Suspension of Viva Air flights affected hundreds of passengers

On the night of last Monday, the low cost airline Viva Air —with parent company in Colombia— announced the indefinite suspension of its operations after 11 years of activity, as a result of a financial crisis and its disagreement with the Government of Gustavo Petro that, through Civil Aeronautics, expands its business merger with Avianca.

According to Viva Air, the drastic decision was made after learning that Civil Aeronautics included five other companies as interested third parties in the integration process: Ultra Air, Latam Airlines, Wingo, Aerolineas Argentinas and JetSmart.

From the low-price airline, they claimed that their alliance with Avianca “is their only chance to continue flying.”

Uncertainty for travelers

At the Jorge Chávez International Airport, dozens of passengers with tickets to Colombia and local destinations such as Cusco were baffled by the cancellation of their flights. Most of them only found out at the airport terminal about the suspension of Viva’s activities. They even pointed out that during the night they received an email from the company confirming their respective trips.

“The problem started last night, Viva’s communication (the statement released on her social networks) is a flash communication. There was no advance warning that this could occur.”, he commented to The Republic Miguel Rabanala customer who bought two round-trip tickets for the Lima-Cusco-Lima route.

Another constant was the lack of response from the airline. “They don’t give me any solution. They don’t tell me if I’m going or not, or if they change me (the flight). I’m waiting for them to tell me something,” he said. Theresa Caballeroa passenger who bought her flight ticket to Cusco a month ago.

Help affected passengers

Both Latam Airlines Peru and JetSmart and Sky announced that, after the cessation of Viva Air operations, they will cover some flights of passengers that had already been scheduled free of charge.

In its pronouncement, Latam indicated that the Viva Air passengers whose flight date is between Monday, February 27 and Thursday, March 2, 2023and have purchased their tickets before Monday, February 27 of this year, can access “this free protection.”

While JetSmart and Sky They will only focus on frustrated trips to Cusco for tickets purchased from February 8 to March 2depending on the availability of seats on their planes.

MTC will initiate administrative process

On the other hand, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) reported that it will initiate an administrative process against Viva Air “for non-compliance with the coverage service of its routes to and from our country.”

Meanwhile, Indecopi will also supervise the Colombian firm for the abrupt interruption of its services to the detriment of consumers; Therefore, it urges you to keep the customer service channels active and refund the money for the canceled tickets.

The data

figures. At the end of last year, Viva Air concentrated only 2.9% of participation in national traffic and transported 354,949 passengers only above ATSA (1.1%) and well below the market leaders: Latam Airlines Peru (64.5%) and Sky Airline Peru (19.1%).

Approaches:

Teresa Caballero, Viva Air passenger:

“This situation takes me by surprise. I’m here waiting for you to tell me something. I would like to enter and make my claim, but they won’t let me enter. I had bought my ticket a month ago.

Miguel Rabanal, Viva Air passenger:

“The problem started last night. Viva’s communication (the statement broadcast on its social networks) is a flash communication. There was no prior warning that this could occur.”