Venezuela to open new airline by mid 2004

Venezuela will have a new air carrier by mid 2004 to cover both domestic and international flights. Logistics and technical support will be provided by the country’s Air Force.

As soon as the project is completed, CONVIANSA (Spanish acronym for Venezuelan Consortium of Aviation Industries and Air Services) will fly with fourteen aircraft, Venezuela’s Trade Minister Wilmar Castro explained.

In the beginning, the new airline will be a state-run company supposed to open up to private capital later on.

CONVIANSA will be hubbed on Margarita Island off the Venezuelan eastern coast, Mr. Castro pointed out.

As to the technical support the Venezuelan Air Force will provide the new airline with, Mr. Castro mentioned the implementation of training programs for pilots and technicians, as well as the installation of ground backup systems.

Spokespeople for the government have repeatedly stated their desire to count once again on a flagship airline they can call their own after VIASA went bankrupt nearly a decade ago.

At the onset, CONVIASA will operate on the basis of leased planes with an initial budget that’s supposed to peak $100 million, “depending on the evolution of the market,” Mr. Castro noted.

One of the goals behind this effort is to give Venezuela’s tourist development a big boost. “By 2007, we’ve set our sights on receiving 750,000 foreign tourists and over 13 million local travelers –another market segment we’re determined to stir up,” Mr. Castro concluded.