The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

ANDES (Aerolineas Nacionales del Ecuador SA)

Operator Identification

  July 1962 to 1998

  Ecuador


TYPE: Cargo airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: ED / EDA

HEADQUARTERS: Guayaquil

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Andes Airlines

Operator History

ANDES was formed on 15 July 1962 by Capt. Alfredo Franco to operate cargo charters and was awarded a CAB foreign air carrier permit for Ecuador-Panama-Miami cargo flights in 1966. Twice-weekly operations with two Commandos on a Guayaquil-Panama City-Miami routing began in late 1968. Quito was added in 1969. The airline later operated Canadair CL44s and Douglas DC8s.

[not to be confused with ANDES (Aerovias Nacionales del Sur) from Peru, out of business in 1952]

Commando Operations

July 1958* to 1975*

ANDES used four Commandos in cargo configuration. DC4s and DC6As replaced them from the late 1960's, with the last Commando being retired at the end of 1972.

Commandos Operated

  • Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: HC-ABR (leased, TBC)
  • Curtiss R5C-1 Commando: HC-ACZ, HC-AMC, HC-AMV
  • Other Commando: N69346

Last edited: 16/03/2024