Avianca’s Earthquake Flexibility Waiver for Western Colombia Ends Sunday, 16 August 2026
Colombia · Expats
If you hold a flight to or from Colombia’s coffee region or its Pacific coast. A short window lets you move it, reroute it or get your money back.
Avianca will let travellers to or from four cities in western Colombia change or refund tickets after an earthquake. The relief covers flights scheduled through Sunday, 16 August 2026, so anyone affected should act within days.
What Avianca Is Offering
A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia and disrupted flights across the region. In response, the airline set out temporary rules that make it easier to change or drop an affected ticket.
You get three choices. You can move your flight, fly a different route, or take your money back on the parts you do not use.
None of the three carries the usual penalty. That is the point of the waiver, and it is meant to protect passengers, not the airline.
Which Cities Are Covered
The relief applies to flights to and from four cities in the affected zone. They are Pereira, Armenia, Cali and Quibdó.
Pereira and Armenia sit in Colombia’s coffee region. Cali is the country’s third-largest city, and Quibdó is the capital of Chocó, on the Pacific side.
If your ticket does not touch one of these four cities, the waiver does not apply to you. Check your itinerary before you call.
The Deadline You Need to Know
The window is short. The relief covers flights scheduled through Sunday, 16 August 2026, to or from the four cities.
Today is Thursday, 13 August 2026. That leaves only a few days inside the covered period, so it is worth acting now.
If your affected flight falls in that window, you can use one of the three options. Do not wait until the last moment to reach the airline.
Changing Your Flight Date
The simplest option is to move your travel date. You can rebook for up to 15 days after your original flight.
There is no change penalty for doing this. There is also no fare difference to pay, even if the new date would normally cost more.
This suits travellers who still want to make the trip. You keep your plans and simply shift them by a week or two.
Rerouting Through Another Airport
If your city is hard to reach, you can change your route instead. The airline allows a reroute through its common connecting points in Colombia.
That can mean flying into a nearby airport and continuing from there. It is a practical fix when a runway or terminal is still recovering.
As with a date change, this does not add to your fare. The aim is to get you moving again without extra cost.
Getting Your Money Back
If you would rather not travel at all, you can ask for a refund. Avianca will return the full value of the segments you have not used.
The refund is subject to availability and the airline’s normal procedures. Keep your booking reference handy when you request it.
This is the option to choose if your plans have fallen through. You are not forced to accept a credit or a voucher instead of cash.
Extra Seats and Bigger Planes
The airline also moved to add capacity to the region. It said it put about 2,500 extra seats on routes serving the affected cities.
On some of those routes it used a larger Boeing 787 in place of a smaller Airbus A320. A single 787 carries far more passengers than an A320.
That extra room matters when many people are trying to rebook at once. It gives stranded travellers a better chance of a seat.
The Earthquake Behind the Waiver
The waiver follows a magnitude 7.4 earthquake on Monday, 10 August 2026. Its epicentre was near San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department of western Colombia.
The quake forced several airports in the region to suspend operations. Flights to and from the coffee region and the Pacific coast were among those hit.
Airlines then activated passenger-protection measures for the affected routes. Avianca’s flexibility rules are part of that response.
How to Make the Change
Start with the channel where you booked. If you bought directly, use the Avianca Help Center or contact the airline’s customer service.
If you booked through a travel agency, ask the agency to make the change for you. It holds your reservation and has to process it.
Have your booking code and travel dates ready before you begin. That makes the call or the online request go faster.
If Your Flight Was Cancelled
A cancelled flight is treated differently from a voluntary change. When the airline cancels, you are owed a rebooking or a refund by right.
You can still use the waiver options if it helps you. But you do not lose your standard passenger rights because a waiver exists.
If you are unsure which applies, say plainly that your flight was cancelled. Ask the agent to confirm your options in writing.
What to Watch
The relief window ends on Sunday, 16 August 2026, unless the airline extends it. Extra flights and larger planes may also wind down after that.
Conditions in the affected airports can change from day to day. Check your flight status before you head to the airport.
For anything specific to your ticket, rely on the airline directly. Its Help Center carries the current terms for this event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for the Avianca waiver?
You qualify if your flight is to or from Pereira, Armenia, Cali or Quibdó and is scheduled through Sunday, 16 August 2026. If your ticket does not touch one of those cities, it does not apply.
What is the deadline?
The relief covers flights scheduled through Sunday, 16 August 2026, to or from the four affected cities. With today being Thursday, 13 August 2026, only a few days remain in that window.
How do I change or refund my ticket?
You can move your flight up to 15 days later with no penalty or fare difference. Reroute through another Colombian point, or refund unused segments.
What if my flight was cancelled?
If the airline cancelled your flight, you are owed a rebooking or a refund by right, separate from the waiver. Tell the agent your flight was cancelled and ask them to confirm your options.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error