ROUTE UPDATES: June 2023 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas, Andes, Boliviana, Gol, Jetsmart Argentina

Route Updates - June 2023 - Part 1

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Route - Eff Date - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) - Reconquista (RCQ) - 21Jun23 - E190 - 2x/weekly - Remarks:

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - xxJun23 - A330-200 - 4x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 3x/weekly

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - Bariloche (BRC) - 19Jun23 - 737-800 - Remarks:  Student charter flight marking Andes Lineas Aereas first restart of service since before the pandemic 

* Boliviana - Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - xxJun23 - A330-200 - Remarks: 

A330-200 occasionally subbing for 737 on EZE route for crew familiarization prior to flying on MAD and MIA routes

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Fortaleza (FOR) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - 24Jun23 - 737 MAX 8 - 1x/weekly - Remarks:

* Jetsmart Argentina - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mendoza (MDZ) - 01Jun23 - A320-200 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Increased frequency

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

ROUTE UPDATES: June 2023 - Part 2 - Sky Airline

Route Updates - June 2023 - Part 2

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Route - Eff Date - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Sky Airline - Santiago (SCL) - Bariloche (BRC) - 15Jun23 - A320neo - 3x/weekly - Remarks:

Seasonal Winter Ski Service until 24Sep23

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

ROUTE UPDATES: May 2023 - American Jet, COPA, Cubana, Gol, Sky Airline

Route Updates - May 2023

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Route - Eff Date - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* American Jet - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mercedes (Corrientes Province) (MDX) - 25May23 - ERJ 145 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Tourist flights to the Esteros del Ibera natural habitat area.  

* COPA - Panama City (PTY) - Cordoba (COR) - 02May23 - 737-800 - 10x/weekly - Remarks:  -Increasing frequency from 7x/weekly.

* Cubana - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cayo Coco (CCC) - Havana (HAV) - 02May23 - A340-300 - 1x/weekly - Remarks:  Flights operated by Plus Ultra of Spain.

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Mendoza (MDZ) - 30May23 - 737 Series - 5x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 3x/weekly until 31Jul23 for Winter Ski High Season.

* Sky Airline - Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Lima (LIM) - 10May23 - A321neo - 3x/weekly - Remarks: First use of A321neo to Argentina by Sky Airline

* Sky Airline - Santiago (SCL) - Merlo (RLO) - 25May23 - A320neo - One-Time Charter -  - Remarks: One-time charter flight with return to SCL on 28May23 as promotional test run for future travel from Chile to Valle de Conlara, San Luis, Argentina tourism area.  San Luis province, where Merlo is located, hopes that this route will be operated on a monthly basis. 

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas' second 737-800F delivered to Argentina on 20May23

Aerolineas Argentinas' second converted pure-freighter 737-800F, LV-KHQ (c/n 30571/936) flew from  Dothan (DHN) Alabama USA via Punta Cana (PUJ) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), arriving in the very early morning hours of 20May23, joining sistership LV-CTC (c/n 30570/879), which the airline took delivery of earlier this year and placed into service in early May operating contract flights from Tierra del Fuego for electrical goods manufacturer Mirgor S.A. (see http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/fleet-update-aerolineas-argentinas.html)

LV-KHQ was originally delivered as a passenger aircraft to VARIG in 2001, going on to fly for Gol, Meridiana, Airitaly, and Neos before being stored in 2020 and converted to a pure freighter by Commercial Jet, an Aeronautical Engineers Inc. conversion center located at the Dothan (DHN) Regional Airport in Alabama.     

LV-KHQ arrived in Argentina in an all-white "color" scheme but is expected to be painted shortly in the same livery as sistership LV-CTC, which is a modified scheme from the Aerolineas passenger aircraft.  The aircraft will primarily serve the same customer as LV-CTC, Mirgor S.A., but will also be available for freight charters at other times.       

