Colombian aviation regulator Aerocivil has endorsed a proposed merger of Avianca and low-cost carrier Viva Air.
Aerocivil said on March 22 that the go-ahead was "conditioned on compliance with diverse structural and behavioural remedies," the regulator said, with Viva required to carry passengers with pending bookings and to re-open its Bogotá-Buenos Aires route.
The u-turn came with the condition that Viva Air remain a low-cost carrier and reimburse passengers affected by its sudden recent announcement that it would stop flying.
Colombian officials blocked the merger in late 2022 and in early 2023 said the process could be re-started, a move that appeared to pave the way for other bidders for Viva.
Viva said it would fold unless the merger was approved, a warning which the Colombian authorities in turn questioned.
Aerocivil repeated in its March 22 statement that it earlier blocked the deal as it "considered it contrary to free competition".