Seize the chance to see Bogota, Colombia

It’s one of South America’s legendary airlines, a carrier that’s pioneered commercial aviation on the continent and – even through the tumultuous years of Colombia’s recent history – kept on trucking. Now it’s about to expand into central Florida.

Avianca intends to launch nonstop Orlando flights to Bogotá July 12. There will be a quartet of weekly flights on the 1,712-mile international run.

Avianca will be competing against discount airline JetBlue on the Orlando to Bogotá run. JetBlue already makes the trip five times weekly.

Aside from the demand generated by Orlando’s myriad theme parks and other attractions there’s another reason for the new route. A large slice of the traffic could well be VFR – visiting friends and relatives. There’s a sizable Colombian community in and around Orlando.

Avianca is fielding a 120-passenger A319 twinjet on the longish route. The carrier makes the trip Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Southbound Orlando flights to Bogotá depart at 9:45 a.m. and arrive Bogotá’s Eldorado Airport at 2:41 p.m. Northbound Bogotá flights to Orlando push back from the gate at 4:29 p.m. and arrive Orlando International Airport at 7:30 p.m.

According to OAG other nonstop options for the Bogotá-bound include Atlanta flights to Bogotá via Delta; Ft. Lauderdale flights to Bogotá via Avianca, Aires, and discount airline Spirit; Miami flights to Bogotá via American, Avianca, and LAN; Houston flights to Bogotá via Continental, and New York flights to Bogotá via Continental and Avianca

Story by Jerry Chandler

(Image: William Neuheisel)