Avianca Guatemala

The airline was established in 1929 as Aerovías de Guatemala and was founded by Alfredo Denby Chattfield. In March 14, 1945, the airline was nationalized during the government of Juan José Arevalo and established as Empresa Guatemalteca de Aviación S. A., which was shortened to Aviateca. One of the original founders was Alfredo Castaneda Duarte who also served as a pilot. Aviateca started operations in March 1946 and early aircraft operated by the carrier including the Douglas DC-3.

In 1961, service to Miami was originated with four-engined Douglas DC-6 airliners. The airline later operated the Douglas DC-6B version as well. Convair 340/440 twin-engined medium airliners were also acquired to replace some of the DC-3s on short-haul routes in Latin America.

Aviateca introduced jet service as a customer for the British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven medium twin jet in 1970. In 1974, the airline was operating the stretched BAC One-Eleven series 500 version of the British-manufactured jet on international flights to Miami, New Orleans, Mexico City, Mérida and San Jose, Costa Rica.[2] It also temporarily leased a Fokker F28 Fellowship, a Boeing 720 and a Douglas DC-8 in the 1970s. Aviateca later acquired two Boeing 727-100s, which operated for the airline in the 1980s. From 1989 on Aviateca's fleet consisted of several Boeing 737-200 and Boeing 737-300 jetliners. A full cargo Boeing 737-300 was also operated for a few months.

The aircraft was referred to by locals as "las papayas voladoras" (the flying papayas) due to the paint scheme used during the 1970s, in which the underbelly was painted a reddish orange. Later Aviateca switched to blue. From 2006 to 2007, Aviateca operated an Airbus A319 with the TACA-style Aviateca logo on the engines. Five of TACA's ATR 42-300s were registered for Aviateca in Guatemala. Due to reorganization measures at Avianca Holdings, Aviateca was renamed Avianca Guatemala in 2013.

A Douglas DC-6A of Aviateca Cargo at Miami Airport in 1971

The 1980s "flying papaya" livery, shown on a Boeing 727-100

A hybrid Aviateca/TACA Boeing 737-200 in the late 90s livery, photographed in January 1999

This is a list of both current and terminated destinations of Aviateca.[3]

• On 17 February 1975, Douglas C-47A TG-AMA was destroyed by fire at El Petén Airport, Tikal.[7]

• On 18 November 1975, Douglas C-47 TG-AGA crashed within Petén Department whilst on a passenger flight from Uaxactun Airport to Flores International Airport, Santa Elena.[8]

• On 27 April 1977, Convair 240 TG-ACA crashed near Guatemala City, Guatemala, killing all 28 people on board.

• On 30 September 1977, Douglas C-47A TG-AKA was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Flores International Airport, Santa Elena. One of the three crew members was killed.[9]

• On 26 July 1978, Douglas DC-3 TG-AFA overran the runway at Flores International Airport following a birdstrike on take-off and was reported to have been damaged beyond economic repair.[10] The aircraft was later repaired and returned to service.[11]

• On August 9, 1995, at approximately 2014 local time (0214 UTC August 10, 1995), a Boeing 737-200 (N125GU) was destroyed when it collided with the side of the San Vicente (Chichontepec) volcano, 15 miles northeast of San Salvador International Airport, San Salvador. The flight (GU901) was on an IFR flight plan from La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, Guatemala to Comalapa International Airport, San Salvador, El Salvador. All 7 crew members and 58 passengers died on the crash. Severe weather existed at the time, and the aircraft had deviated from airway G436 to the north to avoid thunderstorms. The aircraft was owned by CIT Leasing Corporation and leased to Aviateca.[12][13]

Media related to Avianca Guatemala at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Aviateca Former Fleet Detail
• Aviateca's Photos