TACA in Venezuela???

[jrsanch]

So,Flight Internationational had an article mentioning that TACA is behind a merger or some sort of partnership with a Venezuelan Airline to which Mr. Ramiz of course was trying to blockade...
Anyone with more info or rumour...

[Panama Jack]

What issue of Flight International is that in?

[latinaviation]

Are you sure it wasn't Taca trying to block Ramiz's purchase of Sol Air?

[jrsanch]

Sorry to keep you all waiting,
It's the 18-24 May 2004 issue,
Here's the article:


18 May 2004


Central America's TACA Group looks set to branch into Venezuela, having initiated the process of obtaining an air operator's certificate (AOC) in the country. The identity of the group's expected local partner is not known.

Although the airline declines to confirm the move, a source within the Venezuelan civil aviation administration says that TACA Group - which comprises six Latin American carriers - has requested that the procedure to secure the AOC be started.

Nelson Ramiz, the head of Venezuela's largest airline, Aeropostal, says that he is aware of the TACA move and has instructed lawyers to evaluate the legal status of a local airline being managed by a foreign carrier.

"The market in Venezuela is in bad shape," he says. "The advent of a foreign carrier to the domestic market can be a danger to the viability of many thinner routes. We will obviously object formally against the TACA project."

TACA Group is an an alliance of six independent carriers in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru, which have some common ownership. The group's chief executive Charles Donley has revealed that it had requested approval from the US Department of Transportation to use a single designator code - TA - and a single trade-name for all the airlines in an effort to strengthen its brand image and allow it to compete more effectively with larger carriers.

"The TACA carriers believe that what they are seeking is fully consistent with the letter and spirit of the open skies agreements that their homelands have entered with the USA," says Donley. "An easily identifiable mark will notify consumers about the identity of the operating carrier."

RAINER UPHOFF / BOGOTA

[Panama Jack]

Back to the future?


http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/ve/tacadv/46jultdv.gif

http://www.timetableimages.com/i-t/taven50.jpg

http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/ve/tacadv/530310tdv.jpg http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/ve/tacadv/530310tdvreverse.jpg

Link: Linea Aerea TACA de Venezuela was also formed on 18 August 1944 and was 55 percent owned by the Venezuelan government. (http://airlines.afriqonline.com/airlines/609.htm)

Link: Article TACA de Colombia/ TACA de Venezuela (http://www.laahs.com/art04.htm)

[jrsanch]

guess they were always after a Venezuelan operation...

Great post Panama Jack, great info and research from your part
Never heard of TACA in Venezuela before this times, was not in the picture yet :D

But about the new plans, did some hangar talk and asked around and no one seems to know about this, one comment suggested the Venezuelan outfit flying Jetstreams might be the one linked to them, but still, as this forum, only a rumour

[Panama Jack]

jrsanch, I had discovered all of this by mistake today, as I was looking for more info on the internet about your news. I never knew about any of this! Needless to say, it was a rewarding way to spend a little bit of time surfing the internet. I looks like history just keeps repeating itself!

[Aero Honduras]

It may be an Answer to Aeropostal´s plans in Central America?