www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I got an email a few days ago that Taca & Avianca are merging to provide the "airline leader in Central and South America".

There was an article in yesterdays AM Costa Rica which gave a lot more info then was in the Email I got from TACA earlier this week.

From AM Costa Rica Friday October 9, 2009

TACA, Avianca will merge into one airline group

Special to A.M. Costa Rica

Synergy Group and Grupo Taca Holdings Ltd announced Thursday that they have reached an agreement leading to the creation of a merged airline group. As a result of this agreement, each shareholder will contribute its respective controlling ownership participations in the operations of Aerovías Del Continente Americano S.A., known as Avianca, based in Colombia, and Grupo TACA, the Central American carrier, to a newly formed holding company. The transaction is subject to regulatory and other antitrust approvals.

The new group will capitalize on two of the best known airline brands in Latin America, two world-class product offerings, strong hubs and complementary networks, as well as two uniquely entrepreneurial and service-oriented cultures with highly motivated employees, said the announcement. By leveraging the new group’s four hubs — in Bogota, Lima, San Salvador and San Jose, Costa Rica, — Avianca and TACA will be able to offer customers better service to more destinations than any other carrier in the region. Employees will also benefit from the new group’s greater geographical diversification and stronger combined platform for future growth and career development in the face of a still challenging economic environment, volatile fuel prices and intense competition, the announcement said.

Roberto Kriete, chairman and CEO of TACA, who will serve as chairman of the future group, said, “Grupo TACA has long been a leading force for consolidation and rationalization in the Latin American airline industry. This latest chapter is a significant milestone in our corporate evolution, giving us the breadth and scale to better compete with any player in our markets while ensuring our long-term success. It represents a unique opportunity for all of our employees and shareholders to form part of one of the leading airline groups in the Americas.”

Germán Efromovich, chairman of the Synergy Group, said, “We are proud of what Avianca has achieved over the past few years in terms of the strong corporate culture we have developed and the quality of service we are providing. With this formidable partnership we will be able to build further on that success and provide our passengers access to what is now Latin America’s leading airline network, as well as creating opportunities for further growth and development for all our employees.”

Avianca and TACA have nearly $3 billion in aggregate annual revenues, serve more than 100 destinations worldwide (including 75 cities in Latin America, the largest number of any carrier), operate a fleet of 129 aircraft, employ approximately 12,000 people, and have over 3 million frequent-flyer program members.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I have a question for those of you with some experience using Avianca in Columbia. As many of you probably realize you can not buy flights off their Colombian web site and use a US based credit card to pay for it. There is the option of moving over to the US web site but in my situation it is a lot more expensive $350 vs $100 on the CO site. There is a change of class but that makes no difference to me I'm looking to go from BOG to Valledupar.

Is there some kind of a work around on the credit card or should I attempt to have my girl buy my ticket locally?

A related question - has anyone ever been to Valledupar? Just wondering what the visiting American experience might be like. My girls says its safe but just wondering?

I've booked tickets on the Colombian site, and then called Avianca customer service to pay for the ticket with my American credit card. I've also had someone pick up and pay for tickets at an Avianca office in Colombia. Never been to Cesar or Valledupar.

I wonder how the TACA/Avianca merger will effect the already high Central America to South American ticket prices. With the merger of the two primary carriers, Competition will decrease in that market. I don't think the merger will impact prices between the US and CA/SA... there are already enough US carriers to keep that market competitive.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

???

What airlines (besides Taca and Lacsa) does the Taca Group own?

Aviateca - Guatemala

NICA - Nicaragua

Islena - Honduras

TACA Peru - Peru

Only LACSA retains its identity.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Don't forget their local/domestic carriers (or, excuse me, other seperate airlines operating under their umbrella):
Sansa - Costa Rica
La Costena - Nicaragua
Aero Perlas - Panama

Re: Valledupar - never been there myself and know little about it. One thing I do know (which probably won't be too helpful for you) is that it is the center of Vallenato music in Colombia. In fact they hold a huge Vallenato music festival there each spring (one of the biggest music festivals in the country). Vallenato is a highly popular Colombian folk music form that is very similar to Cumbia, which I'm sure you're all familiar with as a very lively dance music that most chicas go crazy to. Vallenato was fused with Cumbia and modern latin rock/pop and brought to world-wide popularity by my 2nd favorite Colombian musical performer Carlos Vives (I'll give you only 1 guess who my favorite is ). You might want to give him a listen before you head down.

As for local safety, this is only a guess but it could be the very fact that there will be so few other gringos there (and that you'll be with a local) might make it actually more safe there than in Medellin, Cartagena, Baranquilla or other large cities (sort of like going to San Isidro in Costa Rica).

It is my understanding that Grupo TACA bought the majority shares of Aviateca, Lacsa and NICA which means that they effectively own them. They always owned TACA Peru. I do not know and can not find much out about the ownership of Islena. It operates as a TACA regional such as Sansa, La Costena and Aero Perlas that Prolijo mentioned.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I wonder what the new creation's plane paint scheme and logo will look like?

"I'm deeply sorry and we will fix it, I promise"

Tony Hayward, BP

According to all the press releases I have read each airline will maintain their own identity and trademarks.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Between 1989 and 1995, TACA bought the majority shares of the flag airlines of Guatemala (AVIATECA), Costa Rica (Lacsa), and Nicaragua (NICA), consolidating operations under a new brand name, Grupo TACA. In 2008, Roberto Kriete and the board of directors decided to revert back to the original name; TACA International Airlines since the consolidation of the acquired airlines was completed.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

As soon as "i get my life back"