Aero Continente
 

I apologize in advance if I am asking an old question.
I understand that the U.S. Government has banned all U.S. Citizens from flying on Aero Continente in Peru or elsewhere.
How do you get around? It appears that many places were only served by Aero Continente. Is there an alternative?
Is there a site that will show what airline are available between Peruvian destinations?

The U.S. Department of State notice is below:

"U.S. Department of State > International Travel > Travel Warnings > Consular Information Sheets"

"NOTE: As of June 1, 2004, it is illegal for any person within the United States, as well as U.S. citizens, nationals, and resident aliens elsewhere, to fly on Aero Continente. Persons who violate this provision are subject to criminal and civil penalties under U.S. law. However, people who purchased their tickets before June 1, 2004, may request a license to use these tickets by faxing a request to the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at (202) 622-1657. Phone questions may be made at (202) 622-2480. Further information on this matter is available on the U.S. Department of the Treasury's website at http://www.treas.gov/ofac. FAA safety restrictions placed on Aero Continente (see Aviation Safety Oversight) are not related to this action."

What about LanPeru? They are flying again after being grounded for about a week.

I guess that is what my question really is about.
I thought that Aero Continente was the only airline into some places. If it is not available...has someone else picked up the slack?

I think LanPeru has a pretty substantial domestic route network. You can see the timetable at:

http://www7.lan.com/compania/aerolin...s_lanperu.html

Plus I think Lan consortium does a good job of running their airlines. I've always been impressed with the service.

Aero Continente is now called Nuevo Continente and we saw their planes taking off in Lima on Oct 6 so they were flying then. How can the US govt ban people flying any airline? I'd fly whover I darn well choose! Anyway Lan Peru was expensive for Lima/Cusco/Lima, because they had no opposition whilst the Aero Cont saga was happening. We've heard Lan have been grounded. You could always take a train or bus most places in Peru.

You're right, Lyndie, that LanPeru tends to be more expensive than AeroContinente is/was. Lan was grounded temporarily not because of anything it did or didn't do, but in a dispute with the Peruvian government over its percentage of foreign ownership. (Chileans have a major stake in the airline, of course.) That's been resolved.

The U.S. government accuses AeroContinente founder/owner Fernando Zevallos of being involved in the drug trade. Hence the ban on its citizens doing business with the company. And the Peruvian government grounded the new Nuevo Continente last week, alleging safety problems.

Another domestic airline is Tans Peru. I have no experience flying with them.

www.tansperu.com.pe

I suggest flying Lan Peru. If you are a US Citizen I would not fly Nuevo Continente. As I understand it, the namechange was done to get around the sanctions against Aero Continente... which Jeff_Costa_Rica indicated in his post.

And, I think the problems where Lan Peru was grounded were solved very quickly ... they didn't fly for a good part of a day. Here is a Fodor's post with links to the news articles. http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34535164

You can check out other transportation options at http://www.peru.org.pe/perueng.asp.

-Sharon

I'm so glad this thread is here. Yes, Nuevo Continente is still off limits for U.S. citzens, since it is still being investigated by the US government for drug trafficking.

I was toying with the idea of going to Peru with an escorted tour company. I asked them about the ban. They claimed there's no ban, even though I faxed and emailed them that State Department notification. Finally, I called the contact number myself to check. I received a phone call (and letter) from a very nice analyst at the Treasury Department. He confirmed that yes, Nuevo Continente is off limits just like Aero was. The name change means nothing.

I called the tour company back and showed them a copy of the letter. They said I couldn't take any other airline, so I cancelled my booking with them.

Yes, there are Americans who still fly on Nuevo, and I've never heard of anyone being imprisioned or fined (like the State Department claims will happen). But for my own peace of mind? I wouldn't touch that airline with a 1,000 foot pole. In this day and age, it's just not wise to give the US government any reason to red flag you.

Both airlines no longer exist.

So what airline now serves Peru.?

Domestic:
Lan, Tans, Aero Condor, Taca Peru

Thanks for all info. Found a website with good information - go2peru. Very helpful in planning flights.

I went to Peru in 1999. I flew American Airlines (my least favorite airline) to Lima, & then flew AeroContinente from Lima to Cuzco, & Cuzco to Arequipa. It's not a bad airline. Coming home, I flew American, of course.

This thread is over eight years old. AeroContinete went out of business years ago.