Colombia’s Avianca Airlines chooses Boeing 787s over Airbus A330s

Avianca Holdings has selected B787-8s as its only widebody aircraft type going forward as it prepares to emerge from Chapter 11 a leaner carrier.

“One of Avianca’s strategic objectives is simplifying its fleet while increasing efficiency; selecting the B787-8 as the airline’s single aircraft type for long-haul flights is an important step towards this goal. Thanks to open and constructive dialogues with Boeing, Rolls-Royce, lessors and financial institutions, we are proud to be able to confirm that we will continue to fly the Dreamliner, an exceptional aircraft that given its capabilities, features, efficiency, and comfort is the best solution for our company and our customers,” Chief Financial Officer Rohit Philip said.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Avianca Holdings operates thirteen B787-8s, all of them on the AOC of the group’s main carrier, Avianca Airlines. Eight aircraft are owned by the holding (two of them through financial leases), while the remaining five are dry-leased, one each from Goshawk, SMBC Aviation Capital, ORIX Aviation, Seraph Aviation Group, and one undisclosed lessor. The aircraft are 5.7 years old on average and are outfitted for 250 passengers each, including 28 in business classes and 222 in economy. Avianca said it would reconfigure all of its B787s’ economy classes over the next 18 months.

The carrier’s widebody fleet also comprises one B787-9 (which though formally delivered, remains at Abu Dhabi Int’l awaiting completion and has therefore never entered into service with Avianca) with two more on order and due for delivery in 2024, and six A330-200s. Chief Executive Adrian Neuhauser recently told ch-aviation that the group would select either the B787 or the A330 as its widebody platform going forward. Avianca Holdings did not reveal the timeline for the retirement of the A330s and did not clarify whether it would also retire the B787-9.

Five out of six of Avianca’s remaining A330s are dry-leased: one each from Avolon, CDB Aviation, Compass Capital, Merx Aviation Finance, and Wings Capital Partners. The airline’s first B787-9 is dry-leased from SMBC.