Colombian Aviation Authority Launches Investigations into Wingo, Viva Colombia, and ADA

Colombia’s aviation authority has opened an investigation into three airlines for failing to provide proper information about cancellation policies and the publication of misleading advertisements. The potential penalty issued by Aerocivil for each airline — Viva Colombia, Aerolínea de Antioquia (ADA), and Copa Airlines Colombia — could exceed $570,000 USD (1.7 billion Colombia pesos).

Both Viva Colombia and ADA are facing allegations related to cancellations. The regulator says there are four pending sanctions against Viva Colombia due to customers alleging a lack of information following cancelled flight, while two are looking into claims that ADA provided deficient service.

The probe into Copa centers on the promotion of its new low-cost Colombian airline Wingo, which announced its entrance to the market in October and completed its maiden flight in December. Potential fines center around the possibility that it mislead customers in its early ad campaigns and did not provide accurate information about its cancellation policies.

“Aerocivil watches over the rights of users in the aviation sector and that is why we are looking for airlines to comply permanently with current regulations and always provide a quality service with timely answers,” said Alfredo Bocanegra Varón, the head of Aerocivil.