Avianca Brazil to exit Star Alliance

Star Alliance’s footprint is shrinking slightly in Brazil, with Ocean Air Linhas Aéreas S/A – more commonly known as Avianca Brazil will exit the network from the 1st September 2019.

Avianca Airbus A319 – Image, Avianca

The move comes after what the alliance says

” follows several months of bankruptcy protection and the withdrawal of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by Brazilian regulator ANAC.”

The move will reduce Star Alliance to 27 members, with other Avianca parts that are in the alliance remaining, leaving the other airlines to fight it out.

Again – Avianca itself (and its other affiliates) are unaffected.

Avianca Brasl has a fleet of five Airbus A318 and two Airbus A319 aircraft. With the withdrawal of the safety certificate, you can bet the lessors want their frames back.

Star Alliance will continue to serve Brazil with multiple carriers including Air Canada, Avianca, Air China, Copa Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, South African Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines and United.

In quotes

Jeffrey Goh, CEO Star Alliance, said:

“Initially joining Star Alliance in 2015, Avianca Brasil made important contributions to our customer proposition in the Brazilian market, and we regret this unfortunate development.

“I wish to stress that the exit of Avianca Brasil in no way affects the membership of Avianca S.A., our valued member based in Bogota, Colombia, which continues to be a significant contributor to the Alliance in South America.”

A small shrink

With Avianca Brazil being in difficult straits for some time along with the withdrawal of a safety certificate, Star Alliance acted in defending its airlines.

But with seven aircraft – it remains a very small shrink and other airlines will no doubt fill in the gaps.

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