Avianca Brasil
A Brazilian airline formerly known as OceanAir that grew into the country's fourth-largest carrier before losing its operating authorization and entering bankruptcy proceedings.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Avianca Brasil was a Brazilian scheduled airline whose legal name remained Oceanair Linhas Aéreas S/A even after it adopted the Avianca Brasil commercial brand. Established on 30 June 1998 as an air-taxi operator serving oil companies in the Campos Basin, the company initially connected offshore-industry locations with Brazil's southeastern business centers. It began scheduled passenger service in 2002, linking São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Macaé and Campos, and later became visible to ordinary travelers through services connecting São Paulo's central Congonhas Airport and Rio de Janeiro's Santos Dumont Airport via Guarulhos International Airport. The airline's strategic direction changed after the Synergy Group acquired the Colombian airline Avianca in 2004. OceanAir became a feeder carrier for Avianca's international services from São Paulo–Guarulhos, helping connect Brazilian passengers with Colombia and other destinations. It also became part of Synergy's broader effort to build an aviation group using the Avianca name. OceanAir briefly entered international operations in 2007 with Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft, but rising operating costs led it to discontinue those services in 2008 and refocus on Brazil's domestic market. In March 2010, Synergy announced that OceanAir would be commercially rebranded as Avianca Brasil. The rebranding aligned the airline with the wider Avianca network while preserving OceanAir Linhas Aéreas as the legal corporate entity. Avianca Brasil expanded its domestic network and fleet, including Airbus A320-family aircraft and later Airbus A320neos. Its market share increased substantially during the 2010s, reaching approximately 13.4% of Brazil's domestic passenger-kilometres and 7.3% of international passenger-kilometres in 2018, according to figures attributed to Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency. It was then described as Brazil's fourth-largest airline in both domestic and international traffic by that measure. The carrier joined Star Alliance as an affiliate on 22 July 2015. Its admission had previously been delayed because of information-technology limitations and opposition from TAM, which later left Star Alliance. Although Avianca Brasil shared branding and commercial relationships with Avianca Holdings and related companies, it remained a separate Brazilian legal entity. Reports in 2017 indicated that Avianca Holdings was considering a regulatory process to integrate the Brazilian airline into its corporate structure, but the proposed consolidation did not prevent the later collapse of Avianca Brasil. Financial pressure intensified in 2018. The airline sought judicial reorganization protection on 10 December 2018, citing debts to airports and broader banking and operating liabilities. Aircraft lessors sought the return of planes, while the company attempted to preserve routes and sell assets or obtain a strategic buyer. Potential transactions involving Azul and other Brazilian carriers did not produce a completed rescue. ANAC suspended Avianca Brasil's flights on 24 May 2019 on safety grounds and formalized the suspension in June. Its airport takeoff and landing slots were subsequently redistributed. An auction held on 10 July 2019 raised R$555.3 million from slot-related assets, but this was far below reported debts of approximately R$2.7 billion. Star Alliance announced that Avianca Brasil would leave the alliance effective 1 September 2019. The airline later filed for bankruptcy in court on 14 July 2020, marking the end of the brand's operating history.
History
Avianca Brasil began on 30 June 1998 as OceanAir, an air-taxi company created to serve oil-industry activity in Brazil's Campos Basin. Its early work was oriented toward corporate and offshore transportation rather than a large public airline network. In 2002, the company began scheduled services between São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Macaé and Campos. A notable early service connected Congonhas and Santos Dumont, two centrally located airports, through Guarulhos, allowing passengers from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to connect with international flights. Synergy Group's acquisition of the Colombian airline Avianca in 2004 gave OceanAir a new strategic role. It became a feeder for Avianca services from Guarulhos, and the relationship increased traffic between Brazil and Colombia. Synergy also explored a wider Latin American aviation platform, including investments and partnerships involving other airlines. OceanAir launched international flights in 2007 using Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 757-200 aircraft, but discontinued the international operation by April 2008 because of higher operating costs. The company then concentrated on domestic Brazil. In 2010, Synergy rebranded OceanAir as Avianca Brasil. The legal company continued to be Oceanair Linhas Aéreas S/A, while the commercial identity adopted Avianca's name, visual language and network associations. The airline pursued fleet expansion, ordering Airbus A330 and A320 aircraft in 2010 and later introducing Airbus A320neo aircraft through leases. The growth strategy sought to increase domestic market share and potentially support future international routes, although the airline's principal operating base remained Brazil. Avianca Brasil's relationship with the wider Avianca organization was commercially close but legally distinct. The airline fed traffic to related Avianca operations and eventually joined Star Alliance as an affiliate on 22 July 2015. Earlier membership discussions had been complicated by the carrier's older information systems and by opposition from TAM. In 2016, Frederico Pedreira became chief executive, while José Efromovich became chairman of the board. Reports in 2017 described possible plans for Avianca Holdings to obtain regulatory approval to absorb or otherwise integrate Avianca Brasil, but the company continued as a separate Brazilian airline. The carrier's expansion culminated in a significant domestic presence. ANAC-attributed 2018 figures placed Avianca Brasil at 13.4% of domestic passenger-kilometres and 7.3% of international passenger-kilometres, making it Brazil's fourth-largest airline by those measures. This growth was not matched by financial stability. On 10 December 2018, the company entered judicial reorganization, facing airport debts, bank obligations and losses. Aircraft lessors pursued repossession of planes, reducing the fleet and constraining operations. Attempts to secure a buyer or restructuring partner did not restore the airline. Azul cancelled an acquisition proposal in April 2019 and later resubmitted an offer, while other carriers competed for valuable airport slots and assets. ANAC suspended all Avianca Brasil flights on 24 May 2019 for safety-related reasons and formalized the decision the following month. A 10 July auction generated R$555.3 million from slots and associated assets, but reported liabilities were approximately R$2.7 billion. Star Alliance then announced the airline's departure from the alliance effective 1 September 2019. Avianca Brasil filed for bankruptcy on 14 July 2020, completing the transition from a growing national carrier to a defunct airline.
