View source for Avianca Costa Rica

{{Short description|Flag carrier of Costa Rica}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Avianca Costa Rica S.A.
| logo = Logo wordmark Avianca (Colombia).png
| logo_size = 250
| image = Avianca Costa Rica, N495TA, Airbus A320-233 (49593356571).jpg
| fleet_size = 4
| destinations = 20
| image_size = 280
| IATA = LR
| ICAO = LRC
| callsign = LACSA
| parent = [[Avianca Group]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1945|10|17}} <small> (as ''LACSA'') </small>
| commenced = {{start date and age|1946|06|01}}
| ceased = 
| headquarters = [[San José, Costa Rica]]
| key_people = {{bulleted list|
  | Frederico Pedreira ([[CEO]] of Avianca Group) 
  | David Aleman ([[Director (business)|Director]])
   }}
| hubs = [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]]
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities = 
| frequent_flyer = LifeMiles
| alliance = [[Star Alliance]] (affiliate)
| subsidiaries = 
|num_employees=1,164 (2017)<ref>[https://www.revistaeyn.com/centroamericaymundo/avianca-abre-nuevas-rutas-desde-costa-rica-AVEN1065533 Avianca abre nuevas rutas desde Costa Rica] - ''Revista''</ref>
| website = {{URL|www.avianca.com}}
}}

'''Avianca Costa Rica S.A.''', using callsign as '''LACSA''' (''Spanish: Lineas Aéreas Costarricenses S.A.''), minority owned by the [[Synergy Group]], is the [[flag carrier|national airline]] of [[Costa Rica]] and is based in [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]. It operates international scheduled services to over 35 destinations in Central, North and South America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.taca.com/NewsCenter/eng/inf/ilan/ilanabout.asp?idsc=2|title=Our History|publisher=[[Grupo TACA]]|access-date=2010-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716183107/http://news.taca.com/NewsCenter/eng/inf/ilan/ilanabout.asp?idsc=2|archive-date=2011-07-16|url-status=dead}}</ref> The airline previously used the '''TACA/LACSA''' moniker when it was a subsidiary of [[Grupo TACA]]. Since May 2013, following Avianca's purchase of Grupo TACA, Avianca Costa Rica became one of seven nationally branded airlines ([[Avianca Ecuador]], [[Avianca El Salvador]], etc.) operated by [[Avianca Group]] of [[Latin Americans|Latin American]] airlines.

==History==
[[File:LACSA 20 aniv stamps 50 cents 1967.jpg|thumb|125px|A [[postage stamp]] issued to commemorate LACSA’s 20th anniversary]]

LACSA was formed on October 17, 1945, with the help of [[Pan American World Airways]], and started operations on June 1, 1946, using [[Douglas DC-3]]s for local services within Costa Rica,<ref name=enp362>Endres 1979, p.362</ref> operating as an affiliate of Pan Am.<ref>Bridgman 1951, p. 22b</ref> The airline was designated as Costa Rica's [[Flag carrier]] in 1949<ref name=enp362/> and was [[Nationalization|nationalized]] in 1958.<ref>Bridgman 1958, p. 20</ref>

LACSA operated the [[Douglas DC-6B]] four-engined piston airliner from 1960 until 1976 on their regular passenger, and eventually freight, scheduled flights to Miami International Airport. The airline introduced the first of their [[BAC One-Eleven]] twin-engined jet airliners onto their Caribbean passenger route network in April 1967.<ref>Eastwood & Roach, 2004, p. 170</ref>

The airline also operated a subsidiary in the [[Cayman Islands]], [[Cayman Brac Airways]] (CBA) Ltd.,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cayman Brac Airways - CBA Airways |url=https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/cba2.htm |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref> which it sold a 51% controlling interest in the late 1960s to the Cayman Islands government, which in turn used the air carrier to form [[Cayman Airways]].  LACSA served [[Grand Cayman]] for many years as an intermediate stop on its services between San José, Costa Rica and Miami.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avianca Costa Rica - LACSA - Lineas Aereas Costarricenses |url=https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/lr.htm |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.timetableimages.com}}</ref>

