LAN Airlines (LA, Santiago de Chile Arturo Merino Benítez International (SCL)) has now officially phased out its last remaining A318-100 CC-CZR (c/n 3635), ch-aviation can confirm. The aircraft had been used to ply Chilean domestic routes and will now be replaced by the larger A319-100. CC-CZR has left Chile on May 1 and been ferried to México City Benito Juárez International (MEX) where it will be prepared for its next operator Avianca Brasil (O6, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU)).

LAN Airlines (LA, Santiago de Chile Arturo Merino Benítez International (SCL)) will transfer its last remaining A318-100 CC-CZR (c/n 3635) to Avianca Brasil (O6, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU)) on April 30. The A318, which currently plies domestic Chilean routes, will be replaced by larger A319-100s on the routes it is currently operating on.

Avianca Brasil (O6, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU)) is reportedly in the process of preparing a second bid for Portuguese national carrier TAP Portugal (TP, Lisbon Portela de Sacavem (LIS)) after a first bid had failed in December when the Portuguese government decided not to sell TAP to Avianca Brasil parent Synergy Aerospace. Synergy owner Gérman Efromovich has met with the Brazilian government to get support for a proposed second bid, this time by Avianca Brasil, according to aeroTELEGRAPH and Folha de São Paulo. Synergy Aerospace is the majority shareholder in Avianca-TACA and fully owns Avianca Brasil.

TAP Portugal (TP, Lisbon Portela de Sacavem (LIS)) is likely to be acquired by Synergy Aerospace which has been shortlisted as the sole bidder for the Portuguese national carrier. Portugal is currently privatizing several state owned companies including TAP as part of an agreement reached with the European Union and International Monetary Fund on loans for the the country. The government and Synergy Aerospace hope to reach a definitive agreement about the sale before the end of 2012. Synergy Aerospace already owns Avianca Brasil (O6, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU)) and is a majority shareholder in Latin American airline group AviancaTACA.

Avianca Colombia (AV, Bogotá El Nuevo Dorado International (BOG)) has filed an application with the US Department of Transportation asking for approval to operate all flights operated by TACA carriers from and to the United States under the Avianca brand and AV flight number from early 2013. This confirms previous rumours that Avianca-TACA plans to move to a single brand, Avianca, for all of its Latin American operations either owned by Avianca-TACA or its majority owner Synergy Aerospace. Together, the two holding companies control or partially own AeroGal (2K, Quito Internacional (UIO)), Avianca Brasil (O6, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU)), Avianca Colombia, Aviateca Guatemala (GU, Guatemala City La Aurora International (GUA)), Islena Airlines (WC, La Ceiba Golosón International (LCE)), La Costeña (Managua International (MGA)), SANSA - Servicios Aéreos Nacionales (RZ, San José Juan Santamaría International (SJO)), TAC Airlines (Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International (DAC)), TACA International Airlines (TA, San Salvador Cuscatlán International (SAL)) and TACA Perú (T0, Lima Jorge Chávez International (LIM)). According to the application made public by the DOT all flights of these carriers with the exception of Avianca Brasil would operate under AV flight numbers. Each of the carriers is however expected to continue independent operations for a variety of reasons including traffic rights.