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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.