RUTACA Airlines
{{Short description|Venezuelan airline}}
{{Infobox Airline
|airline = RUTACA Airlines
|logo = RUTACA Airlines logo complete 2024-12-01.png
|logo_size = 250
|fleet_size = 8
|destinations = 14
|IATA = 5R
|ICAO = RUC
|callsign = RUTACA
|parent =
|founded = {{start date and age|1974|03|26|df=y}}
|commenced =
|ceased =
|headquarters = Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
|key_people =
|founder = Evard Mares Bianchi
|hubs = {{nowrap|Simón Bolívar International Airport}}
|secondary_hubs =
|focus_cities =
|frequent_flyer =
|alliance =
|num_employees = +500 (2023)
|website = {{URL|http://www.flyrutaca.com/}}
}}
RUTACA Airlines (legally Rutas Aéreas C.A.) is an airline headquartered in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela with its home base at Tomás de Heres Airport and a hub at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas.{{cite web|url=http://www.ch-aviation.ch/airlinepage.php|title=Rutaca Airlines information|access-date=30 March 2018}}
History
File:Old Logo RUTACA Airlines (2012).png
RUTACA Airlines was founded by Evard Mares Bianchi on March 26, 1974 and began operating non-scheduled cargo and passenger flights with small aircraft. It currently operates scheduled and charter services throughout the country.
The airline's operations suffered gravely during the 2017 Venezuelan constitutional crisis, including suspending flights between key routes.{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/57180-venezuelas-rutaca-airlines-partially-resumes-operations|title=Venezuela's Rutaca Airlines partially resumes operations|website=Ch-aviation.com|author=Ivan Nadalet|date=June 25, 2017}}
Destinations
{{As of|November 2023}}, RUTACA Airlines serves the following destinations:{{cite web|url=https://www.flyrutaca.com/index.php/destinos|title=Rutaca - Destinos}}
Fleet
=Current=
File:Rutaca SVVA.jpg at Arturo Michelena International Airport in 2022]]
The RUTACA Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (as of November 2024):{{cite web|url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Rutaca-Airlines|title=Rutaca Airlines Fleet Details and History|website=Planespotters.net|access-date=July 31, 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ RUTACA Airlines fleet |
| rowspan=2|Aircraft
!rowspan=2|In !rowspan=2|Orders !colspan=3|Passengers !rowspan=2|Notes |
|---|
| C
!Y !Total |
| rowspan=2|Boeing 737-300
|rowspan=2|3 |rowspan=2|— |12 |112 |124 | |
| –
|148 |148 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-82
|2 |— |– |164 |164 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83
|2 |— |– |166 |166 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-88
|1 |— |– |166 |166 | |
| Total
!8 !— !colspan=6| |
=Former=
File:RUTACA Embraer EMB-110P1A Bandeirante Maharajh-1.jpg at Piarco International Airport in 2003]]
RUTACA Airlines formerly operated the following aircraft:
- 6 Antonov An-2TP
- 1 Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
- 9 Boeing 737-200{{cite web|url=https://www.aviacionline.com/2024/01/rutaca-retired-its-last-boeing-737-200adv-and-eight-remain-in-service-in-latin-america/|title=RUTACA retired its last Boeing 737-200adv and eight remain in service in Latin America|website=Aviacionline.com|date=January 15, 2024}}
- 1 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
- 17 Cessna 206
- 1 Cessna 207
- 4 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
- 1 Convair CV-340
- 1 Convair CV-440
- 8 Douglas C-47A Skytrain
- 1 Douglas DC-3C
- 6 Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
Accidents and incidents
- On June 5, 1987, a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (registration YV-230C) was disarmed in flight over the area of Upata, Bolívar state. All 10 occupants on board died.
- On January 25, 2001, RUTACA Airlines Flight 225, a Douglas DC-3 (registered YV-244C) crashed shortly after taking off from Ciudad Bolívar, killing all 20 passengers and four crew members.[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010125-0 Aviation Safety Net] accessed 15 August 2009
- On October 16, 2008, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV162T) landed on runway 28R at Simón Bolívar International Airport following a domestic flight from Puerto Ordaz. After touchdown, the airplane swerved to the left. The nose came to rest on the runway embankment.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20081016-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-2H4 YV162T Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS)|first=Harro|last=Ranter|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=30 March 2018}}
- On February 15, 2009, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registered YV1950) overran the runway at Guasdualito Airport following a domestic flight from Las Flecheras Airport. The airplane sustained damage to the propeller and underside of the fuselage.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20090215-1|title=ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Grand Caravan YV1950 Guasdualito-Vare Maria Airport (GDO)|first=Harro|last=Ranter|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=30 March 2018}}
- On July 27, 2010, a Boeing 737-200 (registered YV169T) made an emergency landing at Ciudad Guayana international airport following a domestic flight from Ciudad Bolivar after problems in engine number one.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category inline|Rutaca Airlines}}
- [https://www.flyrutaca.com Official website]
{{Portalbar|Venezuela|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Venezuela}}
Category:Airlines of Venezuela
Category:Airlines established in 1974
Category:Venezuelan companies established in 1974
{{Venezuela-airline-stub}}