Air Vias

Air Vias was the first Brazilian airline dedicated exclusively for charter flights. It operated between 1993 and 1995.

Air Vias
Founded1993
Commenced operations1994
Ceased operations1995
HeadquartersRio de Janeiro, Brazil

History

Air Vias was founded on December 25, 1993, as the first Brazilian airline dedicated exclusively to charter flights. Flights started in January 1994.[1]

The airline started with a fleet of a Boeing 727-200 and a Douglas DC-8-62. The Boeing 727-200 operated within domestic destinations in Brazil and the Douglas DC-8-62 to international destinations, particularly to the Caribbean.

The year 1994 was good for business and Air Vias flew 159.540 passengers. The year 1995 however brought many operational difficulties, which led to constant delays and cancellations. Furthermore, the DC-8-62 was returned to the lessor and another Boeing 727-200 was added to the fleet.[2]

During 1995 Air Vias had a contract with TABA in which TABA chartered one Air Vias' Boeing 727-200 for its scheduled flights during weekdays. On weekends charter flights were operated by Air Vias.

In November 1995 Air Vias ceased its operations.

Destinations

Air Vias flew to destinations as contracted by tour operators. The main client of Air Vias was the Brazilian tour operator CVC.

Brazilian destinations included Porto Alegre, Foz do Iguaçú, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Porto Seguro, Aracajú, Maceió, Recife, Natal, Fortaleza, Manaus, Campo Grande and Cuiabá.

International destinations included Cancún, St. Maarten, Aruba, Barbados, Porlamar (Isla Margarita), and eventual technical stops in Paramaribo when the Boeing 727 operated the flights from São Paulo to Cancún.

The Boeing 727-200 flew particularly from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão and São Paulo-Guarulhos to the Brazilian destinations mentioned above as well as it was also used on flights to Aruba, Porlamar and St. Maarten usually with a technical stop in Manaus. In addition, this aircraft type also operated the only scheduled service that Air Vias had: an evening flight on the São Paulo/Campo Grande/Cuiabá and return.

The Douglas DC-8 was used on long-haul flights, mainly to Cancún (from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Brasília) and to St. Maarten.

Fleet
Air Vias Fleet
Aircraft Total Years of operation Notes
Douglas DC-8-62 1 1993–1994 -
Boeing 727-200 2 1993–1995 1 chartered to TABA in 1995

McDonnell Douglas DC-8-62H – PP-AIY (cn 46070/467)

Boeing 727-247 – PP-AIV (cn 20874/1057) Ex N2818W

Boeing 727-2J4 – PP-AIW (cn 22079/1588)

Airline Affinity Program

Air Vias did not have an airline affinity program.

References
  1. Beting, Gianfranco. "45 anos de saudade no céu: Breve história de 45 empresas aéreas brasileiras extintas" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Revista Flap. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  2. "Air Vias (Brasil)" (in Portuguese). Aviação Brasil. Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
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