Beginning in 1998, TACA/LACSA was one of the member airlines comprising the [[TACA Airlines]] alliance along with [[Aviateca]], Nica, [[Isleña Airlines]], and five other regional airlines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviancaholdings.com/en/history|title=Avianca Holdings S.A., Welcome to Avianca Holdings S.A.|website=www.aviancaholdings.com|access-date=2016-08-18|archive-date=2017-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015094943/http://www.aviancaholdings.com/en/history|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/15/business/international-business-a-home-grown-giant-of-central-america.html?scp=31&sq=LACSA&st=cse|title=A Home-Grown Giant Of Central America|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1998-04-15|access-date=2009-10-21|first=Larry|last=Rohter}}</ref> In 2008, a new fleet of [[Embraer 190]] jets was introduced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.revistaaerea.com/2008/08/29/embraer-delivers-first-embraer-190-jet-to-taca-airlines/Embraer|title=EMBRAER 190 JET TO EXPAND TRIP LINHAS AÉREAS FLEET|date=19 July 2010|website=revistaaerea.com}}</ref> Also in 2008 a new TACA logo was introduced,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/septiembre/25/economia1714639.html|title=Taca lanza nueva imagen y servicios|work=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]]|location=San José|date=2008-09-25|access-date=2009-10-21|language=es|archive-date=2009-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330220439/http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/septiembre/25/economia1714639.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> followed by a new fleet of Embraer 190 airplanes registered in Costa Rica and operated under the ''LACSA'' code. In October 2009, [[Avianca]] and TACA announced their merger plans to be completed in 2010. By May 28, 2013, the airlines began operating as a single commercial brand using the ''Avianca'' name.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/octubre/08/economia1729562.html|title=TACA renueva flota para vuelos al Istmo|work=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]]|location=San José|date=2008-10-08|access-date=2009-10-21|language=es|archive-date=2008-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211123848/http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/octubre/08/economia1729562.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Destinations==
Avianca Costa Rica serves the following destinations:

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Country
!City
!Airport
!Notes
!class=unsortable|Refs
|-
|[[Argentina]]||[[Buenos Aires]]||[[Ministro Pistarini International Airport]]||||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/10/avianca-inaugurates-flights-between-san-jose-quito-and-buenos-aires/|title=Avianca inaugurates flights between San José, Quito and Buenos Aires|website=Aviacionline.com|date=31 October 2022 |access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Brazil]]||[[Brasília]]||[[Brasília International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||
|-
|[[Rio de Janeiro]]||[[Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Canada]]
|[[Toronto]]
|[[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]
|
|
|-
|[[Montreal]]
|[[Montréal–Trudeau International Airport]]
|
|
|-
|[[Chile]]||[[Santiago]]||[[Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Colombia]]||[[Bogotá]]||[[El Dorado International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]]||[[Rafael Núñez International Airport]]||align=center| ||<ref name="SA flights">{{cite web|url=https://ticotimes.net/2022/01/14/avianca-adds-3-new-flights-from-costa-rica-to-south-america|title=Avianca adds 3 New flights from Costa Rica to South America|author=The Tico Times|website=icotimes.net|access-date=January 14, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|[[Medellín]]||[[José María Córdova International Airport]]||align=center| ||<ref name="SA flights"/>
|-
|[[Costa Rica]]||[[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]||[[Juan Santamaría International Airport]]||{{Airline hub}}||
|-
|[[Cuba]]||[[Havana]]||[[José Martí International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asere.com/avianca-dejara-de-volar-a-cuba-el-proximo-15-de-enero/|title=Avianca dejará de volar a Cuba el próximo 15 de enero|date=22 November 2019 |language=es|publisher=Asere|access-date=November 24, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|[[Dominican Republic]]||[[Santo Domingo]]||[[Las Américas International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Ecuador]]||[[Guayaquil]]||[[José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport]]||||
|-
|[[Quito]]||[[Mariscal Sucre International Airport]]||align=center| ||<ref name="SA flights"/>
|-
|[[El Salvador]]||[[San Salvador]]||[[El Salvador International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[Guatemala]]||[[Guatemala City]]||[[La Aurora International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[Honduras]]||[[San Pedro Sula]]||[[Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport]]||{{Airline seasonal}}||<ref name="US"/>
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Mexico]]||[[Cancún]]||[[Cancún International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[Mexico City]]||[[Mexico City International Airport]]||align=center| ||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.larepublica.net/noticia/avianca-conectara-san-jose-y-ciudad-de-mexico-sin-escalas-a-partir-de-diciembre|title=Avianca conectará San José y Ciudad de México sin escalas a partir de diciembre|language=Spanish|website=LaRepública.net|date=September 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|[[Nicaragua]]||[[Managua]]||[[Augusto C. Sandino International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||
|-
|[[Panama]]||[[Panama City]]||[[Tocumen International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||
|-
|[[Peru]]||[[Lima]]||[[Jorge Chávez International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[Puerto Rico]]||[[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]]||[[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport]]|||| <ref>{{cite news |last1=Delgado Rivera |first1=Jose O. |title=Avianca volará entre San Juan y San José, Costa Rica |url=https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/turismo/notas/avianca-volara-entre-san-juan-y-san-jose-costa-rica/ |access-date=January 14, 2025 |publisher=El Nuevo Dia |date=January 14, 2025}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=6|[[United States]]||[[Chicago]]||[[O'Hare International Airport]]||{{Airline seasonal}}||<ref name="US">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230913-avdec23us|title=Avianca Costa Rica Resumes 2 US Routes From Dec 2023|website=Aeroroutes.com|access-date=September 13, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[Los Angeles]]||[[Los Angeles International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[Miami]]||[[Miami International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[New York City]]||[[John F. Kennedy International Airport]]||align=center| ||
|-
|[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]||[[Orlando International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}||
|-
|[[Washington, D.C.]]||[[Dulles International Airport]]||align=center| ||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ticotimes.net/2022/07/18/avianca-launches-new-nonstop-flights-from-d-c-to-costa-rica|title=Avianca launches new nonstop flights from D.C. to Costa Rica|website=Ticotimes.net|date=18 July 2022|access-date=July 18, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|[[Venezuela]]||[[Caracas]]||[[Simón Bolívar International Airport (Venezuela)|Simón Bolívar International Airport]]||{{Terminated}}|||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviacionaldia.com/2024/02/avianca-suspendera-sus-vuelos-sin-escalas-entre-san-jose-y-caracas.html|title=Avianca suspenderá sus vuelos sin escalas entre San José y Caracas|website=Aviacionaldia.com|language=es|date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|}

