As part of the investigation conducted by the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) into Viva and Avianca in their integration process and the suspension of Viva’s operations, the entity heard the testimony of Avianca President and CEO Adrian Neuhauser.
The airline disclosed this in a statement saying that senior executives such as the Chief Legal Officer, those responsible for operations and revenues, among other things, also provided personal or virtual testimony, as provided by law.
“All information requested as part of the process was provided. As always, Avianca reiterates its full willingness to cooperate with authorities in all matters related to this investigation,” the company added.
In addition, it turned out that Neuhauser is abroad due to work obligations.
The SIC opened an investigation against Avianca and Viva since late last year to determine whether the airlines allegedly conducted a business integration operation without prior approval from Civil Aeronautics. In addition, following the recent suspension of Viva’s activities, efforts were made to establish whether there was agreement to approve this measure.
concerned workers
On the other hand, the airline’s employees held sit-ins in Bogotá and Medellín to demand a response to the situation they find themselves in after the suspension of operations.
One of the calls to the national government is to speed up the approval of the business integration between Avianca and Viva as a way out of the financial crisis the airline is going through.
Viva, with its operational headquarters in Antioquia, has a factory with some 1,200,000 employees, and the operation generated some 3,000 indirect jobs.
Regarding this, the Minister of Transport, Guillermo Reyes, said that one of the national government’s priorities is to protect these workers.
intervention of the market
Minister Reyes had also indicated that an intervention on the air market is being analysed, if necessary, after the crisis caused by the Viva shutdown.
Regarding this possibility, a professor at the International School of Economic and Administrative Sciences of the University of La Sabana and an expert in logistics, Jairo Alberto Jarrín, said that in general any measure of government intervention in the markets is only justified. when, as in the case of Viva Air, there are alleged malpractices by private parties, which must be proven by the competent supervisory and control authorities and which directly affect the consumer or user of the service.
“In other words, apparently the Viva Air company violates elements of the contract of carriage, which is considered to be entered into at the moment when a user decides to purchase and pay for its services. Above all, understand that the passenger and freight transport service is considered an essential public service,” said the expert.
Meanwhile, Transport and Industry and Commerce regulators continue to receive petitions, complaints and claims from affected users.
Source: El heraldo
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
