Aerocontinente Pres wanted by US

[latinaviation]

Doesn't look good. Has Aerocontinente Dominicana suspended operations to the US, as a result of Aerocontinente's authorization to serve the US being suspended?

The US is seeking the extradition of the president of Peruvian airline AeroContinente, Lupe Zevallos. Previous enquiries into the airlines role in illicit drug trafficking centered on her brother and AeroContinente founder, Fernando Zevallos.

Article in Spanish:
http://www.rpp.com.pe/noticia/economia/7783.php

[lou ross]

That's interesting. It would make you wonder why the US allowed TAESA to fly into that country and never went after the owner. lr.

[crazy_max]

OLD NEWS GUYS..

En Aerocontinente viaja la corriente y en Aviandina viaja la fina.

[latinaviation]

Actually it's not old news. Prior investigations were centered on Fernando Zevallos, not Lupe. And having their certificate to operate to the US pulled doesn't help.

[latinaviation]

Looks like more drama for Zevallos. All of his US assets have been frozen and being a member in the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Determination Act prohibits Americans from flying his airline and also blocks Aerocontinente from purchasing US-made parts for their fleet. This is a huge blow to Aerocontinente.

Read more here (http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040602/peru_zevallos_2.html).

[Panama Jack]

So either they are toast, or they go Airbus, or they start leasing like Cubana does?

[latinaviation]

Yup, you got it PJ. I particularly like how American's are forbidden from flying Aerocontinente. I knew the US State Dept. had issued a memorandum to forbid State Dept (ie, Embasssy) personnel from using the airline, but normal citizens? This gets more interesting by the day.