Airline History Ecuador

Aviation history in Ecuador began in the 1920’s when the owner of El Telegrafo newspaper began flights in Guayaquil. Ecuador’s first commercial flight service was conducted by an association of the German Colombian Air Transport (SCADTA – Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aereos) in 1928. This group was later named Sociedad Ecuatoriana-Alemana de Transportes Aereos (SEADTA) and operated until the beginning of World War II. It ceased operations because of the lack of gasoline supply, and was confiscated. A unit of of Pan American Airlines was granted the rights of the German operation (Panagra) and began flights from the U.S. in 1929.

After World War II Ecuador was the base of two national carriers. Aerovias Ecuatorianas(AREA) and Compania Ecuatoriana de Aviacion (CEA). Both airlines operated domestic and international flights. There were also a few very small airlines that serviced domestic flights across the Andes into the isolated communities of the Oriente (Transportes Aereos Orientales (TAO).

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