Detailed description of the conversion from the Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. website is reproduced below:  https://www.aeronautical-engineers.com/b737-800sf

The Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) B737-800SF Cargo Conversion consists of the installation of a 86" x 137" cargo door on the left side of the fuselage, and modification of main deck to a Class E cargo compartment.  After conversion the aircraft can carry eleven 88" x 125" AAA full height containers or pallets plus one AEP/AEH, with pallet weights up to 9,000 lbs. AEI's B737-800SF is now ETOPS 180 approved.
​

AEI's cargo door has earned a reputation of being the most robust and reliable in the conversion industry.  The cargo door is hydraulically operated and actuated from the inside of the aircraft by a independent system.  Hydraulic pressure is available from two sources: a 28VDC electrically operated hydraulic pump or a manual hand pump.  The door control and manual pump are located on the 9g barrier, allowing a single person to operate the door manually.

​

Main Attributes

• Can accommodate eleven 88"x125" AAA full height containers or pallets plus one AEP/AEH

• Up to 52,700 LB (23,904 KG) Main Deck Payload (depending on Model & Aircraft Weight Limits)

• Reinforced Floor structure for highest average position weights in industry

• 86" x 140" cargo door

• Single Vent Door System

• High reliability, 28VDC, independent cargo door hydraulic system

• Cabin windows replaced with lightweight aluminum window plugs

• 9g rigid cargo / smoke barrier with sliding door

• Relocated DFDR for 84.5" + ceiling height through out cargo compartment, including last position

• Stretch Formed fuselage skins

• 5 Supernumerary Seats

Sources:

https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-30571.htm

https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/05/el-segundo-boeing-737-carguero-de-aerolineas-argentinas-en-viaje-a-buenos-aires/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/05/llego-al-aeropuerto-de-ezeiza-el-segundo-boeing-737-de-aerolineas-argentinas-cargo-lv-khq/

https://www.aviacionnews.com/2023/05/aei-recibe-aprobacion-stc-argentina-para-el-b-737-800sf/

https://www.aeronautical-engineers.com/b737-800sf

https://www.aeronautical-engineers.com/partners

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas A330-243 LV-KHT arrives in Argentina, fleet at nine A330-200s

Aerolineas Argentinas' latest acquisition, A330-243, LV-KHT (c/n 1191), landed at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) at 6:55am on the morning of 21May23 on its delivery flight from the Mojave (MZJ), Arizona, USA aircraft storage facility.

Sister ship LV-KHU (c/n 1223), also an A330-243, is scheduled for delivery in the near future.  

Both aircraft were originally delivered to South African Airways in 2011 before being returned to lessor Air Castle in 2020.  With these two new additions, Aerolineas Argentinas' A330 fleet will once again reach the peak of ten A330's that it had in 2017.  This will allow the airline to increase service from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Madrid (MAD) (12x/weekly) and Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) (5x/weekly) in July of this year.  The A330's will reportedly also replace Aerolineas' 737 MAX 8's on service from EZE to Punta Cana (PUJ) and Havana (HAV) plus add frequency to Cancun (CUN) (4x/weekly) and Miami (MIA) (10x/weekly).  

Interestingly, LV-KHT and LV-KHU are both powered by Rolls Royce Trent 77DB-60 engines, which reportedly allow for higher takeoff weights and greater range, compared to the eight A330-202/203 that they are joining, which have General Electric CF6-80E1A3/4 powerplants with lower maximum takeoff weights.  Aerolineas' original four A330-223's were powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4168A engines making for a total of three different manufacturers equipping the carrier's A330 fleet over the years, which is unusual because the lack of uniformity usually leads to higher maintenance costs.      

Sources:

https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/05/aerolineas-argentinas-sumara-dos-airbus-a330-ex-south-african-airways-y-recupera-rutas-y-frecuencias/

https://www.aviacionnews.com/2023/05/aerolineas-argentinas-mas-cerca-de-sumar-aviones/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/05/un-nuevo-airbus-a330-200-de-aerolineas-argentinas-en-vuelo-a-ezeiza-para-sumarse-a-su-flota/

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/lv-kht

https://www.airfleets.net/home/

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas A330-200 - Brief History 2013-2023 & Latest News

Aerolineas Argentinas A330-202, LV-FVH (c/n 1605), in special 2022 World Cup scheme featuring vinyl lacquer stickers with the images of Lionel Messi, other star Argentine players and the team's official Adidas game jersey at Madrid (MAD) on 12Oct22. (Photo: Lanzarote Spotter - Jesus M. de Leon) 

Aerolineas Argentinas has operated several types of aircraft on its long haul / intercontinental routes, including in the jet age - the de Havilland Comet 4, Boeing 707 / 747 (200, 400 and SP) and Airbus A310 / A340, followed by the introduction of the Airbus A330 in 2013.

