Avianca Listens to Frequent Fliers: Business Class Returns on Select Routes

Avianca reintroduced its Business Class service on certain routes only a few months after discontinuing the product as part of its rebranding efforts to become a more affordable airline following its bankruptcy.

In October 2022, the Bogotá-based carrier stopped selling Business Class tickets on flights within the Americas operated on its Airbus A330s and Boeing 787s. Tickets for those premium cabins were sold as Economy Class seats with extra space. Only flights to Europe continued to offer Business Class cabins.

Avianca eliminated its Business Class product as part of its pivot from a full-service, legacy airline to a low-cost carrier following a mid-pandemic bankruptcy. The airline also revamped the interiors of its Airbus A320s that operate its short-haul routes to fit 20% more passengers in more compact, stripped-back cabins.

However, the Colombian flag carrier is now reversing some of these changes and restoring Business Class service on some long-haul international flights, following demands from its frequent fliers.

Starting July 1, the airline has resumed Business Class service on their daily route from Bogotá (BOG) to Los Angeles (LAX). Additionally, beginning August 15, 2023, Avianca will reintroduce Business Class service on four other medium-range routes throughout the Americas:

• Bogotá (BOG) to Buenos Aires (EZE)
• Bogotá (BOG) to Miami (MIZ)
• Bogotá (BOG) to Sao Paulo (GRU)
• San Salvador (SAL) to Miami (MIA)

According to the airline, Business Class tickets will only be available when these flights are operated on Airbus A330 and Boeing 787 widebody planes—the only ones outfitted with Business Class cabins.

Photo: Avianca, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Avianca.

Avianca’s Executive Class offers several perks to its passengers. These include a welcome drink, a choice of three entrees for lunch or dinner, a snack, a selection of hot and cold beverages, including spirits, a blanket, a pillow, an amenity kit, a mattress pad for overnight flights, and an entertainment system.

According to Manuel Ambriz, Avianca’s Chief Commercial Officer, the airline’s customers “have been asking us for this class for medium-range routes and, in line with the customization of our fares, today we listened to them and made internal adjustments so that they can also purchase and enjoy Business Class with all its benefits on our flights in wide-cabin aircraft if they require it on any of their flights to countries in the Americas.”

While Avianca has relaunched its Business Class service on some flights in response to customer feedback, its controversial repositioning as a budget carrier continues apace. Earlier this week, the airline confirmed it had completed a rush revamp of the more than 100 Airbus A320s to fit 20% more passengers. It’s also awaiting delivery of 166 A320s neo planes, which will also be outfitted with the spartan cabins.