LAC Colombia

LAC Colombia, identified in historical references as Líneas Aéreas del Caribe and also associated with the name Caribbean Airlines, was a Colombian passenger and cargo airline founded in Barranquilla on February 28, 1974. The carrier was established by Captain Luís Carlos Donado Velilla, an experienced Colombian aviation entrepreneur who had previously been involved in the creation and development of LATCO, Aerocóndor Colombia, and Aerocosta. LAC began as a family-controlled limited company, with Donado Velilla's wife, María Fajardo de Donado, and his brothers Orlando and Raúl Donado Velilla among its initial partners. The company's ownership later expanded to include members of the wider Donado Velilla family. The airline emerged from the reorganization of aviation interests associated with Aerocosta. Before LAC received its own operating authorization from Colombia's civil aviation authority, aircraft connected with the Donado Velilla family were temporarily operated under the Aerocosta banner and invoiced through the family business known as Donado Velilla Brothers, or DOVEL. LAC's formal launch in 1974 marked the transition to independent operations. Its first aircraft were two Curtiss C-46 transports, painted purple and nicknamed “The Bishops” by residents of Barranquilla. These aircraft served domestic routes linking Colombia's Atlantic Coast with the Eastern Plains and Bogotá. LAC developed both scheduled passenger operations and air-freight activities. In August 1974, it acquired a Douglas DC-6 in Damascus, Syria, allowing it to begin international flying to Panama, Margarita Island, and other Caribbean destinations. The airline also entered a flower-export transportation arrangement with KLM, moving Colombian flowers from Bogotá to Curaçao for onward connection to Amsterdam. This reflected the importance of Colombian agricultural exports and Caribbean hubs in the company's international freight strategy. LAC additionally reached agreements with the newspapers El Tiempo and El Espectador to carry printed newspapers overnight from Bogotá to Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellín. The carrier renewed and expanded its fleet in the late 1970s. In August 1977, it sold its Curtiss aircraft and acquired four DC-6 aircraft at auction in Tucson, Arizona. Two were placed into service, while the others were dismantled for parts. With the DC-6B fleet, LAC introduced service to Miami in October 1977, increased its Panama schedule, and opened service to Caracas. By March 1978, its published network included Bogotá–Barranquilla–Miami, Caracas, Panama, Curaçao, Pointe-à-Pitre, and several domestic Colombian routes involving Bogotá, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Medellín, and other cities. During the 1990s, LAC operated Douglas DC-8-55F and DC-8-55CF aircraft, including freighter operations. Its later history was marked by several serious accidents and operational incidents. A fatal crash in Paraguay involving LAC Colombia Flight 028 on February 4, 1996, killed the four crew members and 18 people on the ground. The accident severely damaged the airline's viability and was followed by liquidation a few months later. LAC is therefore remembered as a family-owned Colombian carrier that combined domestic passenger flying, regional international services, cargo transportation, newspaper distribution, and specialized export logistics before ceasing operations in the 1990s.

LAC Colombia was founded in Barranquilla on February 28, 1974, by Captain Luís Carlos Donado Velilla. Donado Velilla had already participated in the formation of several Colombian airlines, including LATCO, Aerocóndor Colombia, and Aerocosta. He created LAC after separating his interests from Aerocosta and seeking a new family-owned aviation company. The original ownership included his wife, María Fajardo de Donado, and his brothers Orlando and Raúl Donado Velilla. Later in 1974, the company was reorganized as a closed corporation and additional family members, including wives and children of the founding partners, joined the ownership structure. LAC's operating history began with two Curtiss C-46 aircraft. The aircraft were painted purple and became known locally as “The Bishops.” Before LAC received full authorization from Colombia's civil aviation authority, the Donado Velilla family operated the aircraft under Aerocosta's identity while billing flights through Donado Velilla Brothers, or DOVEL. Once authorization was obtained, the aircraft entered service under the LAC or Caribbean Airlines identity. Early domestic routes connected Barranquilla and Colombia's Atlantic Coast with the Eastern Plains and Bogotá. The company soon expanded beyond domestic passenger flying. In August 1974, it purchased a Douglas DC-6 in Damascus, Syria, and began international services to Panama, Margarita Island, and Caribbean destinations. LAC also developed an important cargo role. A transportation agreement with KLM enabled Colombian flowers to move from Bogotá to Curaçao and then connect onward to Amsterdam. The carrier's logistics activities benefited from Colombia's growing flower-export sector and from the Caribbean's position as a transfer region for international air freight. LAC also signed arrangements with El Tiempo and El Espectador to distribute newspapers overnight from Bogotá to Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellín. A major fleet change occurred in August 1977, when LAC sold its Curtiss aircraft and acquired four Douglas DC-6s at auction in Tucson, Arizona. Two aircraft were operated, identified as HK-1702 and HK-1703, while the other two were dismantled for spare parts. The DC-6B fleet supported the opening of a Miami route in October 1977, operated three times weekly. During the same period, LAC increased Panama service to three weekly flights and introduced Caracas service. By March 1978, the network included three weekly Bogotá–Barranquilla–Miami flights, three weekly flights to Caracas, four to Panama, three to Curaçao, and one weekly flight to Pointe-à-Pitre. Domestic flying included frequent services linking Bogotá with Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Medellín. LAC experienced a series of serious aviation accidents and incidents over the following two decades. On February 4, 1976, a DC-6B crashed into the sea near Curaçao following engine trouble, killing its three crew members. On April 29, 1978, another DC-6B crashed shortly after departing Bogotá's El Dorado Airport; all three crew members and five passengers died. In October 1992, a DC-8-55F overran or veered from the runway while landing at Medellín's Olaya Herrera Airport, but its three crew members survived. By this stage the airline was using DC-8 freighters, including the aircraft involved in the February 1996 LAC Colombia Flight 028 accident. Flight 028, a DC-8-55CF flying toward São Paulo, lost lift and speed and crashed into a neighborhood in Asunción, Paraguay. The four crew members and 18 people on the ground were killed. The accident became the deadliest event associated with LAC and severely undermined the airline's ability to continue operating. Historical accounts state that LAC was liquidated a few months later, ending the carrier's existence. The company remains a notable example of Colombia's family-owned airline sector during the 1970s and 1980s, when small carriers combined passenger routes with cargo, newspaper, and agricultural-export transportation.

