The Paraguayan airline Paranair has completed the sale of 100% of its shareholding to the Canadian group International Airways Holding, in one of the most significant operations in the country's commercial aviation sector in recent years. The holding acquired 95% of the shares, while the remaining 5% went to Bolivian businessman Marco Paniagua, who is linked to the construction sector.
The transaction was closed after a negotiation process that lasted 18 months. Although the purchase price has been kept confidential, it was confirmed that the transfer includes the entirety of the company's operating assets, among them ANTA, Paranair's in-house workshop and technical maintenance division.
Despite the change in control, daily operations and local management in Paraguay will remain largely unchanged. Executive Jaime Cassola will continue to lead the general management to ensure operational stability. The corporate structure, however, underwent immediate changes: Augusto Fúster left the airline's presidency, a position that will be taken over by Juan Albino Bazzanella.
The Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (Dinac) has initiated the corresponding regulatory procedures and is evaluating the mandatory financial study to issue the official certification for the operation of air services under the new shareholding structure.
Paranair currently operates a homogeneous fleet of Bombardier CRJ-200 regional aircraft, with a capacity for 50 passengers, and is planning a growth and expansion phase. According to reports, the new Canadian shareholders are considering incorporating additional aircraft in the short term to strengthen regional connectivity.
The business plan aims to consolidate the current network, which regularly connects Asunción to cities such as Buenos Aires, Salta, and Jujuy in Argentina; Montevideo, Salto, and Rivera in Uruguay; and Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia. The new management is also evaluating the reactivation of regular routes to Iquique in Chile and the strengthening of traditional summer season destinations to Florianópolis and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.