The airline has operated 12 A330's so far with details below:

Four Used A330-223's delivered in 2013 and 2014 

Aerolineas Argentinas' first four A330's were all -223 models. 

Two of these aircraft, LV-FNI (c/n 290) and LV-FNJ (c/n 300), were first delivered to SABENA in 1999 with both going on to fly for VG Airlines and Malaysia Airlines before joining Aerolineas in September 2013 and June 2014, respectively.   

The other two A330-223's, LV-FNK (c/n 358) and LV-FNL (c/n 364), were originally delivered to Air Afrique in 2000 and proceeded to serve an identical sequence of operators; Calliope, Eurofly, Atlas Jet, Saudi Arabian, and Atlas Jet again before going on to Aerolineas in November and December 2013, respectively. 

The A330-223's were used on the airline's long haul routes in the Americas, such as Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA), New York Kennedy (JFK), Punta Cana (PUJ) and Cancun (CUN), but they did not have enough range to fly from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to the European points on Aerolineas' scheduled route network, such as Madrid (MAD) and Rome-Fiumicino (FCO), with a full passenger and cargo payload.  So, the airline's A340-300 fleet, which still consisted of seven airframes in 2015, continued to cover the carrier's European routes. 

Four New A330-202 Deliveries directly from the Airbus Factory in 2015 and 2016

Aerolineas Argentinas placed an order with Airbus for four new factory-fresh A330-202's on 12Feb14 powered by General Electric CF6-80E1A4 engines to be delivered in 2015 and 2016.  The second generation of A330's for Aerolineas had the range to fly from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Rome-Fiumicino (FCO), the longest nonstop sector on the carrier's route network, enabling Aerolineas to start planning the retirement of its last A340's. 

LV-FVH (c/n 1605) was delivered to Aerolineas on 28Feb15.  This is the aircraft that was decorated in the special 2022 World Cup scheme pictured at the top of this posting, which also flew the Argentine national men's football / soccer team home from Doha, Qatar as the recently victorious World Champions.   

LV-FVI (c/n 1623) was delivered to Aerolineas on 30Apr15.

LV-GHQ (c/n 1737) was delivered to Aerolineas on 05Aug16.

LV-GIF (c/n 1748) was delivered to Aerolineas on 02Nov16.

With the above aircraft deliveries, Aerolineas' A330 fleet stood at a total of eight aircraft.

Two Used A330-203 Deliveries in 2016 and 2017 

LV-GKO (c/n 587), which was originally delivered to EVA Air of Taiwan in 2004, joined the Aerolineas fleet on 13Sep16 on lease from AirCastle. 

LV-GKP (c/n 634), which was also originally delivered to EVA Air in 2004, joined the Aerolineas fleet on 10Feb17 on lease from AirCastle. 

  

These new additions brought Aerolineas' A330 fleet to a total of ten aircraft in 2017.

This set the stage for Aerolineas to retire its final two A340-300's, LV-FPV (c/n 193) and LV-FPU (c/n 170) in December 2019 and February 2020, respectively. 

Two More Used A330-202 Deliveries in 2022

LV-KAN (c/n 877), which was first delivered to TAP Air Portugal in 2007, joined the Aerolineas fleet on 13Apr22. 

LV-KAO (c/n 899), which was first delivered to TAP Air Portugal in 2008, joined the Aerolineas fleet on 18Jul22.  

During the same time period, Aerolineas stored its four original A330-223's LV-FNI (c/n 290), LV-FNJ (c/n 300), LV-FNK (c/n 358) and LV-FNL (c/n 364) in 2021 / 2022 and progressively returned them to their lessors with the last airframe, LV-FNK, departing the fleet in October 2022, leaving the carrier with a total fleet of eight A330-202/203 at the end of 2022. 

