Tampa International launches first passenger flights to South America via Avianca

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Tampa International launches first passenger flights to South America via Avianca

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Tampa International Airport | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Apr 4, 2025

Tampa International Airport has initiated its first-ever scheduled passenger flights to and from South America with the launch of Avianca's service from Bogotá on March 30. This development positions Tampa as the fourth airport in Florida to be serviced by the Colombian carrier, joining a total of 10 US destinations set to be served this year, including San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Avianca now serves 12 airports across the US and Canada from Colombia. This includes a return to Chicago O'Hare in 2024, and an upcoming addition of Dallas/Fort Worth starting in May.

Highlighting passenger data, Tampa was reported to have approximately 155,000 round-trip South American passengers last year. São Paulo topped the list with 30,000 passengers, followed by Bogotá, Lima, Medellín, and Buenos Aires. Most travelers were connecting through Miami with American Airlines or Copa Airlines in Panama City.

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Avianca's new route covers 1,471 nautical miles each way, making it the airline's fourth-shortest US route from Bogotá. Flights will be available four times weekly throughout the year, operated by A320neo aircraft. The initial round trip used a 4.4-year-old HK-5388 aircraft, which is due to be reconfigured from its previous operator's configuration to Avianca's 180-seat standard.

The Tampa flights are scheduled to depart during the peak US-bound traffic bank, arriving back in Bogotá earlier in the day due to limited airport slots available in Bogotá. This timing allows for more extended transit waits for connecting flights.

Between April and December 2025, Avianca plans up to 127 weekly one-way flights between the US and Canada from Bogotá, operating routes with destinations such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Montreal, New York, Orlando, San Juan, Toronto, and Washington Dulles. The addition of Dallas/Fort Worth on May 26 will mark its latest North American expansion.