Colombian airline Avianca has filed for bankruptcy, the carrier announced this weekend. 

The company said it had “voluntarily filed for reorganization proceedings under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.”

Avianca said it had done so to “protect our business as we continue to navigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as comprehensively address our debt and other commitments.”

The company will continue operating through the process, however, and “will return to the skies and continue to fly once COVID-19 travel restrictions are gradually lifted,” it said. 

That will mean many in-flight changes in a nod to the new realities of travel — and the company said it had implemented a number of measures to “ensure the safety and well-being of our employees and customers,” following major carriers that have enacted similar measures. 

“We are proud of our 100-year legacy, and look forward to continuing to serve you,” the company said in a message to customers. 

— CJ