Aeroperú

Infobox Airline
airline=Aeroperú
logo=Aeroperú logo.pnglogo_size=147
ceased=1999
fleet_size=22
destinations=34
IATA=PL
ICAO=PLI
callsign=Aeroperu
founded=1973
headquarters=Lima, Peru
key_people=Gregorio Nolan (CEO)
hubs=Jorge Chavez International Airport
focus_cities=Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport
frequent_flyer=Club Premier
lounge=Salon Premier
website=None|

Aeroperú (shorter for "Empresa Nacional de Aeronavegación del Perú, SA" ["National Air Navigation Company of Peru"] ) was the national flag air carrier of Peru.

History

Started in 1973, Aeroperú was formed to take over the international routes operated by APSA (owned then by Pan American Airways). At first, the airline was largely controlled by the Peruvian Air Force.

Aeroperú was based at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, and grew into an international airline while also developing a large jet aircraft route system domestically. In its early years Peru's flag carrier used Fokker F-28, Boeing 727, Douglas DC-8 (which were leased from Viasa) and a Lockheed L-1011. Aeroperú's main focus was with South American routes, although it did serve Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City as well as Miami.

In the 1990s, economic trouble led to the sale of 47 percent of the airline to AeroMéxico. Aeroperú then re-introduced a new livery, similar to that of AeroMéxico. Three 727-200s and three DC-10-15s were bought from Mexicana, another subsidiary from AeroMéxico at that time. Three Boeing 757s were also introduced as property of AeroMéxico and another one leased. Additionally, service to Los Angeles was introduced.

Aeroperú had suffered two fatal events (Flight 772 near Juliaca in 1988, and Flight 603 in 1996). The last one likely contributed to the airline's demise. Before the take-off of flight 603, the maintenance crew erroneously left masking tape over the sensitive static ports of the plane. The crew thus received contradicting and false flight data, particularly from the altimeter, after take-off. This prevented even ground radar from successfully assisting the flight crew during the emergency, and ultimately led to the plane's crash into the Pacific Ocean on October 2, 1996. This was a severe loss to the airline, from which it could never recover.

On March 10, 1999, financial difficulties forced Aeroperú to cease operations. Aeroperú's major creditors decided on August 18 to liquidate its assets.

Livery

Aeroperú's final livery featured a white upper fuselage and a grey lower fuselage, with dark blue and red cheatlines, the Peruvian flag over the front passenger windows, the tail covered in dark blue, with the name "aeroperú" inscribed in white and a Chavin symbol in white.

Destinations

Domestic

* Arequipa (Rodriguez Ballon International Airport) Focus City
* Chiclayo (Capitán FAP José A. Quiñones International Airport)
* Cusco (Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport) Focus City
* Iquitos (Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport)
* Juliaca (Inca Manco Capac International Airport)
* Lima (Jorge Chavez International Airport) Main Hub
* Piura (Capitán FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico International Airport)
* Pucallpa (Capitán Rolden International Airport)
* Puerto Maldonado (Puerto Maldonado International Airport)
* Tacna (Coronel FAP Carlos Ciriani Santa Rosa International Airport)
* Tarapoto (Comandante FAP Guillermo del Castillo Paredes Airport)
* Trujillo (Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport)
* Tumbes (Capitán FAP Pedro Canga Rodríguez Airport)

International

;Europe
* Spain
** Madrid (Madrid Barajas International Airport)

;North America
* Dominican Republic
** Punta Cana (Punta Cana International Airport)
* Mexico
** Cancún (Cancún International Airport)
** Mexico City (Mexico City International Airport)
* Panama
** Panama City (Tocumen International Airport)
* Costa Rica
** San Jose (Juan Santamaria International Airport)
* United States
** Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport)
** Miami (Miami International Airport)
** New York City (John F. Kennedy International Airport)

;South America
* Argentina
** Buenos Aires (Ministro Pistarini International Airport)
* Bolivia
** La Paz (El Alto International Airport)
** Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Viru Viru International Airport)
* Brazil
** Rio De Janeiro (Galeão International Airport)
** Sao Paulo (Guarulhos International Airport)
* Chile
** Santiago (Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport)
* Colombia
** Bogotá (El Dorado International Airport)
* Ecuador
** Guayaquil (José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport)
** Quito (Mariscal Sucre International Airport)
* Venezuela
** Caracas (Simón Bolívar International Airport)
** Isla Margarita (Del Caribe International General Santiago Marino Airport)

Fleet

*8 Boeing 727-200
*6 Boeing 757-200
*3 McDonnell Douglas DC-10
*3 Douglas DC-8
*2 Lockheed L-1011

External links

* [http://www.aerolineasperuanas.com/aeroperu.htm Aeroperu] -History, Fleet, and more