Aserca Airlines

Aserca Airlines C.A. (legally Aero Servicios Carabobo C.A.) was an airline based in Valencia, Venezuela.[2][3] It operated domestic and regional scheduled services to destinations in the Caribbean and Central America. Its main hub was at Arturo Michelena International Airport.[4]

Aserca Airlines C.A
IATA ICAO Callsign
R7 OCA ASERCA
FoundedMarch 6, 1968
Commenced operationsSeptember 14, 1992
Ceased operationsMay 22, 2018
Hubs
Frequent-flyer programPrivilege
AllianceSBA Airlines
Fleet size7
Destinations11
Parent companyGrupo Cóndor C.A.[1]
HeadquartersValencia, Venezuela
Key peopleSimeon Garcia
Migdalia Garcia
Websitewww.asercaairlines.com

History
The old Aserca Airlines logo

The airline was established on March 6, 1968 as a private air transport company. Subsequently, on July 27, 1990, the Valencian businessman Simeón García, acquired all the shares and decided to direct it to passenger air transport. The airline started operations on September 4, 1992 with small aircraft for private transport. In 1992 it entered the domestic scheduled market with a leased Douglas DC-9-30. Aserca's operations were centred on Valencia, but it managed to develop Caracas as a hub after 1994 which, combined with the demise of flag carrier Viasa in 1997, made Aserca experience a significant growth in its market share, expanding its network to Bogotá, Lima and Miami, via Aruba. Between 1998 and 2000 Aserca had a controlling interest in Air Aruba, forming an alliance between both airlines.

On September 2008, the airline created a commercial alliance with SBA Airlines,[5] also from Venezuela with whom it undertakes international expansion through, unifying the corporate image of both airlines and coordinating their respective itineraries to improve their connection times between the flights of both airlines, to facilitate connections between the national destinations of Aserca with international destinations of SBA. A proposed merger was in discussion. On the other hand, the alliance now called Grupo Cóndor C.A., collaborated with the Dominican airline PAWA Dominicana.

On June 2013, Venezuela's National Institute of Civil Aviation (INAC) announced that it will prohibit operations of classic aircraft types like the Douglas DC-9, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737-200 in Venezuela from November 1, 2013. Aserca Airlines could obtain a special dispensation from INAC allowing the airline to operate its remaining two DC-9s until July 1, 2014. Aserca chose to replace its DC-9 with the McDonnell Douglas MD-80.

On February 21, 2018, it was announced that INAC had withdrawn the airline's operating license until further notice. The country's newspapers blame the lack of proof of insurance for the aircraft in the fleet. Aserca Airlines planned to restart operations. But on May 22, 2018, Aserca announced it had ceased all operations due to financial bankruptcy after returned its air operator's certificate.[6][3][2]

Destinations
A former Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 in its former color scheme

Aserca Airlines served the following destination at the time of its demise:

Country City Airport Notes Refs
 ArubaOranjestadQueen Beatrix International Airport
 CuraçaoWillemstadCuraçao International Airport
 Dominican RepublicSanto DomingoLas Américas International Airport
 VenezuelaBarquisimetoJacinto Lara International Airport
CaracasSimón Bolívar International AirportHub
El VigiaJuan Pablo Pérez Alfonzo Airport
Las PiedrasJosefa Camejo International Airport
MaracaiboLa Chinita International Airport
MaturínJosé Tadeo Monagas International Airport
Puerto OrdazManuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport
ValenciaArturo Michelena International AirportHub

Codeshare agreements

Aserca Airlines additionally had codeshare agreements with:

Fleet

Final fleet
A former Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 in its current scheme
An Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82

The Aserca Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft (as of March 2018):[7]

Aserca Airlines fleet
Aircraft In
service		 Passengers Notes
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 4 152 2 are currently stored
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 3 165 2 leased to SBA Airlines
Total 8

Former fleet

Over the years, Aserca Airlines has operated the following aircraft types:[7]

Aserca Airlines former fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Boeing 737-200 3 2001 2004 Leased from TACA Airlines
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 1 2002 2003
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 20 1992 2014
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 10 1992 2014
McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 1 1998 2000 Leased from Air Aruba

See also

References
  1. "Aserca and SBA Airlines celebrated the anniversary of Grupo Condor". Dinero.com.ve (in Spanish). Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  2. ch-aviation.com - Ascera Airlines retrieved 24 March 2018
  3. eluniversal.com - Aserca Airlines cierra operaciones en Venezuela (Spanish) 24 March 2018
  4. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 27 March 2007. pp. 77–78.
  5. "Commercial Alliance between Aserca Airlines and SBA Airlines celebrates 2 years". October 14, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
  6. "Aserca anunció el cese de sus operaciones tras 25 años en el país". 23 May 2018.
  7. "Aserca Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved February 2, 2021.

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