FRALIM From Germany, joined Jun 2003, 121 posts, RR: 0 Posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 3249 times:
Hey!
I hope one of you guys can help me on this:
I've been wondering who actually owns Grupo TACA. Is it owned by a state (e.g. el Salvador????) or the public, is there a main investor or a parent company (e.g. another airline) or whatever... Unfortunately I couldn't find any corporate information on their website or anywhere else. It really seems to be a mystery.
Ntspelich From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 764 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 3222 times:
Bongo From Colombia, joined Oct 2003, 1858 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3188 times:
I don't know who owns Grupo Taca...the only thing I can tell you is that is a wonderful airline...I flew a couple of months ago from SAL to SJO in one of their A320's and it was a nice flight. They have hubs in SAL, LIM and SJO. The other thing is that they kept the Airbuses from ACES since they went bankruptcy...all 8 320's are parked in SAL for painting...unfortunately I couldn't take any picture. Here's the plane I flew, N482TA:
CptGirmayTesfa From Peru, joined Oct 2003, 406 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3101 times:
It's private; its a merge of 4 previously state-owed airlines:
AVIATECA (Guatemala); TACA (El Salvador) (which name it retained); NICA (Nicaragua); LACSA (Costa Rica). These countries + Belize (didn't have a national airline) form the 5 countries that Grupo Taca represent (you can see 5 stylized birds in their logo).
Later, grupo Taca added a hub in Lima and the operations from there are called 'Taca Peru'.
Bongo: I can ensure you that Taca is shit! I have flown them at least a 100 times with them, and only because they have a number of monopoly routes within Central America. In flight service is very meager, tickets way too expensive, freezing cold + discotheke atmosphere on board.
The closest competitor Copa Airlines (of Panama) is much better (but unfortunately doesn't always serve the same routes).
LatinAviation From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 1276 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3093 times:
Don't forget Taca de Honduras and TacaEcuador, which they formed, applied to the US DOT for authority and pretty much have left vacant. They also have regional airlines within Central America and are affiliated, somehow, with one that flies Cessna Caravan's within Cuba. Bobby Booth's book Airline Passionado has a great overview of both Taca and its president, Federico Bloch.
CptGirmayTesfa From Peru, joined Oct 2003, 406 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3081 times:
I don't know the status of "Taca Honduras". The only new airline from Honduras is Sol Air, that is trying to compete with Taca.
A "Taca Honduras" wouldn't make any sense as Taca serves the three international airports of Honduras already, and each of them not serving at all as a hub.
Honduras was never part of Grupo Taca. They had their own airlines in the past (SAHSA, TAN) but all went out of business.
LatinAviation From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 1276 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3071 times:
Taca Honduras was formed as a subsidiary of Taca (El Salvador) in order to get international route authority from Honduras. Essentially, it's an airline on paper only but they do exist. My brother-in-law works for them in TGU, I have flown with them SAP-MIA and the crew, at the time, was all SAP-based. Their applications with the DOT are still on file at http://dms.dot.gov under Docket OST-1995-271-1.
You're correct though, I believe Sol Air is the only "national" airline of Honduras. Islena, before its link-up with Taca, acquired an Aero Costa Rica 737 for service to the US, as well.
Md11lover From Switzerland, joined Oct 2003, 444 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3061 times:
You cant forget Atlantic Airlines, a Honduran based airline, which also flies to Guatemala and SJO, and the Bay Islands. Islena was also acquired by Grupo TACA.
Polnebmit From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 72 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3060 times:
I also agree that TACA is really bad. They are the worst airline I've flown. Left my suitcase in New York on a non stop flight from NYC to GUA. That was a Tuesday. And I did not get my suitcase delivered till Sunday. I had to go to a Meeting and had to borrow dress clothes. What response did I get from TACA? That I was not the only one and that it happens always. No refund, no nothing. I explained to them about the meeting, and they said they could not do anything about it since about 25 other passengers were in a similar situation. The planes are dirty, seats are falling apart and the service is absolutely pitiful.
Md11lover From Switzerland, joined Oct 2003, 444 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 3048 times:
Polnebmit, did you fly TACA a long time ago? They used to be pretty bad, but it has improved a lot since it became Grupo TACA. new a/c, great service. I really like TACA.
LatinAviation From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 1276 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3046 times:
Sorry about that, MD11Lover. Atlantic Airlines and Aerolineas Sosa are both domestic airline. I am flying to TGU on 12/26 and will give a full trip report when I return.
Bongo From Colombia, joined Oct 2003, 1858 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3030 times:
Agree with you MD11Lover.... I flew with them about 2 months ago... On time, clean plane, good food (At least eatable!), friendly F/A, good interior looking.
MDE: First airport in the Americas visited by the A380!
Md11lover From Switzerland, joined Oct 2003, 444 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3026 times:
Actually, i know for a fact Atlantic flew to SJO. It crashed on landing or takeoff a few years back. I flew Atlantic to RTB this summer. Was great. Loved every minute. SOSA is domestic for sure, but i think Rollins air flies to the Grand Cayman.
LatinAviation From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 1276 posts, RR: 17 Reply 15, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3008 times:
I think Atlantic is in most Central American countries, with the exception of Panama. Their parent company is based in Nicaragua, so it's very possible you did see them in SJO.
I think Rollins Air is out of business, but I could be wrong. I didn't any sign of them when I was in SAP, LCE or RTB. Islena used to fly RTB-GCM with their ATR's.
Md11lover From Switzerland, joined Oct 2003, 444 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2976 times:
Rollins might be out of business, but they still have the check-in counter at Toncontin. That doesnt say much though since they had SAHSA's for about ten years after they went bankrupt.
SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2496 posts, RR: 15 Reply 17, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2961 times:
About the TACA service levels, I've heard the most diverse things; from people who say that they're the most marvelous airline in the world to traveller who think it's more like a bad intra-municipal bus company.
It all depends on the personal experience you have with them. BUT, that shows only one thing: that they have a very inconsistent service. Travelling with them is more like a lottery on whether you get good or bad treatment.
One thing is that they are one of the youngest fleet in the Americas and that their network is growing pretty fast. Recently they added an all brand-new A319 from BOG to LIM and currently operate 2xdaily A320 from BOG to SJO.
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From Germany, joined Jun 2003, 121 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 764 posts, 
From Colombia, joined Oct 2003, 1858 posts, 
From Peru, joined Oct 2003, 406 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 1276 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Oct 2003, 444 posts, 
to traveller who think it's more like a bad intra-municipal bus company.
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