VIASA
(Venezuela)

When the plan of the Venezuelan government to merge the two largest carriers, AVENSA and Aeropostal, was dropped at the end of the 1960s, the government founded VIASA (Venezolana Internacional de Aviación S.A.) which took over the international routes from Aeropostal and AVENSA. This included destinations in the Caribbean, Central America, North America and Europe. Technical and financial start aid was given by KLM, which mainatained a strong relationship with the company thorughout is history. The first widebody aircraft, which replaced the DC-8s and CV-990s, were two DC-10-30s inherited from a KLM order. The first aircraft arrived on April 3rd 1974 and was introduced on VIASA prestige route from its base in Caracas to Lisbon, Madrid and Rome. A third aircraft was acquired later from KLM on a lease/purchase agreement while two more aircraft were ordered directly from McDonnell Douglas. Short-time leases brought the all-time fleet to 9 aircraft

A single VIASA DC-10 #258, was written off in November 1995 in Buenos Aires after a very hard landing, reducing the fleet from four to five.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Venezuelas economy went down after the oil boom of the 1970s. Despite of this, VIASA was looking for a DC-10 replacement and ordered a pair of MD-11s on Dember 21st 1988 for delivery in 1992. The plans were dropped (it is said, that there was already an MD-11 in VIASA cs in Long Beach) and the airline decided to keep the DC-10s until a bteer situation would allow to place an order again. VIASA remained a dignified (good service, but catastrophic on-time performance) ambassador of its country, but began to struggle financially. The government decided to privatize the airline. Iberia and KLM were the bidders for the airline and finally, Iberia won the race. Still, many aviation experts consider it as a wrong decision. Iberia introduce a new colour scheme which was seen on some of the Boeing 727s, but only on a single DC-10 (#146) recieved this "Manolo" - called scheme. The spanish flag carrier itself also got into financial trouble and put the venezuelan company further into red numbers and VIASA was forced to close for good on Januray 23rd 1997. At that time, only 4 DC-10s were in service with the airline together with a fleet of ex-Iberia 727-200s. #197, was broken up after VIASAs demise and became the first DC-10-30 to face the axe. All other VIASA DC-10s were intergrated into Iberia's fleet and later replaced by Airbus A340s. As of today, none of the former VIASA DC-10s made it into the air again.

Photos:
Right: VIASA DC-10 YV-137C - BY VIASA


Following aircraft were operated by or for VIASA:

RegistrationAircraftFleetnr./NameOperated from - toWhere is it now?
YV-133C46555/ 9101.04.1977 - 28.07.1983 and
01.11.1983 - 22.06.1984
SCRAPPED
YV-134C46556/ 14603.04.1974 - 23.01.1997-stored-
YV-135C46971/ 25821.09.1978 - 26.11.1995WRITTEN OFF
YV-136C46972/ 27621.09.1978 - 23.01.1997SCRAPPED
YV-137C46982/ 29005.10.1979 - 23.01.1997-stored-
YV-138C46557/ 19724.04.1975 - 01.04.1979 and
26.07.1980 - 23.01.1997
SCRAPPED
PH-DTL
YV-139C
46952/ 18506.02.1973 - 10.1973,
17.04.1991 - 15.11.1992
SCRAPPED
YV-139C46953/ 22531.03.1994 - 23.01.1997-stored-
N108WA46837/ 28207.1981 - 01.10.1981FedEx


Following DC-10 aircraft have been written off during service with VIASA:
YV-135, 46971/ 258
Previous airline: VASP Next airline: Wardair Canada

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