Avianca and Taca International Airlines, both owned by AviancaTaca Holding S.A., have signed a trade agreement with AeroMexico to explore opportunities to supplement their route networks with codesharing.
The three carriers expects that, with the signing of the agreement, they will be able to give their respective customers access to new destinations, a greater choice of service, more frequent flights and a greater number of alternatives to travel in the region.
Representatives of the three airlines are working together to establish mechanisms for developing the codesharing agreement, which will be implemented in stages.
Colombia's Avianca has 10 Airbus A330-200s in service or on order and 10 more optioned. Cargo subsidiary Tampa Cargo has four A330-200F freighters on firm order. Avianca also has 10 A350-900s on order with options on 10 more, and has ordered 12 Boeing 787-8s and optioned eight. Meanwhile, both Avianca and Taca are substantial operators of Airbus A320-family jets and AviancaTaca has ordered 18 more A320s and 33 A320neo-family jets
In addition, AviancaTaca and AeroMexico will also explore strengthening their alliance by linking their frequent flyer programs.
Although Avianca and Taca are operating separately following their corporate merger in 2010, they share a frequent-flyer program (FFP), called Lifemiles. This program replaced the former Avianca FFP AviancaPlus and the former Taca FFP Distancia in 2011. AeroMexico’s FFP is called Club Premier.
Codesharing between Avianca and AeroMexico is scheduled to begin during the first half of this year, on routes between Mexico and Colombia.
The codeshare between Taca and Aeromexico is scheduled to begin during the second half of the year, on routes linking South and Central America with Mexico.
AeroMexico, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, operates six Boeing 767-200Ers and two 767-300ERs, as well as Boeing 777-200ERs and 737NGs. Its AeroMexico Connect subsidiary operates Embraer E-Jets and ERJ-145s. This photograph shows an AeroMexico Boeing 767 painted in the SkyTeam livery
When choosing Avianca or Taca codeshare flights with AeroMexico, passengers will receive a single ticket and have a single point of contact throughout their trip and, eventually, the two airline groups’ passengers will be able to accumulate and redeem miles in their respective FFPs when flying on the other group’s carriers.
Implementation of the agreements is subject to approval by the countries’ aeronautical authorities.
One factor that might complicate the process for the three carriers is that while AeroMexico is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and Avianca has had a codeshare with Delta, Avianca and Taca are joining the Star Alliance in mid-2012.
Related to this story:
- AeroMexico and Brazil’s TAM Airlines Agree to Codeshare
- Ethiopian and Singapore Airlines Agree Codeshare Deal via Dubai
- Avianca Orders Four A330-200Fs for Subsidiary Tampa Cargo
- Latin America’s Avianca-TACA and Copa Airlines to Join Star Alliance
- GOL and AeroMexico to Codeshare, Mulling Frequent Flyer Program Link
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Avianca is not a member of skyteam
You are correct. We made a mistake. The last paragraph of the article has been amended to reflect Avianca’s correct status. Thank you for pointing out the error.