RUTACA Airlines
RUTACA Airlines (legally Rutas Aéreas C.A.) is an airline headquartered in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela with its home base at Tomás de Heres Airport and a hub at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas.[1]
![]() | |||||||
| |||||||
Founded | February 6, 1974 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hubs | Simón Bolívar International Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 7 | ||||||
Destinations | 9 | ||||||
Headquarters | Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela | ||||||
Website | www |
History
RUTACA Airlines was founded on February 6, 1974, operating non-scheduled cargo and passenger flights with small aircraft. It currently operates scheduled and charter services throughout the country. The airline's operations suffered gravely during the 2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis, including suspending flights between key routes.
Destinations

As of April 2022, RUTACA Airlines serves the following destinations:[2]
Fleet
Current fleet

The RUTACA Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (as of July 2021):[6]
Aircraft | In service |
Orders | Passengers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boeing 737-200 | 1 | — | 99 | |
Boeing 737-300 | 2 | — | 149 | |
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | 2 | — | 166 | Both parked |
McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | 2 | — | 166 | Both parked |
Total | 7 | — |
Former fleet
RUTACA Airlines formerly operated the following aircraft:
Accidents and incidents
- On June 5, 1987, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration YV-230C) was disarmed in flight over the area of Upata, Bolívar state. All 10 occupants on board died.
- On January 25, 2001, RUTACA Airlines Flight 225, a Douglas DC-3 (registered YV-244C) crashed shortly after taking off from Ciudad Bolívar, killing all 20 passengers and four crew members.[7]
- On October 16, 2008, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV162T) landed on runway 28R at Simón Bolívar International Airport following a domestic flight from Puerto Ordaz. After touchdown, the airplane swerved to the left. The nose came to rest on the runway embankment.[8]
- On February 15, 2009, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registered YV1950) overran the runway at Guasdualito Airport following a domestic flight from Las Flecheras Airport. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller and underside of the fuselage.[9]
- On July 27, 2010, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV169T) made an emergency landing at Ciudad Guayana international airport following a domestic flight from Ciudad Bolivar after problems in engine number one.
See also
References
- "Rutaca Airlines information". Retrieved 30 March 2018.
- "Rutaca - Destinos".
- "Rutaca incorpora a Ciudad Bolívar entre sus destinos nacionales". Versionfinal.com.ve. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- "Rutaca Airlines abrirá vuelo entre Maracaibo, Venezuela y Punta Cana". Arecoa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- Daniel Martínez Curiel. "Rutaca Airlines inicia vuelos entre Caracas y Santo Domingo del Táchira". Torreeldorado.co (in Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- "Rutaca Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- Aviation Safety Net accessed 15 August 2009
- Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-2H4 YV162T Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
- Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Grand Caravan YV1950 Guasdualito-Vare Maria Airport (GDO)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 30 March 2018.