Avianca Delayed and Canceled Flights Today: Recent Updates
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Avianca Airlines Flight Performance Overview
Avianca Airlines (IATA code AV) has recently earned a reputation for reliability. This Colombian-based carrier operated over 213,000 flights last year, transporting about 32 million passengers in the process. But what do these numbers mean for you as a traveller? Below we break down Avianca’s global flight performance and what to expect, especially if you’re flying to/from the U.S. or via Europe/UK (where EU261/UK261 air passenger rights apply).
Avianca Punctuality By the Numbers
To put it simply, Avianca’s flights are generally on time more often than not. Being on time in aviation usually means arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival time. Avianca’s on-time arrival rate of 85.73% in 2023 is impressive – the highest worldwide – which also implies that roughly 1 in 7 flights (14%) had a moderate delay (over 15 minutes). Equally notable, Avianca kept its cancellation rate extremely low, with about 0.9% of flights cancelled (a 99.08% completion factor). For context, many large airlines in Europe had 2–3% cancellation rates last year. Avianca’s commitment to punctuality reflects a significant post-pandemic improvement. Its on-time performance jumped over 10 percentage points higher than 2019 . All of this culminated in Avianca officially receiving Cirium’s award for “2023’s Most Punctual Global Airline”.
To summarize Avianca’s performance and key route insights, here is an overview table of recent stats and figures:
Avianca Performance & Routes | Details |
Total flights (2023) | ~213,000 flights operated |
On-time arrival rate | 85.73% (within 15 min of schedule) |
Flights delayed >15 min | ~14% (approximately 1 in 7 flights) |
Cancellation rate | ~0.92% (less than 1 in 100 flights) |
Most disrupted U.S. routes | Bogotá–New York (AV21, AV211, AV245 and AV20, AV210, AV244) and Bogotá–Miami (AV5, AV7 and AV4, AV6, AV8) – These heavy-traffic routes often face weather and airspace congestion delays (e.g. summer storms, busy JFK operations). |
Most disrupted EU routes | Bogotá–London (AV121 / AV120) and Bogotá–Madrid (AV11, AV27, AV47 and AV10 / AV26 / AV46) – Long-haul routes to major European hubs, sometimes affected by Europe’s air traffic controller strikes and airport disruptions. |
EU261/UK261 coverage | Flights departing from EU/UK airports are covered. For example, Avianca departures from London or Madrid qualify for compensation (long-haul flights can be up to €600) under EU/UK rules. Flights departing outside the EU/UK (e.g. Bogotá to Europe) are not covered by EU261/UK261. |
* On-time performance is the percentage of flights arriving within 15 minutes. “EU261/UK261 coverage” refers to European/UK passenger rights for delays/cancellations on departures from those regions.)
Avianca Flights in the U.S. – Delays and Cancellations
Avianca serves numerous U.S. gateways, including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Orlando, and more – mainly connecting through Bogotá or its Central American hub in El Salvador.
The good news is that Avianca’s punctuality trend extends to its U.S. flights as well. There is no evidence of systemic delays specific to Avianca on these routes; in fact, its strong, on-time record is global. However, U.S. operations do face external factors that can cause delays: for instance, major airports like New York JFK see only about 74% of flights on time on average, meaning about a quarter run late due to congestion or weather. Similarly, in Florida where Avianca flies (Miami, Orlando, etc.), summer thunderstorms and occasional hurricanes can disrupt schedules. Fort Lauderdale Airport, for example, had just 68.6% of flights on time in early 2023 .
What does this mean for an Avianca passenger? Essentially, most Avianca flights to/from the U.S. do depart and arrive as planned, but delays can happen if airports are backed up or Mother Nature intervenes.
The New York–Bogotá route in particular can experience holdups in summer storm season or winter snow, and Miami–Bogotá flights might see weather delays during Florida’s stormy months. If your itinerary involves busy hubs, plan a bit of buffer time for connections.
It’s also worth noting that Avianca, like other airlines, will cancel flights only sparingly – under 1% – usually in cases of severe weather or extraordinary events. In 2023 the overall U.S. flight cancellation rate was about 1.2%, and Avianca was around or below that range. So while cancellations are rare, if one does occur (for example, due to a hurricane threat or air traffic shutdown), U.S. Department of Transportation rules ensure you’re entitled to a refund or rebooking. Always stay alert for airline notifications, especially during peak travel seasons or if storms are forecast.
Avianca in Europe and UK – Delays, Cancellations, and Passenger Rights
Avianca’s network also extends to Europe, with direct flights from Colombia to cities like London, Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris. These routes are long-haul journeys and, importantly for travellers, they fall under European air passenger rights laws on the eastbound leg. This means if you depart from an EU country (or the UK) on Avianca and experience a serious delay or cancellation, EU261/UK261 regulations protect you. Under these rules, a delay over 3 hours at arrival or a short-notice cancellation (under 14 days) can make you eligible for compensation up to €600 per person, provided the cause was within the airline’s control.
