Travel Interrupted in Colombia as Avianca Suspend Six Flights, Affecting Passengers across Bogota, Cartagena, Popayan and Palmira, All You Need to Know Now

Published on October 18, 2025

Air travel has been interrupted in Colombia on 17th October, 2025. Avianca, the flag carrier, has had to suspend six flights, which has created significant inconvenience for passengers. According to FlightAware data, this disruption is affecting passengers across key Colombian cities, including Bogota, Cartagena, Popayan and Palmira. Travelers are understandably anxious because the suspensions highlight the vulnerabilities of domestic routes. This issue is not isolated; it involves a total of 6 cancellations and 46 delays. This report breaks down the affected routes and the logistical challenges. It also provides essential steps that passengers can immediately take to manage their rebooking or refund options.

A Breakdown of the Affected Flights

The 6 Cancellations by Avianca, were scheduled for a single day, indicating an intensive period of disruption. All 6 flights were domestic routes originating from or destined for the El Dorado International Airport (BOG / SKBO) in Bogotá, Colombia’s primary aviation hub. The aircraft types involved were the narrow-body Airbus A320 and A319, which are typically utilized for high-frequency domestic and regional routes.

The cancellations were concentrated on high-traffic domestic corridors, resulting in the interruption of three distinct round-trip routes:

1. Bogotá (BOG) to Cartagena (CTG): Flights AVA9788 and AVA8559 were suspended, affecting one of Colombia’s busiest tourist and business routes connecting the capital with the Caribbean coastal city.
2. Bogotá (BOG) to Popayán (PPN): Flights AVA4807 and AVA4806, linking the capital with the regional city of Popayán, were cancelled.
3. Bogotá (BOG) to Palmira/Cali (CLO): Flights AVA9203 and AVA9564 were suspended, affecting the critical connection between the capital and the Valle del Cauca region.

Delays

In addition to the six outright cancellations, a moderate number of flights, totaling 46, were reportedly affected by delays. This delays, quantified as a 6% delay percentage for Avianca, suggests a broader operational constraint was being experienced across the airline’s network on the day in question. The compounding effect of delays and cancellations often creates a cascading disruption, extending the waiting time and uncertainty for numerous travelers beyond those on the cancelled flights.

Affected Airports

Four major Colombian airports were involved in the cancelled flight reports:

El Dorado International Airport (BOG), being the hub for all affected routes, experienced the most significant impact from the cancellations, both as an origin and destination point.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The entire operation affected is confined to the domestic air space of Colombia. The suspension of flights, particularly on the Bogotá-Cartagena and Bogotá-Palmira/Cali routes, might generate a negative impression on the stability of the local travel infrastructure. Domestic air travel is critical for sustaining tourism, especially for connecting the capital, Bogotá, with major destinations like the historic coastal city of Cartagena (CTG) and the cultural hub of Cali/Palmira (CLO). Disruptions of this nature can lead to missed connections, forfeited reservations for tours and accommodation and a loss of confidence in the consistency of flight operations, which are essential for maintaining the flow of domestic and international visitors who utilize these feeder routes.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose flights were affected by the cancellations or significant delays are advised to immediately seek re-accommodation or refund options. Under established air passenger rights regulations, particularly within the Colombian context, passengers are typically entitled to alternative arrangements or compensation, depending on the circumstances of the disruption.

1. Contact the Airline: Direct communication with Avianca’s customer service channels (website, app, or airport counter) is the primary step. New flights on the next available service should be requested.
2. Rebooking or Refund: Affected passengers are entitled to choose between being rebooked on the next available flight to their final destination, possibly with another carrier if necessary, or receiving a full refund for the unused segment of their ticket.
3. Monitor Flight Status: The status of any rebooked flight must be continuously monitored, given the reported high number of overall delays experienced by the airline.
4. Know Your Rights: Documentation of the cancellation and any communication with the airline should be maintained. If the cancellation was deemed to be within the airline’s control, passengers may be entitled to additional compensation and assistance, such as meals and accommodation, as stipulated by local regulations.

The cancellation of 6 flights and the delay of 46 others serve as a critical report on the recent operational challenges faced by Avianca within Colombia. Measures to mitigate the impact on passengers and restore public confidence in the affected routes are now expected to be prioritized by the airline.