===LACSA international destinations in 1973===
[[File:Douglas DC-6BF TI-1018C LACSA MIA 08.02.71 edited-3.jpg|thumb|LACSA [[Douglas DC-6B]] freighter at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1971]]
[[File:BAC 1-11 409 TI-1056C LACSA MIA 07.02.71 edited-2.jpg|thumb|LACSA [[BAC One-Eleven]] taxiing at [[Miami International Airport]] in 1971]] 
[[File:LACSA Airbus A320 Maiwald.jpg|thumb|Classic LACSA livery of the 1990s, shown on an Airbus A320]]

According to the May 31, 1973 LACSA system timetable, the airline was serving the following international destinations:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avianca Costa Rica - LACSA - Lineas Aereas Costarricenses |url=https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/lr.htm |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=timetableimages.com}}</ref>

*[[Barranquilla]], Colombia
*[[Caracas]], Venezuela
*[[Grand Cayman]], Cayman Islands
*[[Maracaibo]], Venezuela
*[[Mexico City]], Mexico
*[[Miami]], Florida
*[[Panama City]], Panama
*[[San Andres Island]], Colombia
*[[San José, Costa Rica]] - '''Hub'''
*[[San Salvador]], El Salvador

This same timetable states that all international flights were being operated with [[British Aircraft Corporation]] [[BAC One-Eleven]] twin jets at this time with the exception of the San José-San Andres Island route which was being flown with a [[Convair 440]] propliner.

===International routes in 1984===
The airline was operating to such international destinations in 1984 as:
*Barranquilla, Colombia
*[[Cancún]], Mexico
*Caracas, Venezuela
*[[Guatemala City]], Guatemala
*[[Guayaquil]], Ecuador
*[[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], USA
*Maracaibo, Venezuela
*Mexico City, Mexico
*Miami, USA
*[[New Orleans]], USA
*Panama City, Panama
*[[Quito]], Ecuador
*[[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
*[[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]
*San Salvador, El Salvador

These cities were flown to using LACSA’s Boeing 727.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.timetableimages.com/i-kl/lr8410a.jpg |title=Avianca Costa Rica - LACSA - Lineas Aereas Costarricenses |date=October 28, 1984 |language=es}}</ref>

==Fleet==
===Current===
[[File:TACA Airbus CRI flag (LACSA) SJO 04 2005.jpg|thumb|A TACA/LACSA [[Airbus A320-200]] at [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]] in 2005. This aircraft would have crashed as [[TACA Flight 390|Flight 390]] in 2008.]]
[[File:Avianca_Airbus_A320_N493TA_(40154574954).jpg|thumb|An Avianca Costa Rica [[Airbus A320-200]] landing at [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]] in 2018]]

{{As of|2024|06}}, Avianca Costa Rica operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite journal|title=Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)|journal=Airliner World|issue=October 2019|page=12}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Avianca Costa Rica fleet
|-
!rowspan=2|Aircraft
!rowspan=2|In <br> service
!rowspan=2|Orders
!colspan=4|Passengers
!rowspan=2|Notes
|-
!<abbr title=Premium>W</abbr>
!<abbr title=Plus>Y+</abbr>
!<abbr title=Economy>Y</abbr>
!Total
|-
|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|1
|&mdash;
|rowspan=2|12
|rowspan=2|60
|rowspan=2|108
|rowspan=2|180
|
|-
|[[Airbus A320neo]]
|3
|&mdash;
|
|-
!Total 
!4
!&mdash;
!colspan=5|
|}