- 2020
Bankruptcy filing
[1]Avianca Brasil filed for bankruptcy in court on 14 July.
- 2019
ANAC suspends operations
[1]Brazil's civil aviation regulator suspended the airline's flights in May and formalized the suspension in June.
- 2019
Slots auctioned
[1]An auction on 10 July raised R$555.3 million, with airport slots redistributed among other carriers.
- 2019
Leaves Star Alliance
[1]Star Alliance announced that Avianca Brasil would leave the network effective 1 September.
- 2018
Reaches fourth position in Brazilian traffic
[1]The airline reached approximately 13.4% of domestic and 7.3% of international passenger-kilometres, according to ANAC-attributed figures.
- 2018
Files for judicial reorganization
[1]Avianca Brasil sought court protection from creditors on 10 December amid severe financial pressure.
- 2016
Leadership changes
[1]Frederico Pedreira became chief executive and José Efromovich became chairman of the board.
- 2015
Joins Star Alliance
[1]Avianca Brasil officially joined Star Alliance as an affiliate on 22 July.
- 2010
OceanAir becomes Avianca Brasil
[1]Synergy announced the commercial rebranding of OceanAir as Avianca Brasil; the first aircraft carrying the new identity entered service in April.
- 2008
International flights discontinued
[1]The airline ended its international service after operating costs increased and returned its focus to Brazil's domestic market.
Products and positioning
Full-service Brazilian domestic airline with an emphasis on network connectivity, central-city airports and integration with the broader Avianca and Star Alliance ecosystems.
Air transport · 2002
Scheduled passenger services
The airline's core business was scheduled passenger transportation within Brazil. Its network connected major metropolitan areas and regional destinations, with particular importance placed on São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Services operated under the Avianca Brasil brand while the legal carrier remained Oceanair Linhas Aéreas.
Air transport · 2007
International passenger services
OceanAir briefly operated international flights with Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 757-200 aircraft beginning in 2007. The operation was withdrawn by April 2008 because of increased operating costs, after which the company concentrated on domestic Brazilian flying.
Network partnership · 2004
Avianca feeder connections
Following Synergy Group's acquisition of Avianca Colombia, OceanAir fed passengers into Avianca's international operation at São Paulo–Guarulhos. The relationship later expanded through broader Avianca and Star Alliance connectivity, although the Brazilian and Colombian airlines remained separate legal entities.
Brand decisions
2019
Pursue sale of assets and airport slotsM&ABackground
After judicial reorganization and the suspension of flights, the company needed to monetize valuable airport rights and attract a buyer.
Action taken
Avianca Brasil offered assets and slots in an auction held on 10 July, with bids associated with Gol and LATAM Brasil.
Aftermath
The auction raised R$555.3 million, insufficient to cover reported debts of approximately R$2.7 billion.
Auction proceeds. R$555.3 million (10 July 2019)
- Azul — Azul cancelled an acquisition offer in April 2019 and later resubmitted an offer in May.
- Gol Linhas Aéreas — Gol participated in the July 2019 auction for Avianca Brasil-related assets and slots.
- LATAM Brasil — LATAM Brasil participated in the July 2019 auction for Avianca Brasil-related assets and slots.
2018
Seek judicial reorganizationOtherBackground
The airline faced airport debts, growing bank liabilities, aircraft-related pressure and operating losses.
Action taken
Avianca Brasil filed for judicial reorganization protection on 10 December.
Aftermath
The restructuring did not secure a durable rescue; aircraft were repossessed, flights were suspended and the company later filed for bankruptcy.
Reported liabilities. Approximately R$2.7 billion reported around the 2019 asset auction (2018-2019)
2015
Join Star AllianceStrategyBackground
Avianca Brasil sought broader international connectivity and alliance access after earlier membership obstacles.
Action taken
The airline joined Star Alliance as an affiliate on 22 July.
Aftermath
The affiliation connected Avianca Brasil to the alliance network until its removal in 2019.
2010
Rebrand OceanAir as Avianca BrasilStrategyBackground
Synergy Group sought to align its Brazilian airline more closely with Avianca's regional brand and network.
Action taken
The commercial identity changed to Avianca Brasil while Oceanair Linhas Aéreas remained the legal corporate name.
Aftermath
The rebrand supported network integration and market growth, but did not legally merge the Brazilian airline with Avianca's other entities.
Recent events
- 2020
Avianca Brasil files for bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
The company filed for bankruptcy in court after its flight suspension and unsuccessful restructuring efforts.
- 2019
Azul withdraws from proposed Avianca Brasil purchase[1]
M&A
Azul cancelled an offer to acquire Avianca Brasil in April 2019, although it later resubmitted an offer in May.
- 2019
ANAC suspends Avianca Brasil flights[1]
Regulation · Bankruptcy
Brazil's aviation regulator suspended the airline's operations on safety grounds, effectively ending its scheduled service.
- 2019
Avianca Brasil slots auctioned[1]
Bankruptcy · M&A
An auction of airport slots and related operating assets raised R$555.3 million, while reported liabilities were substantially higher.
- 2019
Avianca Brasil leaves Star Alliance[1]
Other
Star Alliance announced the removal of Avianca Brasil from the alliance effective 1 September 2019.
- 2018
Avianca Brasil files for judicial reorganization[1]
Bankruptcy
The airline sought court protection after financial difficulties, including airport obligations and growing bank debt.
Sources1 sources
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