It´s actually hard to decide which of these AVIANCA liveries I like best
AVIANCA COLOMBIA B727-2A1 ADV HK-2151 (1990)
AVIANCA COLOMBIA/EASTERN AIR LINES (lease) B727-225 ADV N8874Z (1990)
AVIANcA COLOMBIA B727-259 ADV HK-204AV (1993)
AVIANCA COLOMBIA ("Lite" livery) B727-2H3 ADV HK-3480X (1995)
AVIANCA COLOMBIA ("Aviancaciones" livery) B727-2A1 ADV HK-2152 (1995)
AVIANCA COLOMBIA ("Bancoquia" livery) B727-2H3 ADV HK-3480X (1998)
I love the 2 definitive versions .... as well as the other 2 principle hybrids too (that´s both BANCOQUIA and AVIANCACIONES) .... but .... particularly that AVIANCACIONES version espcially.
AVIANCACIONES was the tourist travel division of AVIANCA .... specialising tourist/holday packages throughout its extensive domestic, regional, and international route network .... primarily for its own local market. The legend appearing on the fuselage this particular aircraft (HK-2152X) reading .... "TOMESE YA UNAS - AVIANCACIONES - USTED SE LAS MERECE" .... "roughly/approximately translated" means something like .... "TAKE AN AVIANCA VACATION - YOU DESERVE IT" (and why not since these people/Colombians generally are extremly hard workers). This particular livery was applied to just 1 aircraft during the mid 1990´s, when the AVIANCACIONES holiday marketing concept was first introduced.
The last among the 4 "hybrid livery" versions featured above .... B727-200ADV N8874Z .... is an aircraft which AVIANCA leased from EASTERN AIR LINES between June 1989 and June 1990 .... hence the non-statandard natural metal and red livery with "AVIANCA COLOMBIA" titles.
Few may be aware .... BUT .... AVIANCA is actually the 2nd oldest airline in the western world (superseded only by KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES) and celebrated it 90th aniversary during 2009.
The airline was formed, with German assistance, as SCADTA (SOCIEDAD COLOMBO-ALEMANA DE TRANSPORTE AEREO) during 1919 .... to become "The First Airline of the Americas" .... and commenced services from December 5th 1919.
During June 1940 SCADTA was merged into SACO (SERVICIO AEREO COLOMBIANO) to form AVIANCA (AEROVIAS NACIONALES DE COLOMBIA).
Today AVIANCA is the largest airline in Colombia .... and the 2nd lagest operator within the Latin American region. It became a STAR ALLIANCE member during 2012 and is currently affiliated with AEROMEXICO, AIR CANADA, ETHIHAD AIRWYS, IBERIA, LUFTHANSA, SATENA (civil wing of the FUERZA AEREA COLOMBIANA), SILVER AIRWAYS, SKY AIRLINE, TAMPA CARGO, TURKISH AIRLINES, UPS, and UNITED AIRLINES.
The airline operates domestic services to Arauca, Armenia, Bahia Solano, Barrancabermeja, Barranquilla, Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartegena, Cucuta, Florencia, Ibague, Isla de Providencia, Isla de San Andres, Letecia, Manizales, Medellin, Monteria, Neiva, Nuqui, Pasto, Pereira, Popayan, Quibdo, Riohacha, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Valledupar, Villavicencio, and Yopal ....
.... and both regional and international services to Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bridgetown, Buenos Aires, Cancun, Caracas, Chicago, Dallas F/W, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Havana, Houston, La paz, Lima, London, Los Angles, Madrid, Manaus, Mexico City, Miami, Montego Bay, Montevideo, Nassau, New York, Oranjestad, Orlando, Panama City, Paris, Philipsburg, Porlamar, Punta Cana, Quito, Rio de Janaero, Rome, San Jose De Costa Rica, San Juan, San Salvador, Santa Cruz, Santigo De Chile, Santo Domingo, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Valencia, Toronto, Varadero, Washington DC, Willemstad, and Zurich.
Historically .... the airline has operated JUNKER F-13 and both W-33 and W-34; DONIER J, MERKUR and KOMET; SIKORSKY S-38; FOKKER SUPER UNIVERSAL; FORD TRIMOTOR; B247-D; DC-2; DC-3; DC-4/C-54; C-46; DH TIGER MOTH and GIANT MOTH; L-18 LOADSTAR; L-749 and L-1049G COMSTELLATION; PBY CATALINA aircraft throughout its early and developmental years prior the late 1960´s.
.... followed by B720-B, B707-320B, B727-100/-200, B737-100, B747-200, B757-200, B767-200/-300, F-28. F-50, HS-748, MD-11 (lease-in only), and MD80 aircraft since the early 1960´s and until relatively recently.
During May 2002 operations of the airlines 2 major competitors .... ACES COLOMBIA (AEROLINEAS CENTRALES DE COLOMBIA) and SAM COLOMBIA (SOCIEDAD AERONAUTICA DE MEDELLIN) .... were incorporated into those of AVIANCA to form a strategic alliance (ALIANZA SUMMA) intended to unite the common interests of all 3 operators in the face of adverse circumstances confronting Colombia´s airline industry and following 9/11 .... and arrangement which ultimately resulted in the liquidation of ACES during November 2003 and its routes being taken over by AVIANCA, the SUMMA ALLIANCE then being disolved, and the identity of SAM eventually disappearing into AVIANCA by October 2010.
Just prior to 2004 AVIANCA sought Chapter 11 bancruptsy protection. During 2004 the airline was bought/rescued by the Brasilian OCEAN AIR/SYNERGY GROUP (backed by German interests) in association with THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF COFFEE GROWERS OF COLOMBIA .... and was entirely restructured .... to become AVIANCA BRASIL and AVIANCA ECUADOR among other subsidiary units. As a result the airline also underwent "a complete fleet revision/transfomation" .... which saw its B757-200, B767-200/-300, F-50, F-100, and MD-80 aircraft of the 1990´s replaced with a brand new fleet composed of A318-100 (19X). A319-100 (22X), A320-200 (43X), A321-200 (10X) A330-200 (8X), ATR-72-600 (9X) and B787-8 (8X which have been delivered since late 2014) .... and with orders and options existing for up to 21X A319 NEO, 108X A320 NEO, 4X A321 NEO, 10X A350 aircraft planned for the future also.
AVIANCA today .... and unlike was the case several years ago .... has become "a progressive and respected operator" among the worlds principle airlines and one that now offers an exceptionally high standard of service .... "ONE HELL OF A TRANSITION" from its previous years to say the very least.
"GRACIAS/THANKS" Eduardo .... some "very nice subjects there 
Mark C
BOG/CO
