West Caribbean Airways

History

Summarize

Perspective

The company was founded on December 29, 1998, by Colombian businessman Hassan Tannir and began operations on November 13, 1999. Originally based in San Andrés, it began operations as a charter with four Let L-410 Turbolets that served San Andrés and Providencia Island as the first destinations.^[3]

In 2000, West Caribbean Airways added flights to Cartagena, Monteria, and Barranquilla with leased ATR 42s and also expanded to international routes to Varadero, Cuba; Panama City, Panama; and San Jose, Costa Rica. The next year, a group of investors acquired the airline and relocated its headquarters to Medellín. This put it in competition with ACES and Avianca.

The airline expanded very rapidly, and acquired three McDonnell Douglas MD-80s, which operated various international and regional routes.

By 2005, serious financial and procedural problems were evident at West Caribbean Airways. It posted $6 million in losses in 2004.^[4] In January, the airline was fined $45,000 by Colombia's civil aeronautics government agency, UAEAC, for 14 safety violations, including lack of training for pilots, pilots flying too many flight hours, and flight data not being properly logged.^[5]^[4]

A few months later, on March 25, 2005, Flight 9955 crashed on takeoff, killing 9 of 14 onboard. This accident brought further scrutiny by UAEAC. Due to its 2004 losses, the civil aviation authority began close monitoring of West Caribbean Airways's finances in May, though it was stated that the airline was fulfilling its commitments.^[4]

Just 3 months later, on August 16, 2005, Flight 708 crashed in Venezuela, killing all 160 onboard. By the time of this accident, WCA had only four aircraft left in its fleet: a Let L-410, two undergoing maintenance, and the aircraft destroyed in Flight 708. West Caribbean Airways was grounded by UAEAC late in the day on August 17.^[5]^[6]

The end of operations occurred in September 2005, when the airline could no longer sustain operations. A month later, crew members indicated to passengers that the airline would remain on the ground due to the poor economic conditions and that it did not have the ability to meet its financial obligations.

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Fleet

The West Caribbean Airways fleet consisted of the following aircraft:^[7]

More information Aircraft, Total ...

West Caribbean Airways fleet
Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
ATR 42-300	1	2000	2005
ATR 42-320	4	2001	2005
Let L-410 UVP-E	8	1999	2005	One crashed as Flight 9955
McDonnell Douglas MD-81	1	2003	2005
McDonnell Douglas MD-82	2	2003	2005	One crashed as Flight 708

Accidents and incidents

On March 26, 2005, West Caribbean Airways Flight 9955, a Let L-410 Turbolet (registered HK-4146), on departure from El Embrujo, Isla de Providencia failed to climb and hit hills close to the runway,^[8] killing the two crew and six of the twelve passengers. Initial reports suggested a technical fault.^[9]
On August 16, 2005, West Caribbean Airways Flight 708, a chartered McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (registered HK-4374X) heading from Panama to Martinique in the Caribbean, crashed in remote western Venezuela due to human errors, killing all 160 aboard, mostly French nationals from Martinique.

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West Caribbean Airways

History

Destinations

Fleet

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

External links

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