Aserca Airlines

Aserca Airlines C.A. (Aero Servicios Carabobo) was[2][1] an airline based in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela. It operated domestic and regional scheduled services to destinations in the Caribbean, Central America and the United States. Its main base was Arturo Michelena International Airport, Valencia, with a hub at Simón Bolívar International Airport, Caracas.[3]

Aserca Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
R7 OCA ASERCA
Founded1968
Ceased operations2018[1][2]
HubsSimón Bolívar International Airport
Frequent-flyer programPrivilege
Fleet size11
Destinations9
HeadquartersValencia, Carabobo, Venezuela
Key people
  • Simeon Garcia
  • Migdalia Garcia
Websitewww.asercaairlines.com

History
Old Aserca Airlines Logo

The airline was established in 1968 and started operations in 1991 with small aircraft for private transport. In 1992 it entered the domestic scheduled market with a leased Douglas DC-9-30. Aserca's operations were centred on Valencia, but it managed to develop Caracas as a hub after 1994 which, combined with the demise of flag carrier Viasa in 1997, made Aserca experience a significant growth in its market share, expanding its network to Bogotá, Lima and Miami (no longer in service) via Aruba. Between 1998 and 2000 Aserca had a controlling interest in Air Aruba. In 2008, Aserca took a majority stake in fellow Venezuelan carrier SBA Airlines (formerly Santa Bárbara Airlines). A proposed merger was in discussion.

In June 2013, Venezuela's National Institute of Civil Aviation (Instituto Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil - INAC) announced that it will prohibit operations of classic aircraft types like the Douglas DC-9, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737-200 in Venezuela from November 1, 2013. Aserca Airlines could obtain a special dispensation from INAC allowing the airline to operate its remaining two DC-9 until July 1, 2014. Aserca has chosen to replace its DC-9 with two ex-Aeromexico MD-87 that went to Miami Opa-locka Airport awaiting delivery.

On May 22, 2018, Aserca announced it had ceased all operations and returned its air operator's certificate.[4][1][2]

Destinations

Aserca Airlines served the following destination at the time of its demise:

Country City Airport Refs/Notes
ArubaOranjestadQueen Beatrix International Airport
CuraçaoWillemstadCuraçao International Airport
Dominican RepublicSanto DomingoLas Américas International Airport
VenezuelaBarquisimetoJacinto Lara International Airport
VenezuelaCaracasSimón Bolívar International AirportHub
VenezuelaLas PiedrasJosefa Camejo International Airport
VenezuelaMaracaiboLa Chinita International Airport
VenezuelaMaturínJosé Tadeo Monagas International Airport
VenezuelaPuerto OrdazManuel Carlos Piar Guayana Airport

Aserca Airlines additionally had codeshare agreements with PAWA Dominicana (on routes to Antigua, Havana, Miami, Port-au-Prince, San Juan and St. Maarten) and SBA Airlines.

Fleet

Fleet at airline's demise
Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Aserca Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 in its former color scheme

The Aserca Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft (as of October 2014):[5]

Aserca Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Passengers Notes
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 5 152
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 6 152 2 leased to SBA Airlines
Total 11

Previous Fleet

Over the years, Aserca Airlines has operated the following aircraft types:[5]

Aserca Airlines Historical Fleet
Aircraft Notes
Boeing 737-200
Douglas DC-9-10
Douglas DC-9-30
McDonnell Douglas MD-80
McDonnell Douglas MD-90

References
  1. eluniversal.com - Aserca Airlines cierra operaciones en Venezuela (Spanish) 24 March 2018
  2. ch-aviation.com - Ascera Airlines retrieved 24 March 2018
  3. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 27 March 2007. pp. 77–78.
  4. https://www.el-carabobeno.com/aserca-anuncio-el-cese-de-sus-operaciones-tras-25-anos-de-operaciones/
  5. Aserca Airlines Fleet Details and History

Media related to Aserca Airlines at Wikimedia Commons

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