How Avianca Brasil's Exit From Star Alliance Will Affect South America
Skift Take
Avianca Brasil, the smaller regional cousin of Avianca Colombia, will leave the alliance on September 1. While some regional passengers may notice the lapse in service deeper in Brazil, most international travelers to the country won't notice the vacuum.
Avianca Brasil, the embattled South American carrier that formally declared bankruptcy earlier this year, is leaving the Star Alliance. With its departure, the alliance, which includes heavyweights such as United and Lufthansa, will shrink to 27 partners.
The airline's demise and subsequent exit from the alliance will certainly leave a hole in Star's coverage throughout South America. After September 1, only Avianca Colombia, the airline's larger and better-known cousin, and Copa, Panama's flag carrier, will serve regional flights in the area.
Avianca Brasil's exit also opens a wider door for LATAM, the dominant carrier in the region and a member of the Oneworld alliance, to expand.
As to whether passengers will notice the impact, Avianca Brasil's
