Viva Air crisis: it is the airline’s billion dollar debt to the State and banking entities

After the airline decided to suspend operations from the February 27, 2023affecting thousands of people who had purchased their plane tickets in advance, it became known that to date he owed a significant amount of money, not only to the state, but also to banking entities.

Information provided by journalist Melquisedec Torres in his account Twitter revealed that the airline was in debt amounting to 1.2 trillion Colombian pesos.

Regarding this information, live air it owes public entities almost 64,000 million pesos, while the amount of money pending with the banks amounts to 121,000 million pesos. Still, the highest amount is that pending with external creditors, to whom he owes $1,052,015,462,370.

It should be remembered that one of the main reasons why Viva Air announced its decision to cease its activities was due to its financial and operational infeasibility, as well as a lack of definition in relation to the Civil aeronautics in alliance with the airline Avianca.

According to their statements, this alliance would be the only possibility that Viva Air would have to be able to continue to manage the trips of its users and, in general, to comply with its activities. However, the situation has strained relations with Civil Aeronautics.

Until now, the airline’s debt figures had not been disclosed as if it was about ceasing operations. In relation to this, of hecho, el medio Caracol Radio dio has conocer que el último recovery plan que habría entregado la aerolínea, construido a inicios del mes de febrero de 2018, indico que, si continuaban las operations, no habría flujo de caja from the March 24, 2023.

Through a press release, Viva Air indicated that it had only three million dollars in its fund which would allow it to complete its operations until February. That’s how from that moment he decided stop operating.

After a user hit in the middle of the situation, said by the airline VivaAir, filed a consumer protection lawsuit over the suspension of flights, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) decided in his favor after verifying the conditions of the case.

It was learned that within 48 hours of filing the complaint, the SIC ordered the airline to return the money the woman had paid for her tickets, which must be done immediately or failing that , relocate on a flight with another company at no additional cost.

This was announced by a statement released on March 4, 2023 in which he announced the measure he decreed, which is also the first to be issued “against the company VIVA AIRLINES PERU SAC SUCURSAL COLOMBIA, provider of the international air transport service for passengers of the aforementioned airline”.

Also, in your account Twitterhe pointed:

“The #SIC informs that, since the filing of a complaint filed by one of the persons concerned by the suspension of Viva Air operations, the first precautionary measure against the said airline has been decreed, in less than 48 hours.”

According to the information regarding the case announced by the entity, the measure was decreed due to the urgent need to provide protection of rights and the interests of users who have been affected by the decision taken by Viva Air. In addition, he pointed out that his way of acting: “shows a flagrant violation of the rights expected of consumers”.

Likewise, he pointed out that the case is deepening: “not only because of the effects of the unilateral and untimely decision to suspend its services, but also, in full ignorance of its obligations and responsibilities as a supplier of a service of vital importance to consumers and users…”

The document also revealed that on the webpage to which the affected users Due to the suspension of flights, there is no type of information through which they can submit requests. In fact, the SIC pointed out that: “on the contrary, they reproduce in all cases the aforementioned statement without at least offering timely solutions to the needs of users like the applicant here.”

The SIC also mentioned that this first measure will open the doors to all users who have been affected by Viva Air’s decision, where their rights have been violated and turn to the entity for solutions to their situations.

Indeed, he pointed out that through the National Consumer Protection Networkthe superintendency indicated that face-to-face service channels are offered to relevant users by the airline and located in 18 cities national territory in airports awaiting solutions.