• 1996

  Flight 028 accident and liquidation

  [1]LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org

  A DC-8 crashes in Asunción, killing 22 people; historical accounts link the event to LAC's liquidation several months later.

• 1978

  Expanded regional network

  [1]LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org

  The published network includes services to Caracas, Panama, Curaçao, Pointe-à-Pitre, and multiple Colombian cities.

• 1977

  DC-6 fleet renewal

  [1]LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org

  LAC sells its Curtiss aircraft and acquires four DC-6 aircraft at auction in Tucson, placing two into service.

• 1977

  Miami service begins

  [1]LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org

  The airline launches three-weekly Bogotá–Barranquilla–Miami service in October.

• 1974

  LAC Colombia is founded

  [1]LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org

  Captain Luís Carlos Donado Velilla and members of his family establish LAC in Barranquilla on February 28.

• 1974

  Initial Curtiss C-46 operations

  [1]LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org

  The airline begins domestic operations with two purple Curtiss C-46 aircraft serving Colombian routes.

• 1974

  International and cargo expansion

  [1]LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org

  After acquiring a Douglas DC-6, LAC opens international services and develops flower-export logistics through Curaçao.

A family-owned Colombian airline combining domestic passenger connectivity with regional international flying and air-cargo services.

• Passenger aviation · 1974

  Domestic passenger services

  LAC's original network connected Barranquilla and the Colombian Atlantic Coast with Bogotá, the Eastern Plains, Medellín, and other domestic destinations. The airline used piston-engine aircraft during its early years and emphasized connectivity between Colombia's regional centers and the capital.

• Passenger aviation · 1974

  Regional international passenger services

  The carrier expanded from domestic flying into regional international routes serving Panama, Venezuela, Curaçao, Caribbean destinations, and later Miami. Its late-1970s schedule included services to Caracas, Panama, Curaçao, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Miami.

• Air freight · 1974

  Air cargo services

  Cargo was a core part of LAC's business. The company moved Colombian flowers through Curaçao for onward European connections and later operated Douglas DC-8 freighter aircraft. Its freight work complemented passenger routes and reflected Barranquilla's role in Colombia's air-transport economy.

• Specialized logistics

  Newspaper air distribution

  Through agreements with El Tiempo and El Espectador, LAC transported newspapers overnight from Bogotá to Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellín. This service used the airline's scheduled network to support time-sensitive national distribution.

• 1977

  Replacement of Curtiss aircraft with Douglas DC-6sGeneration change

  Background

  LAC sought to renew its early fleet and support the expansion of domestic, Caribbean, and North American services.

  Action taken

  The airline sold its Curtiss aircraft and acquired four DC-6 aircraft at auction in Tucson, Arizona; two were operated and two were dismantled for parts.

  Aftermath

  The fleet change enabled the launch of Miami service and an expanded international schedule.

  Source

• 1977

  Expansion into Miami and regional marketsStrategy

  Background

  After strengthening its fleet, LAC pursued a broader international network alongside its Colombian trunk routes.

  Action taken

  The airline began three weekly Bogotá–Barranquilla–Miami flights, increased Panama service, and opened Caracas service.

  Aftermath

  By March 1978, LAC's network covered several Caribbean and regional destinations in addition to major Colombian cities.

  Source

1. 1LAC Colombiaen.wikipedia.org