Ecuatoriana de Aviacion

  May 1957 to 2006

  Ecuador

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: EU / EEA

HEADQUARTERS: Quito, Ecuador

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Compania Ecuatoriana de Aviación was established in May 1957, after a group of American and Ecuadorian investors decided to set up an airline. At first, 50 percent of the airline was owned by Americans. Operations started in August 1957. Serving a relatively small country, the airline had a varied fleet that consisted of Commandos, DC4s and DC6s. Many of the international destinations required enroute stops, such as Quito to Miami, FL via Panama City or Quito to Santiago de Chile via Lima, Peru. The entry into service of the Lockheed L-188 Electra solved that problem.

The Americans pulled out of Ecuatoriana in the early 1970's. In 1974, the company became the national airline of Ecuador. It had purchased its first jet, a Boeing 707, to link Quito to New York City or Buenos Aires, Argentina. However, plagued by flight delays and cancellations, and facing fierce competition in the 1990's, Ecuatoriana ceased operations in 1993. After a short revival, it folded permanently in 2006.

November 1957 to December 1958

Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando: HC-ABQ