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~~South America, even more than Africa, has a record for running once proud national carriers into the ground; often due to government intervention, general mismanagement and corruption. Venezuela certainly is an example of a nation that ought to be a wealthy regional leader but is instead racked by crime and disfunction. Just recently several airlines have withdrawn services after not being paid monies owed by the Venezuelan Govt and the flag carrier Conviasa is an 'unusual' airline. But it wasn't always so...
VIASA Fleet by rstretton, on Flickr
Venezolana Internacional de Aviación Sociedad Anónima (VIASA) began operations in 1960 taking over the international routes of LAV and AVENSA. Though setup by the government it was run as a private airline. It built a strong relationship with KLM (leasing their DC-8s) and tookover 2 of AVENSA's DC-6s and their order for a CV-880. Another two were eventually purchased for a fleet of three taken on from 1961. From Caracas these aircraft serviced the airlines routes to Maracaibo, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Paramaribo, and Surinam with dual First/Economy Class capacity for 78. In 1963 a pool agreement was reached with KLM for operating transatlantic routes and otheragreement was signed whereby KLM leased the third CV-880 (YV-C-VIC) for operations on its Caribbean services and flew it painted in KLM colours on one side.
VIASA / KLM Convair CV-880 by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA / KLM Convair CV-880 by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA / KLM Convair CV-880 by rstretton, on Flickr
The Convairs were gradually replaced by DC-8s and DC-9s. YV-C-VIC became VR-HFX with Cathay Pacific when the KLM lease agreement ended in November 1965. She was written off in November 1967 when she overran the runway at Hong Kong and her nosegear collapsed.
From 1966 VIASA's own DC-8-50s began to arrive and in 1967 a pair of DC-8-63s were ordered also.
In 1971 VIASA renewed its pool agreement with KLM and Iberia on European services and in 1972 began services with a KLM 747. It was however the smaller DC-10 which would become the backbone of the fleet with two being ordered through KLM. The first arrived in 1974 followed by a second aircraft, PH-DTG which had been delivered to KLM in April 1973. This pair gained Venezuelan registry in 1977 becoming 133C and 134C. By 1981 135-138C had also been delivered. VIASA had been profitable up till 1975 but rising fuel costs and union troubles led to nationalisation in 1976.
VIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on Flickr
A pair of MD-80s arrived for regional services in 1982 but had to be returned two years later.
The devaluation of the bolivar in 1983 hit the carrier hard and by 1985 it was in massive debt. The fleet was reduced to 5 DC-10s with a pair of leased A300s operating regional routes from 1987.
The livery had been modified though - first large VIASA titles appeared on the tail instead of the oval.
Then more dramatically the cheatline was lowered, made thinner, two tone and lightened.
An Iberia takeover in the early 90s led to further acrimony (including suggestions of asset stripping) and the carrier was finally shutdown in 1997. As with Aerolineas Argentinas the carrier had taken on an Iberia themed livery when IB became the owner and operated ex-Iberia 727s.
Iberia took on YV-134C as EC-GTB. She was stored in 1999 and broken up from 2005 onwards. Following VIASA’s bankruptcy in 1997 Venezuela remained without a national carrier until the creation of Conviasa in 2004.
VIASA Fleet by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA Fleet by rstretton, on Flickr
VIASA Fleet by rstretton, on FlickrVenezolana Internacional de Aviación Sociedad Anónima (VIASA) began operations in 1960 taking over the international routes of LAV and AVENSA. Though setup by the government it was run as a private airline. It built a strong relationship with KLM (leasing their DC-8s) and tookover 2 of AVENSA's DC-6s and their order for a CV-880. Another two were eventually purchased for a fleet of three taken on from 1961. From Caracas these aircraft serviced the airlines routes to Maracaibo, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Paramaribo, and Surinam with dual First/Economy Class capacity for 78. In 1963 a pool agreement was reached with KLM for operating transatlantic routes and otheragreement was signed whereby KLM leased the third CV-880 (YV-C-VIC) for operations on its Caribbean services and flew it painted in KLM colours on one side.
VIASA / KLM Convair CV-880 by rstretton, on FlickrVIASA / KLM Convair CV-880 by rstretton, on FlickrVIASA / KLM Convair CV-880 by rstretton, on FlickrThe Convairs were gradually replaced by DC-8s and DC-9s. YV-C-VIC became VR-HFX with Cathay Pacific when the KLM lease agreement ended in November 1965. She was written off in November 1967 when she overran the runway at Hong Kong and her nosegear collapsed.
From 1966 VIASA's own DC-8-50s began to arrive and in 1967 a pair of DC-8-63s were ordered also.
In 1971 VIASA renewed its pool agreement with KLM and Iberia on European services and in 1972 began services with a KLM 747. It was however the smaller DC-10 which would become the backbone of the fleet with two being ordered through KLM. The first arrived in 1974 followed by a second aircraft, PH-DTG which had been delivered to KLM in April 1973. This pair gained Venezuelan registry in 1977 becoming 133C and 134C. By 1981 135-138C had also been delivered. VIASA had been profitable up till 1975 but rising fuel costs and union troubles led to nationalisation in 1976.
VIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on FlickrVIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on FlickrVIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on FlickrVIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on FlickrVIASA McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 by rstretton, on FlickrA pair of MD-80s arrived for regional services in 1982 but had to be returned two years later.
The devaluation of the bolivar in 1983 hit the carrier hard and by 1985 it was in massive debt. The fleet was reduced to 5 DC-10s with a pair of leased A300s operating regional routes from 1987.
The livery had been modified though - first large VIASA titles appeared on the tail instead of the oval.
Then more dramatically the cheatline was lowered, made thinner, two tone and lightened.
An Iberia takeover in the early 90s led to further acrimony (including suggestions of asset stripping) and the carrier was finally shutdown in 1997. As with Aerolineas Argentinas the carrier had taken on an Iberia themed livery when IB became the owner and operated ex-Iberia 727s.
Iberia took on YV-134C as EC-GTB. She was stored in 1999 and broken up from 2005 onwards. Following VIASA’s bankruptcy in 1997 Venezuela remained without a national carrier until the creation of Conviasa in 2004.
VIASA Fleet by rstretton, on FlickrVIASA Fleet by rstretton, on Flickr
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