Avianca Brasil plots global expansion

An airline called OceanAir Linhas Aéreas might not sell many tickets in New York and Miami, no matter how low the fares. Travellers tend to avoid the unfamiliar, and they might be jittery about booking a Brazilian airline they don’t know. But consumers have been booking journeys on that airline, even if they don’t know it. OceanAir remains the official name of what most travellers know as Avianca Brasil. Until recently, Brazil’s fourth-largest carrier had flown almost exclusively domestic routes, but in 2017, it launched new long-haul service to New York and Miami, with more growth planned. The name Avianca likely sounds familiar to many flyers, but unless they’re super travellers, they’re probably not thinking about the carrier formerly known as OceanAir. Avianca Brasil’s cousin, Avianca — Colombia’s flag carrier since 1919 — has the long and storied history, as well as the global network. Avianca Brasil has a much smaller footprint, and didn’t start flying until 2002, when it was called OceanAir. The airlines have separate management and operating certificates, but share a majority owner, a company called Synergy, controlled by Germán Efromovich and his brother José Efromovich. Eventually, Synergy likely will merge the airlines, but it’s not clear when. Story is transcript of an interview with Avianca Brasil CEO Frederico Pedreira about the airline’s expansion plans, the overall Brazil market and the complicated relationship between Avianca Brasil and Avianca Colombia. Pedreira replaced Jose Efromovich as CEO in April 2016.<br/>