note
National airline of Uruguay fully owned by the government of Uruguay. Company was founded in 1935 by local businessmen led by Alberto and Jorge Marquez Vaeza and British investors. Operations commenced on 20th of November 1936 on Montevideo - Artigas using De Havilland Dragon secured with the help of British ambassador to Uruguay at the time sir Millington-Drake. After the war Douglas DC-3s were purchased and PLUNAs network included destinations in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia.
PLUNA has been nationalized in 1951. In June 1958 first turboprop joined the fleet - Vickers Viscount.
After PLUNA obtained its first Boeing 707 in 1985, intercontinental expansion was possible and New York and Miami were added to the network followed by Madrid.
In 1994 VARIG purchased 49% stake in PLUNA, which at this time faced considerable financial difficulty. After VARIG's own bankruptcy in 2005, Uruguay government purchased VARIG's share and became 98% owner of PLUNA again. In 2008 PLUNA received first of its Bombardier CRJ-900 jets. These were first new jets PLUNA purchased in decades. Airline made a profit of $4mil in 2011, but things turned in 2012. Failed renegotiation of contracts with its labor unions proved fatal as airline reportedly was loosing up to $50mil. Government which appointed Leadgate Finance in 2007 to restructure the airline and holds %25 share decided to shut company down on July 5th 2012.
founded - demised (age)
September 1936 - July 5 2012 (76)
headquarters
, Montevideo
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
