Surely, if it is in Colombia, South America. As we all know, just some years ago commercial aviation took a huge hit worldwide after the terrorist attacks on US, American soil. Some airlines filed for bankruptcies, other smaller ones disappeared and many merged with or forged new partnerships with rival airlines. Such was the case in Colombia. Avianca was (is) the flag carrier of this country; which also owned SAM a smaller national air carrier. ACES, was the next runner-up and had become, then, an overnight success with Colombians and foreigners alike when they introduced international service to MIA from BOG and MDE. So what had been happening? For years prior to September 11th, Avianca had been poorly run by the Santo Domingo group; also known as Grupo Bavaria. Unlike in its glory days, Avianca no longer owned any aircraft, few were owned but mostly leased by the parent corporation who in turn leased them back to Avianca for too high a price. So the parent company kept most of the profit while depriving its own airline(s) of needed revenue. Avianca went from acceptable service in the 80's to miserable service in the 90's. In the process, they shut down routes and while the rest of the world enjoyed a strong economy, Colombia, didnt due to the then (and current) guerilla and drug warfare situation. ACES was an airline that started as a national carrier using deHavilland Twin-Otters and provided service unlike any other ever seen in Colombia. The airline had an OnTime departure status that had never been seen, south of the Rio Grande, for that matter anyplace north of it either. While small starting (budget) airlines have never been famous for safety procedures and records, at least not in third world countries, ACES was a leader in safety. Eventually in the mid 80's ACES introduced jets (727-100) on domestic flights. By the mid 90's ACES took on Avianca by offering service to MIA. All business class 727-200 while offering First class service, for the same price as Avianca's economy. Times were good for them though the country was in turmoil. ACES became the favorite airline of Colombia. Enter the Dark Era of "Global Terrorism," September 11th. A suffering (on the brink of bankruptcy) Avianca goes to a struggling but surviving ACES. A Colombian senator uncovers and makes a huge deal about antitrust laws that the two airlines are trying to get around quietly to merge but eventually lead to a monopoly... Avianca's or at least its parent company's long time dream. In the past, Avianca had already tried to buy the ACES out unsuccessfully. Keep in mind that the brain behind ACES now was Juan Emilio Posada, young and brilliant, but just that... young and brilliant. Not quite the empresario to go up against Grupo Bavaria. Eventually the frustrated senator resigned (mysteriously??) and with that, the flood gates were open. Alianza Summa is created, Santo Domingo and lets Posada run the new combined consortium. But why bring this up?? Because, ACES just a few days ago shut down. Thats right, shut down, didnt even file for bankruptcy protection or anything. Ceased to exist. ACES being the airline that bailed out Avianca?!? All the investors and owners of ACES cashed out prior to this shut down (a la Pan Am / Delta) and almost 97% of personnel, crews, and pilots were left jobless. Wow. The ACES Airbus fleet is to be returned and now we wait to see what happens. Avianca has a fairly new airline with hopes, AeroRepublica... lets see what they manage to pull off before either being gobbled up by Avianca or Drug Money. Juan Carlos Gideon With view of BUR PS. You can still go to <A HREF="www.aces.com.co">www.aces.com.co</A> to be connected through to Alianza Summa and they still have the Aces logos flying around, what you will not see however is the fleet pictures and dimension areas having any A320 (former Aces fleet)