===Former===
LACSA operated the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/LACSA.html|title=LACSA fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Avianca Costa Rica former fleet
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A319-100]]
|3
|2007
|2022
|
|-
|[[Airbus A321-200]]
|2
|2009
|2021
|
|-
|[[BAC One-Eleven]]
|6
|1967
|1982
|
|-
|[[Beechcraft 18]]
|1
|1965
|1976
|
|-
|[[Boeing 707-320C]]
|1
|1985
|1986
|Leased from [[Jet 24]]
|-
|[[Boeing 727-100]]
|3
|1987
|1992
|
|-
|[[Boeing 727-200]]
|5
|1979
|1994
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-200]]
|8
|1992
|2004
|
|-
|[[CASA C-212 Aviocar]]
|1
|1993
|1995
|
|-
|[[Convair CV-340]]
|3
|1955
|1962
|
|-
|[[Convair CV-440]]
|2
|1972
|1977
|
|-
|[[Curtiss C-46 Commando]]
|6
|1948
|1979
|
|-
|[[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]
|6
|1945
|1961
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|2
|1946
|1959
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-6B]]
|2
|1960
|1977
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-21F]]
|1
|1981
|1982
|Leased from General Air Services Inc.
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-55CF]]
|3
|1982
|1991
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-62F]]
|1
|1986
|1987
|Leased from [[Jet 24]]
|-
|[[Embraer 190AR]]
|4
|2008
|2012
|<ref>{{cite journal|title=Global Airline Guide 2018 (Part One)|journal=Airliner World|issue=October 2018|page=12}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lockheed L-188CF Electra]]
|3
|1976
|1981
|
|-
|}

==Accidents and incidents==
*On 23 May 1988, '''[[LACSA Flight 628]]''', a leased [[Boeing 727-100]] (registered TI-LRC), operating the route San José-Managua-Miami, collided with a fence at the end of the runway in the [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]], crashed at a nearby field next to a highway, and caught fire. The excess of weight in the front part of the airplane was the cause of the accident. There were no fatalities out of the 24 occupants.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Accident Boeing 727-22 TI-LRC, Monday 23 May 1988 |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/326550 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=asn.flightsafety.org}}</ref>
*On 11 January 1998, LACSA flight 691,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Airliner-speeds-off-runway-at-S-F-Airport-3110690.php|title=Airliner speeds off runway at S.F. Airport|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|date=1998-01-11}}</ref> an [[Airbus A320-200]], veered off a runway at [[San Francisco International Airport]] during the takeoff roll. The aircraft left the runway at full speed, coming to rest in a field of mud. The runway was closed after the incident, reducing take-off capacity by 50 percent, leading to massive delays at the airport. None of the 122 passengers on board the aircraft sustained injuries, and stayed at a hotel until another aircraft could transport them to their destination, [[San José, Costa Rica]]. The cause of the incident was not determined.<ref>{{cite news|title=Airplane gets stuck in mud after veering off San Francisco runway at full speed|url=http://www.cjonline.com/stories/011198/new_stuck.html|publisher=CJOnline.com|date=January 11, 1998|access-date=2009-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805230450/http://cjonline.com/stories/011198/new_stuck.html|archive-date=2011-08-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of airlines of Costa Rica]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|last=Bridgman|first=Leonard|author-link=Leonard Bridgman|title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1951–52|year=1951|location=London|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.|oclc=1116182781}}
*{{cite book|last=Bridgman|first=Leonard|title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958–59|year=1958|location=London|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.|oclc=852161925}}
*{{cite book|last=Endres|first=Günter G.|title=World Airline Fleets 1979|year=1979|location=Hounslow, UK|publisher=Airline Publications and Sales. Ltd.|isbn=0-905117-53-0}}
*{{cite magazine|last=Hardy|first=M. J.|title=Aviation in Costa Rica|magazine=Air Pictorial|date=October 1969|volume= 31|issue= 10|pages=362–365}}
*{{cite book|last=Roach|first=J|title=Jet Airliner Production List - Volume 2|year=2004|publisher=The Aviation Hobby Shop}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Avianca Costa Rica}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170707085303/https://www.taca.com/ TACA Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140426235408/http://www.qcostarica.com/2013/05/28/from-lacsa-to-taca-to-avianca/ From LACSA to TACA to Avianca, 28 May 2013]

{{Portalbar|Costa Rica|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Costa Rica}}
{{IATA members|latinam}}
{{Avianca}}

[[Category:Airlines established in 1945]]
[[Category:Airlines of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Avianca]]
[[Category:Grupo TACA]]
[[Category:1945 establishments in North America]]