As Avianca continues to strengthen its global footprint, the airline has announced a series of exciting new flights and seasonal routes for 2026. These expansions aim to enhance the airline’s connectivity across the Americas and Europe, offering travelers more options for direct flights to key destinations. From daily services to seasonal routes, Avianca is enhancing its offerings to meet the growing demand for air travel, especially between major cities in South America, North America, and Europe.
Expanding Connectivity: New Routes and Reactivations
1. Bogotá to Caracas: Daily Service Resumes
One of the most anticipated changes is the resumption of daily flights between Bogotá (BOG), the capital of Colombia, and Caracas (CCS), the capital of Venezuela. Starting on February 12, 2026, Avianca will operate this route with Airbus A320 aircraft, offering travelers the convenience of daily departures. This route not only strengthens the connection between these two capitals but also provides an essential transportation link for business and tourism travelers in the region. The daily frequency will enhance the options for those traveling for both personal and professional reasons, ensuring greater flexibility and ease.
2. Santiago to Cartagena: A Seasonal Route
In line with seasonal demand, Avianca has reactivated flights between Santiago de Chile (SCL) and Cartagena (CTG), a beautiful Caribbean city in Colombia. Operating three times per week (Monday, Thursday, and Saturday), this route, which first resumed in January 2026, offers travelers a direct connection between the cultural vibrancy of Santiago and the stunning coastal beauty of Cartagena. This seasonal service caters to the tourism market, allowing visitors to explore Colombia’s Caribbean while also facilitating regional business travel.
3. Guatemala City to San Francisco: New Summer Route
Avianca is also launching a new seasonal route from Guatemala City (GUA) to San Francisco (SFO), connecting Central America to the West Coast of the United States. Starting June 1, 2026, this four-times-weekly service will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The route will primarily use Airbus A320 and A320neo aircraft, ensuring efficient service on this popular route. This new connection is expected to cater to both the growing Central American diaspora in the United States and leisure travelers seeking direct access to San Francisco and surrounding regions.
4. San Salvador to Madrid: Long-Haul Seasonal Service
Another significant addition to Avianca’s 2026 network is the launch of direct flights from San Salvador (SAL) to Madrid (MAD), starting June 15, 2026. This seasonal service will operate four times per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays using Airbus A330 aircraft, operated in partnership with Wamos Air, a Spanish airline. This route strengthens the link between Central America and Europe, providing an essential service for both tourism and business travelers. The partnership with Wamos Air offers flexibility and cost control, as the A330 aircraft will provide significant capacity during the peak travel months without permanently committing Avianca’s own long-haul fleet.
Seasonal and Year-Round Growth Across the Network
In addition to these new routes, Avianca is focusing on seasonal flights that align with specific travel patterns. For instance, the Bogotá to Caracas and Santiago to Cartagena routes cater to tourism and holiday demand, while the Guatemala City to San Francisco route aims to facilitate summer travel between the two regions.
By concentrating on seasonality, Avianca can optimize its fleet usage, ensuring that it meets the demand during peak periods without overextending its resources. This targeted approach helps the airline balance growth with operational efficiency, ensuring that each route is both economically viable and sustainable.
Fleet Utilization: Narrowbody Aircraft for Efficiency
Most of Avianca’s 2026 launches will utilize narrowbody aircraft, specifically the Airbus A320 and A320neo, which are well-suited for short- to medium-haul routes. These aircraft are known for their fuel efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness, making them ideal for regional and short-haul international flights. This fleet choice reflects Avianca’s commitment to providing affordable travel options while minimizing its environmental footprint.
For the long-haul services, particularly on the San Salvador to Madrid route, the airline will use Airbus A330 aircraft, providing more capacity for travelers who need to cross the Atlantic. The use of Wamos Air for these flights ensures that Avianca can meet high demand during the busy summer months without committing its own long-haul assets year-round.
Market Strategy: Risk-Managed Growth
Avianca’s 2026 route strategy reflects a careful, risk-managed approach to expansion. The airline is focusing on reliable, seasonal routes that cater to high-demand periods, while maintaining flexibility in its fleet usage. For example, the Santiago to Cartagena and Guatemala City to San Francisco routes are limited to four months of service, which helps manage both demand fluctuations and costs.
By introducing narrowbody aircraft on the majority of its new flights, Avianca can optimize its fleet for maximum utilization while keeping operating costs low. Additionally, the seasonal approach helps ensure that the airline can manage its resources effectively, avoiding overcapacity during off-peak periods.
Conclusion: A Growing Network with Exciting Prospects
Avianca’s 2026 route launches are part of the airline’s broader strategy to restore and expand its connectivity in the Americas and beyond. With a combination of new direct flights, seasonal services, and strategic reactivations, Avianca is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for regional travel while maintaining its commitment to sustainability and efficiency.
The airline’s approach to expanding its network while managing costs reflects the ongoing challenges of the global aviation market. But with these new routes and a focus on customer demand, Avianca is set to continue growing its presence and strengthening its role as a leader in Latin American aviation.
The post Avianca’s 2026 Flight Expansion: New Routes from Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, and More – Here’s What You Need to Know! appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
