Private company

SAETA

Ecuadorian airline

SAETA Air Ecuador (legally Sociedad Anónima Ecuatoriana de Transportes Aéreos S.A.) was a privately held airline of Ecuador, which was founded in 1966. During its heyday in the 1990s, it flew to numerous destinations in North and South America from its base in Guayaquil.² It ceased to exist in 2000.¹ Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1960Founded¹

HeadquartersQuito¹
Websitewww.saeta.com.ec

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Corporate structure

SAETA sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

SAETA Quito
- SAN Ecuador Subsidiary · Guayaquil

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

Products and brands

SAETA had operated the following aircraft since it commenced operations:

From Wikipedia’s article on SAETA, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.³

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

SAN Ecuador

From Wikidata.¹

Controversies and legal

Accidents and incidents

On July 3, 1969, a Douglas C-47 was hijacked on a domestic flight from Tulcán Airport to Mariscal Sucre International Airport. The hijackers demanded to be taken to Cuba.

On October 20, 1971, a Vickers Viscount was hijacked by six people. It landed at Mariscal Lamar International Airport.

On August 15, 1976, SAETA Flight 232, a Vickers Viscount (registered HC-ARS) crashed into the Chimborazo volcano, killing all 59 people on board. The flight was considered missing until February 2003, after an independent verification of aircraft wreckage that was discovered in October 2002.

On April 23, 1979, a Vickers Viscount (registered HC-AVP) crashed in the Pastaza Province on a flight between the Quito and Cuenca, killing all 57 people on board. The flight was considered missing until 1984, when the wreckage was discovered. The aircraft was 25 nautical miles (46 km) off track.

On January 18, 1986, a Sud Aviation Caravelle (registered HC-BAE), operated by Aerovías, crashed in a jungle area after executing a second missed approach procedure at Flores International Airport. Low lying clouds in the area forced the crew to carry out the missed approaches. All 88 passengers and 6 crew members died in the accident.

On August 22, 1997, a Boeing 727-200 (registered HC-BVU) was landing at San Cristóbal Airport when its undercarriage struck the raised lip of the runway, causing it to collapse. It slid for about 700 m before coming to rest on the right side of the runway.