Avianca adds 1,800 seats and a new Guatemala to San Francisco route for the World Cup

Avianca is increasing its flight capacity by 1,800 seats and launching a new direct route between Guatemala City and San Francisco to support travel for the 2026 World Cup. The airline will operate four weekly frequencies on the Guatemala-San Francisco route, offering over 1,400 seats per week, while also adding more flights on existing routes, including Bogota to Miami, Dallas, and Mexico City, as well as Quito to New York. The expansion builds on Avianca’s previously announced plans to operate over 3,000 flights and nearly 600,000 seats connecting fans to the tournament’s 16 host cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Gabriel Oliva, CEO of Avianca, stated the airline is adapting to high demand, reinforcing its role as a key travel provider for the World Cup. Avianca now connects over 80 destinations in 25 countries through 155 routes, with nonstop service to 10 of the World Cup host cities, including Miami, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. The airline is promoting tailored travel options, such as Business Class Americas on 100% of its intra-continental international routes, and a Light Fare package that includes a carry-on bag and complimentary meals on flights longer than 3.5 hours. The additional seats are available through Avianca’s website, mobile app, physical sales points, and travel agencies. The airline, part of Grupo Abra and a member of Star Alliance, operates a fleet of 140 aircraft and carried nearly 38 million passengers in 2024. Its Lifemiles loyalty program has over 14 million members, further supporting fan travel for the tournament. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, is expected to draw millions of fans, and Avianca’s expansion reflects the growing demand for air travel across the Americas during the event.