Which airline was the first in Latin America to fly the Super Constellation?

The Super Constellation arrived in Latin America courtesy of Cubana de Aviación, the first airline in the region to operate it. The Cuban carrier received aircraft in the L-1049E and L-1049G versions and used them on its long-haul routes from Havana, to Madrid, New York, and Mexico City. Cubana was already among the operators of the original Constellation, alongside TWA, Pan American, Air France, KLM, Iberia, Avianca, and Línea Aeropostal Venezolana.

The L-1049E was essentially an L-1049C with the increased takeoff and landing weights of the L-1049D; it was more successful than the latter, and 28 were delivered to eight airlines. Its limitations showed over the Atlantic: neither the C nor the E could usually fly nonstop from Europe to New York against prevailing headwinds. Lockheed responded with the L-1049G, based on the C but with more powerful Turbo-Compound engines, able to carry between 71 and 95 passengers. For a route like Havana-Madrid, that performance improvement was decisive. The family had debuted shortly before: the first production L-1049 flew on July 14, 1951, and entered service with Eastern Air Lines that December, between Miami and New York.

After Cubana, the Super Constellation spread across the continent. It was operated by Línea Aeropostal Venezolana, Colombia's Avianca, and Brazil's Real Transportes Aéreos and Varig. Avianca had begun using the Constellation in the mid-1950s. In Asia, the pioneering role fell to Pakistan International Airlines, the first on the continent to fly the Super Constellation.