Avianca appoints buy-on-board partner

South American carrier, Avianca, has appointed Versilia Solutions as its provider of airline onboard retail. The deal involves Versilia Solutions creating a bespoke buy-on-board retail offering across all aspects of the retail value chain, tailored to the airline’s brand, demographic and strategy.

This work includes Versilia providing training in support of the airline’s 2,000-plus cabin crew, creating a compliant trading infrastructure, and developing a retail service for domestic and international flights from Avianca’s five operating countries.

Avianca is the largest airline in Colombia and the second-largest in Latin America (after LATAM), and as its 103rd anniversary approaches this month, this is its first implementation of a buy-on-board offering, which is part of a new business model.

Caroline Ulbrich, CEO of Versilia Solutions, said of the deal: “Welcoming Avianca to our client list is a big milestone; one which marks an ambitious period of strategic growth for the business.

“We recognise the challenges airlines of all sizes face in developing their ancillary revenue streams and are there to support and guide them to solve any possible issues that might surface. Our approach is unique because we are not wedded to a particular systems, product or logistic solution. Our independence means we find the most competitively priced products and services to our customers. As a result, we are the quickest to react when an airline has need and can remain flexible throughout our partnership as their operational model changes and the retail needs and expectations of their passengers evolves.