Colombian Aviation Regulator Opens Investigation into Avianca, Éxito, and Six Other Travel Companies

Colombia’s civil aviation regulator has launched an investigation into four airlines: Avianca, Aerolínea de Antioquia (ADA), EasyFly, and the state-operated SATENA.

The Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics (Aerocivil) opened the case due to the companies’ failure to comply with various sales practices, most notably not communicating price changes for tickets and not adhering to the “double-click” confirmation process when quoting fares online.

The agency says that, in line with Colombia’s aviation regulations, each company could be found liable for up to 450 times the monthly minimum wages, or roughly $110,000 USD (310 million pesos).

Four travel agencies are also included in the investigation, most notably Éxito Viajes, which is owned by the nation’s largest grocery and retail chain Éxito. Along with the three others — Viajes Chapinero L’Alianxa, Multidestinos Express Viajes, and Turismo y AeroVacaciones — the company is being looked into for the same violations and could face the same penalty as the airlines in question.

“Airlines and travel agencies are obliged to inform the passenger of everything related to their journey in a complete, accurate and sufficient manner,” said Alfredo Bocanegra Varón, the head of Aerocivil. “If they do not, they will be exposed to severe sanctions.”