The airline traces its history back to December 5, 1919, in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. Colombians Ernesto Cortissoz Alvarez-Correa (the first President of the airline), Rafael María Palacio, Cristóbal Restrepo, Jacobo Correa and Aristides Noguera and Germans Werner Kämmerer, Stuart Hosie and Albert Tietjen founded the Colombo-German Company, called Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transportes Aéreos or SCADTA. The company accomplished its first flight on September 5, 1920, between Barranquilla and the nearby town of Puerto Colombia using a Junkers F.13, transporting 57 pieces of mail. The flight was piloted by German Helmuth von Krohn. This and another aircraft of the same type were completely mechanically constructed monoplanes, the engines of which had to be modified to efficiently operate in the climate of the country. There were nine aircraft in the fleet with a total range of which could carry up to four passengers and two crewmen. Due to the topographic characteristics of the country and the lack of airports at the time, floats were adapted for two of the Junkers aircraft to make water landings in the rivers near different towns. Using these floats, Helmuth von Krohn was able to perform the first inland flight over Colombia on October 20, 1920, following the course of the Magdalena River; the flight took eight hours and required four emergency landings in the water.
the airline traces its history back to december 5 1919 in the city of barranquilla colombia colombians ernesto cortissoz alvarez-correa (the first president of the airline) rafael maría palacio cristóbal restrepo jacobo correa and aristides noguera and germans werner kämmerer stuart hosie and albert tietjen founded the colombo-german company called sociedad colombo-alemana de transportes aéreos or scadta the company accomplished its first flight on september 5 1920 between barranquilla and the nearby town of puerto colombia using a junkers f13 transporting 57 pieces of mail the flight was piloted by german helmuth von krohn this and another aircraft of the same type were completely mechanically constructed monoplanes the engines of which had to be modified to efficiently operate in the climate of the country there were nine aircraft in the fleet with a total range of which could carry up to four passengers and two crewmen due to the topographic characteristics of the country and the lack of airports at the time floats were adapted for two of the junkers aircraft to make water landings in the rivers near different towns using these floats helmuth von krohn was able to perform the first inland flight over colombia on october 20 1920 following the course of the magdalena river; the flight took eight hours and required four emergency landings in the water