Image generated with Ai

A significant travel interruption has hit Colombia on 18th November, 2025. Avianca passengers are grappling with widespread operational issues, especially across major domestic routes. We are seeing a troubling pattern of delays and cancellations directly impacting major metropolitan areas. Specifically, the country’s main travel hub in Bogotá is registering the heaviest impact. Currently, Avianca has reported a total of 10 flight cancellations and 62 delays. This means one percent of all flights were canceled. Consequently, travelers connecting Bogotá with Bucaramanga, Medellín, Barranquilla, Cali and Cúcuta are experiencing considerable inconvenience. This situation demands immediate attention from both the airline and affected passengers. We examine the full extent of this disruption and its implications for domestic travel.

A Breakdown of the Affected Flights

The core of the reported operational difficulties centers on a fleet of A320 aircraft utilized by Avianca. A total of ten specific flights were listed as being subject to cancellation, with details being provided on their route, scheduled time and equipment type. All listed flights were domestic segments operating within Colombia. The evening travel window was particularly impacted, with the earliest listed flight scheduled for 4:05 PM and the latest for 8:50 PM. This concentration of disruptions during a peak travel period amplified the inconvenience experienced by the travelling public.

Flight	Aircraft	Origin (Code)	Destination (Code)	Scheduled Time
AVA9462	A320	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Palonegro (BGA / SKBG)	Tue 04:05PM -05
AVA9326	A320	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Jose Maria Cordova Int’l (MDE / SKRG)	Tue 05:00PM -05
AVA9528	A320	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Ernesto Cortissoz Int’l (BAQ / SKBQ)	Tue 05:40PM -05
AVA9481	A320	Palonegro (BGA / SKBG)	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Tue 05:55PM -05
AVA9211	A320	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Int’l (CLO / SKCL)	Tue 06:40PM -05
AVA9375	A320	Jose Maria Cordova Int’l (MDE / SKRG)	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Tue 06:44PM -05
AVA8514	A320	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Camilo Daza Int’l (CUC / SKCC)	Tue 07:00PM -05
AVA8529	A320	Ernesto Cortissoz Int’l (BAQ / SKBQ)	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Tue 07:45PM -05
AVA9816	A320	Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Int’l (CLO / SKCL)	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Tue 08:25PM -05
AVA9455	A320	Camilo Daza Int’l (CUC / SKCC)	El Dorado Int’l (BOG / SKBO)	Tue 08:50PM -05

The reported irregularities were not isolated to a single corridor but were distributed across the domestic network connecting Bogotá with five other vital regional cities. The primary hub, El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá, was involved in every listed flight, underscoring its pivotal role in the Avianca network and the entire country’s air travel infrastructure.

Flights departing from Bogotá to the following destinations were affected:

• Bucaramanga (Palonegro Int’l / SKBG) – Flight AVA9462
• Medellín (Jose Maria Cordova Int’l / SKRG) – Flight AVA9326
• Barranquilla (Ernesto Cortissoz Int’l / SKBQ) – Flight AVA9528
• Cali (Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Int’l / SKCL) – Flight AVA9211
• Cúcuta (Camilo Daza Int’l / SKCC) – Flight AVA8514

Conversely, several inbound flights to the Bogotá hub were also subject to disruption:

• From Bucaramanga – Flight AVA9481
• From Medellín – Flight AVA9375
• From Barranquilla – Flight AVA8529
• From Cali – Flight AVA9816
• From Cúcuta – Flight AVA9455

Delays

The majority of the operational disruption was registered in the form of flight delays, with 62 delays being reported. This figure represented 8% of the total flights recorded. The cumulative effect of these 62 delays meant that a significant portion of the traveling public across Colombia had their itineraries forcibly extended, leading to consequential missed connections and rescheduled ground transportation arrangements.

Affected Airports

Six major airports across Colombia were implicated in the operational setbacks.

• El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá: As the primary origin and destination for all listed flights, this airport bore the brunt of the schedule volatility.
• Palonegro International Airport (BGA) serving Bucaramanga
• José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) serving Medellín
• Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (BAQ) serving Barranquilla
• Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO) serving Cali
• Camilo Daza International Airport (CUC) serving Cúcuta

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The volume of 10 cancellations and 62 delays reported against Avianca is expected to exert noticeable pressure on the local tourism sectors in the affected cities. Bogotá, Medellín and Cali are major commercial and cultural centers that rely heavily on air connectivity for both domestic business travel and international tourist arrivals, with many international visitors using Bogotá as a gateway before connecting to regional destinations like Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cúcuta.

When domestic flight schedules are compromised on this scale, the immediate consequences include delayed check-ins for booked accommodations and cancellations of pre-booked tours and local activities. The perceived reliability of the air transport network can be negatively affected, which is a critical factor for the continued growth of travel and tourism in Colombia. The necessity for passengers to seek last-minute lodging in the hub cities due to missed connections also places an unanticipated strain on local hotel and ground transportation resources.

What Affected Passengers Can Do

Passengers in a situation like this, are advised to take specific actions. The first priority must be to seek information directly from the airline regarding the status of their flight. In cases of cancellation or significant delay, passengers are typically entitled to rebooking on the next available flight to their final destination at no additional charge.

All documents related to the trip, including the original booking confirmation and any new boarding passes issued, should be retained. Furthermore, documentation of any reasonable expenses incurred as a direct result of the disruption, such as meals or last-minute accommodation costs, should be meticulously kept. These records are vital should a claim for reimbursement or compensation be pursued under the applicable passenger rights regulations governing air travel within Colombia. Direct communication with Avianca’s customer service channels is the stipulated primary course of action for re-accommodation and issue resolution.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.