West Caribbean Airways - History

History

The company was founded in 1998 by Colombian businessman Hassan Tannir and began operations in December 1999. Originally based in San Andres, it began operations with four Let L-410 that served San Andres and Providencia Island as the first destinations.

In 2000, West Caribbean Airways added flights to Cartagena, Monteria, and Barranquilla with ATR 42 aircraft leased 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 Medellin, and began to compete with ACES with routes to the El Bagre, Monteria, Caucasia, Tolu, Chigorodo, Otu, Puerto Berrio, among others.

The airline expanded very rapidly, and acquired two McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft which operated various international and regional routes.

In 2005, after the crash of Flight 708 in Venezuela, the company's fleet was grounded and ceased operation.

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