Remember: if your Avianca flight from London to Bogotá (AV121) is delayed significantly due to an issue like a technical problem or crew shortage, you could claim compensation. (On the other hand, a flight into Europe – e.g. Bogotá to Madrid – would not be covered by EU261 since Avianca is a non-EU carrier and the journey originated outside the EU.) It’s a key point for Avianca customers in Europe to know: your rights are the same as on any European airline when departing from the EU/UK.
In 2023, Europe saw numerous air traffic control strikes and airport staff walkouts that impacted many flights. Avianca flights heading into or out of Europe sometimes had to contend with these issues.
For example, French air traffic control strikes in 2023 forced many flights to reroute or delay. On strike days up to one-third of flights were delayed or cancelled across airlines. An Avianca flight from Madrid or Paris could be delayed if controllers in France or elsewhere are on strike, or if there’s a staffing shortage in European air traffic management. Likewise, strikes by airport security or ground crews in Europe (such as those in Germany and the UK in 2023) have occasionally led to longer lines or even isolated cancellations. The Bogotá–London route in particular saw some disruption during periods of UK and French strikes.
If you are flying Avianca from the EU or UK, remember to keep your boarding passes, and document any delays. In the event of a long delay or cancellation, you can file a claim for EU261 compensation. Avianca, being aware of these regulations, has to process valid claims for flights from European airports just like any European carrier would.
Common Causes of Flight Disruptions
Here are some of the key causes of disruptions that have affected Avianca and other airlines recently:
- Weather Conditions: Intense thunderstorms in Miami or New York might slow down departures (for safety, flights may have to wait or take longer routes). In winter months, snowstorms or fog in Bogotá or London can cause holding patterns or diversions. Always keep an eye on forecasts at your origin and destination around your travel date.
- Air Traffic Control & Strikes: In 2023, Europe saw a wave of ATC strikes – delay minutes due to these strikes were four times higher than the year before. Labor disruptions at major hubs can ground even a reliable airline for a day or two, so it’s wise to stay informed about any strike news if you have a flight in Europe.
- Operational/Technical Issues: Avianca occasionally faces technical problems or operational hiccups. Crew scheduling issues can also cause delays – if an inbound flight arrived late, the crew might “time out” (exceed their legal work hours) and a fresh crew is needed before the next departure.
- Airspace & Routing Challenges: While this hasn’t been a major issue for Avianca’s Latin America-Europe routes (which mostly cross the Atlantic directly), any wider geopolitical issue or airspace shutdown can cause rerouting. This can result in delays or unscheduled fuel stops.
Expert Commentary: Advice from AirAdvisor’s Anton Radchenko
Knowing your rights is crucial, especially when flying non-EU airlines like Avianca on international routes.
It’s pretty common for airlines to push back on giving compensation because most passengers are unaware of their rights, - Anton Radchenko notes.
In practice, this means you should assert your entitlements if you face a qualifying delay or cancellation.
For example, if your flight from Europe is delayed over 3 hours, don’t hesitate to file a compensation claim. Avianca is legally obligated to compensate you under EU261 (up to €600 for long flights) as long as the cause wasn’t extraordinary.
Radchenko also suggests travellers keep documentation (boarding passes, delay notifications, etc.), and ask the airline for the reason for the delay in writing, as this can be useful evidence in a claim. His overall advice is encouraging: Be proactive and informed. Avianca’s data shows most of their flights run smoothly, but if you do end up in the unlucky minority, a you can turn a bad delay into a fair compensation payout. AirAdvisor can guide you through that process.
What This Means for Travellers
Avianca is a punctual and reliable airline by global standards, and the stats back that up. Flying with Avianca, you have a high chance of an on-time journey and a very low chance of cancellation. If you’re flying Avianca on U.S. routes, be mindful of weather and busy airport connections (build in a time buffer when you can). If you’re flying Avianca from Europe or the UK, rest assured that you have strong passenger rights on your side. Knowing about EU261/UK261 compensation means you won’t be caught off guard if a significant delay or cancellation happens, and you’ll know that you can claim monetary compensation for the trouble.
Sources: The facts and figures in this article are drawn from verified public data on Avianca’s 2023 performance and industry reports. Key references include Cirium’s On-Time Performance Report, aviation analytics (OAG) and news sources for delay statistics, and European regulation guidelines. Expert commentary is provided by Anton Radchenko of AirAdvisor.
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Susan Murphy - Professional Content Writer
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