Michelena International Airport||align=center| || |}
=== Interline Agreements === * APG Airlines<ref>https://apg-airlines.com/all-partner-airlines/</ref>
==Fleet== ===Current=== [[File:HK-4748 - FAC-1183 ATR.42 SATENA Es Colombia (7501444098).jpg|thumb|A SATENA ATR 42-500 at El Dorado International Airport in 2012]] [[File:Colombia - Satena Embraer ERJ-145LR (EMB-145LR) HK-4535 (20869642404).jpg|thumb|A SATENA Embraer ERJ-145 at El Dorado International Airport in 2014]] {{As of|2025|11}}, Satena operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite journal |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - Satena |journal=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=57}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:0.5em auto;" |+ SATENA fleet |- !Aircraft !In<br>service !Orders !Passengers !Notes |- |ATR 42-500 |4 |— |48 | |- |ATR 42-600 |6 |— |48 | |- |ATR 72-600 |5 |— |70 | |- |Embraer ERJ-145 |2 |— |50 |To be retired.<ref>{{cite web|title=Colombia's Satena to retire E145s, receives first Twin Otter|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/146337-colombias-satena-to-retire-e145s-receives-first-twin-otter|website=Ch-aviation.com|date=November 1, 2024| first=Vanja | last = Popovic}}</ref> |- |De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviacionline.com/2024/07/colombias-satena-adds-8-dhc-6-twin-otter-planes-to-reach-remote-destinations/|title=Colombia’s SATENA Adds 8 DHC-6 Twin Otter Planes to Reach Remote Destinations|website=Aviacionline.com| first=Gastón | last = Sena|date=July 23, 2024}}</ref> |2 |6 |19 | |- !Total !19 !6 !colspan=2| |}
===Former=== SATENA had formerly operated the following aircraft:
*ATR 72-500 *Boeing 727-100 *Boeing 727-200 *CASA C-212 Aviocar *de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver *Dornier 328 *Douglas C-47 Skytrain *Douglas C-54 Skymaster *Douglas DC-9-10 *Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia *Embraer ERJ-170<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2020/10/colombia-satena-deja-de-volar-con-los-embraer-e170/|title=Colombia: SATENA deja de volar con los Embraer E170|website=Aviacionline.com|date=20 October 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref> *Fokker F-28 Fellowship *Harbin Y-12E *Hawker Siddeley HS 748 *Let L-410 Turbolet *PBY Catalina *Pilatus PC-6 Porter
==Accidents and incidents== *On September 8, 1969, a Douglas C-47 FAC-685 crashed near Apiay Air Force Base killing all 32 people on board. The aircraft was operating a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Monterrey Airport to Apiay.<ref name=ASN080969>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690908-0 |title=FAC-685 Accident Description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=14 February 2011}}</ref> *On January 21, 1972, a Douglas DC-3 FAC-661 crashed at San Nicolas whilst operating a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight from Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport, Medellín to Gerardo Tobar López Airport, Buenaventura.<ref name=ASN210172>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19720121-1|title=FAC-661 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=5 September 2010}}</ref> *On January 9, 1974, a HS 748 (FAC 1103) crashed into the Gabinete Peak 50 km north of Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport Florencia whilst on a flight from Florencia to Bogota. All 31 people on board were killed.<ref name="SATENA">{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19740109-0|title=FAC-1103 Accident description|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=AviationSafetyNetwork|publisher=AVS|access-date=May 5, 2017 }}</ref> *On January 8, 1975, a Douglas DC-3 (FAC-688) crashed shortly after take-off from Benito Salas Airport, Neiva on a flight to Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, Florencia. All 30 people on board were killed.<ref name=ASN080175>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19750000-0 |title= Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=17 August 2010}}</ref> *On May 3, 1975, a Douglas DC-3 (FAC-663) crashed at Sardinata. The aircraft was on a domestic scheduled passenger flight from Aguas Claras Airport, Ocaña to Camilo Daza Airport, Cúcuta. Three of the six occupants were killed.<ref name=ASN030575>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19750503-0 |title=FAC-663 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=21 August 2010}}</ref> *On April 2, 1976, a Douglas DC-3 (FAC-676) crashed on approach to Tres de Mayo Airport, Puerto Asís. The aircraft was on a flight from Gustavo Artunduaga Paredes Airport, Florencia. Five of the 16 people on board were killed.<ref name=ASN020476>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19760402-2 |title=FAC-676 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref> *On February 17, 1977, a Douglas C-47B (FAC-1125) was damaged beyond economic repair in a take-off accident at Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport, Mitú. All 28 people on board survived.<ref name=ASN170277>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19770217-1|title=FAC-1125 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref> *On November 20, 1977, a Douglas C-47B (FAC-1127) crashed in Colombia.<ref name=ASN201177a>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19771120-2|title=FAC-1127 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> *On November 20, 1977, a Douglas C-47A (FAC-1120) crashed at Llanos del Yori, Colombia.<ref name=ASN201177b>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19771120-3 |title=FAC-1120 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> *On February 21, 1978, a Douglas DC-3 (FAC-668) crashed at Serranía los Cobardes in Colombia.<ref name=ASN210278>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19780221-0 |title=FAC-668 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=1 August 2010}}</ref> *On June 25, 1981, a Douglas C-47 (FAC-1129) was damaged beyond repair in an accident. The aircraft was subsequently withdrawn from use and stored at La Vanguardia Airport, Villavicencio.<ref name=ASN250681>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19810625-0|title=FAC-1129 Accident description|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=24 July 2010}}</ref> *On May 3, 1983, a Douglas C-47B (FAC-1126) was damaged beyond repair in an accident at Palmaseca Airport, Cali.<ref name=ASN030583>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830503-0|title=FAC-1126 Accident report|publisher=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=27 July 2010}}</ref> *On May 5, 2010, an Embraer ERJ-145 overran the runway at Fabio Alberto León Bentley Airport, Mitú, Colombia. The aircraft crashed through the airport fence and then came to rest in a field, suffering substantial damage. None of the 37 passengers and 4 crew were injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aerocivil.gov.co/AAeronautica/InvAccidentes/LAccidentes/Accidentes/HK4536.pdf|title=Official accident investigation report|publisher=Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil|access-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> The runway at the time of the accident was wet as it had recently rained in the area. *On January 28, 2026, a Beechcraft 1900D operating as Flight 8849 went missing shortly after takeoff from Cucuta, Colombia. The flight was later found and no survivors were found out of the 15 passengers and crew.
==See also== *List of airlines of Colombia
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Satena}}
*[http://www.satena.com SATENA] {{in lang|es}} *[http://www.satena.gov.co/informacion-comercial/rutas/56 SATENA route map] *[http://www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&airline=Colombia%20-%20Satena Satena photos by MyAviation.net] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Y7yxzmbdE Video Tribute]
{{Portalbar|Colombia|Aviation}} {{Airlines of Colombia}} {{Military of Colombia}}
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Category:Airlines of Colombia Category:Airlines established in 1962 Category:Government-owned companies of Colombia Category:Military airlines Category:Transport in Bogotá Category:Colombian companies established in 1962