Avianca Brasil gives up 18 planes, cancels 1,045 flights

Avianca Brasil canceled more than 1,045 domestic flights this week because it has to return 18 aircraft to leasing agencies. Brazil's National Aviation Agency said the planes needed to be returned Monday to avoid affecting Holy Week holiday passengers. Avianca Brasil declined to say how many planes it has left. But local media reports that the airline has just 7 planes still in its fleet. Avianca Brasil filed for bankruptcy in December after failing to pay leases on its aircraft. The airline, formerly known as Ocean Air, has licensed the name Avianca since 2010 from Avianca Holdings. They are separate companies with the same owners: brothers German and Jose Efromovich. The latter is being investigated for allegedly failing to pay airport fees in Salvador airport in northeastern Brazil. <br/>