CIASA (Compania Internacional Aerea SA)

  November 1966 to 1974*

  Ecuador

TYPE: Cargo airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: -- / ---

HEADQUARTERS: Quito, Ecuador

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

CIASA was a cargo airline founded on 7 November 1966 by Colonel Guillermo Freile Posso, formerly in command of the Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana and a member of the military junta ruling the country. Operations started on 12 October 1967, initially to Panama, Venezuela and Mexico. During the first nine months of operations, it carried a total of 81 tons of freight to these inernational destinations. Revenue during the last three months of 1967 amounted to $37,000, yielding a net profit of $6,000. CIASA also established maintenance facilities in Quito to support its operations.

On 29 July 1968, CIASA obtained from the US CAB a permit to operate charter cargo flights between Ecuador and Miami, FL via Panama. Cargo included flowers, seafood, fruit pulp and bananas, both from Quito and Guayaquil. Flights to the US started with CIASA's Commando, twice montly initially, then thrice during the second half of 1969. The plan was to increase frequency to four monthly flights, using a Douglas DC7B which eventually was not taken up.

On 12 July 1972, CIASA's operating certificate was withdrawn by the Government of Ecuador, and the CAB permit followed suit.

August 1971* to July 1974*

CIASA started operations using a Commando, and later purchased another one from VARIG.

• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: HC-ANB