Colombia Bogota to Caracas Venezuela Avianca Lufthansa 1973 First Flight Cover

Item Specifics

Country

Colombia

Condition

Cover (Postal History)

Stamp Format

Single

Certificate Grade

Not Graded

Item Description

Grade: Ungraded
This cover was carried on the first joint flight operated by Avianca and Lufthansa, establishing a route from South America to Europe. The flight originated in Bogotá, with scheduled stops in Caracas, Las Palmas, and Frankfurt. The cover features a printed two-color cachet for the Avianca-Lufthansa partnership and a blue pictorial cachet detailing the flight route. It is addressed to the Lufthansa office at the international airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, to be held for pickup (Poste Restante). A return address for the Lufthansa P.O. Box in Bogotá is present on the reverse. Translation Avianca and Lufthansa unite Colombia and Germany. First Joint Flight Avianca-Lufthansa. Bogotá - Caracas - Las Palmas - Frankfurt. Messrs. Lufthansa German Airlines, International Airport, Maiquetía / Caracas / Venezuela, General Delivery. Air Mail P.O. Box. General Reception, Morning Shift, Postal Center of Caracas, Republic of Venezuela. Air Mail, Maiquetía Airport, Vargas Federal District. Postmarks & Transit Departure Postmark: "CORREO AEREO BOGOTA COLOMBIA" machine cancellation, dated April 5, 1973 (Thursday). Arrival Postmarks: "AEROPUERTO MAIQUETIA" circular date stamp, dated April 6, 1973 (Friday). "CENTRO POSTAL DE CARACAS" rectangular handstamp, dated April 6, 1973 (Friday). Total Travel Time: 1 day. Approximate Travel Distance (Bogotá to Caracas): 1,025 km (637 miles). The full flight route to Frankfurt was approximately 10,125 km (6,290 miles). Historical Context: April 5, 1973 The date marks the inauguration of a significant cooperative air service between Colombia's national airline, Avianca, and Germany's Lufthansa. This flight connected Bogotá with Frankfurt, strengthening air travel and commercial ties between South America and Europe. Sender & Recipient Locations Today Sender: The return address, "Apartado Aéreo 12313," is an airmail P.O. Box in Bogotá, which would have been registered to Lufthansa's city or airport office. Lufthansa maintains a presence in Bogotá, primarily serving El Dorado International Airport (BOG). Recipient: The destination, "Aeropuerto Internacional MAIQUETIA," is the Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), which serves Caracas. It is located in the state of Vargas. Lufthansa suspended its flights to Caracas in May 2016. Postage Stamp: Colombia Scott #C478, face value of 2.80 Pesos.

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Florida, United States

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Worldwide

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