Viva Blasts Colombia for Unfair Treatment in Avianca Loan (1)

Declan Ryan, a low-cost airline veteran and executive chairman of Viva Air Group, criticized the Colombian government for showing special treatment to competitor Avianca Holdings by offering the bankrupt carrier a $370 million loan.

Ryan, whose Viva Air operates 16 aircraft in Colombia, said the loan is excessive compared to the help being offered to other carriers, including Viva, which is negotiating to borrow $25 million under the government’s aid to small- and medium-sized businesses. Viva should be receiving around $100 million if it was being treated equally, he said.

The airline may evaluate legal options due to the ...