Avianca revives plan for regional airline

Avianca has revived plans to launch a regional carrier with its fleet of ATR 72 turboprops, and will base the airline in Bogota. The carrier said in a securities filing that it has incorporated Regional Express Americas, a new company that will provide transportation and other services. Regional Express Americas has applied to Colombian civil aviation authority Aerocivil to operate a number of domestic routes that Avianca currently operates. According to an Aerocivil document, the regional airline plans to operate service from Bogota to Yopal, Florencia, Ibague, Manizales, Popayan and Villavicencio. It also plans to start service between Cali and Tumaco. These flights are already being operated by Avianca's mainline operations with the ATR 72s, with a handful of them also served by LATAM Airlines Colombia and Satena. An Avianca spokesperson confirmed the plans for Regional Express Americas, but declined to share further details pending regulatory approvals.<br/>