In addition to its international long-haul destinations, Aerolineas has used its A330-200 fleet on domestic flights to heavily traveled touristic destinations, such as Bariloche (BRC), El Calafate (FTE), Puerto Iguazu (IGR), and Ushuaia (USH) during their respective high seasons. 

Typical A330 utilization by Aerolineas is approx. 4,000 flight hours per aircraft, per year with an average of 9.5 hours / cycle.  

Aerolineas has always operated its Buenos Aires A330 services out of Ezeiza (EZE) airport although with the extension and widening of the runway at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) during its pandemic closure in 2020, the smaller city airport can now accommodate A330's flying to Miami (MIA), which it appears will become a reality in the coming months.  To the best of your editor's knowledge, no A330 has ever taken off or landed at Aeroparque. 

STOP THE PRESSES !  

Aerolineas Argentinas' latest acquisition, A330-243, LV-KHT (c/n 1191) is enroute at the time of this blog posting, from the Marana (MZJ) Arizona storage facility in the United States to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) with an expected arrival on the morning of 21May23.  

Sister ship LV-KHU (c/n 1223), also an A330-243, is scheduled for delivery in the near future.  Both aircraft were originally delivered to South African Airways in 2011 before being returned to lessor Air Castle in 2020.  With these two new additions, Aerolineas Argentinas' A330 fleet will once again reach the peak of ten A330's that it had in 2017.  This will allow the airline to increase service from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Madrid (MAD) (12x/weekly) and Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) (5x/weekly) in July of this year.   

Special thanks to Jesus M. de Leon for permission to use the heading photo. 

Sources:

https://lanzarotespotter.wordpress.com/2022/10/12/lv-fvh-aerolineas-argentinas-airbus-a330-202/

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2017/03/fleet-update-aerolineas-argentinas-took.html

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-to-make-decision.html

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2020/12/aerolineas-argentinas-a330-200-departs.html

https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/05/aerolineas-argentinas-abre-concurso-para-incorporar-dos-airbus-a330-200/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/10/sueno-en-marcha-aerolineas-argentinas-presento-su-avion-del-mundial/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/11/aerolineas-argentinas-made-a-new-special-flight-to-paris/

https://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2023/05/aerolineas-argentinas-recibe-un-airbus-330/

https://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas.htm

aviacionnews.com 14May20

ROUTE UPDATES: April 2023 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas, Azul, DHL Air Express, Flybondi, Gol

Route Updates - April 2023 - Part 1

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Route - Eff Date - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Montevideo (MVD) - xxApr23 - aircraft type varies - 25x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 15x/weekly.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Punta del Este (PDP) - 10Apr23 - E-190, 737 Series - 4x/weekly - Remarks: Reducing frequency from 12x/weekly of summer high season.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD) - 13Apr23 - A330-200 -  9x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 7x/weekly.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Montevideo (MVD) -  10Apr23 - E-190 -   3x/weekly - Remarks: Restart of service suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) - 15Apr23 - A330-200 -  4x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 3x/weekly.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rosario (ROS) - 11Apr23 - E-190 -   4x/weekly - Remarks: 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Mendoza (MDZ) - Sao Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) - 11Apr23 - 737-800, 737 MAX 8 - 2x/weekly - Remarks:

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Sao Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU) - Salta (SLA) - Tucuman (TUC) - 01Apr23 - E-190 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Reducing frequency for the April to June low season, but back up to 2x/weekly in July for the winter high season.

* Azul - Foz do Iguacu (IGU) - Montevideo (MVD) - xxApr23 - E190-E2 - 1x/weekly - Remarks:  Reducing frequency from 2x/weekly during April to June low season, but will increase back to 2x/weekly in July for the winter high season.

* Azul - Recife (REC) - Montevideo (MVD) - 02Apr23 - A320neo - 1x/weekly - Remarks:  Reducing frequency from 2x/weekly during April to June low season, but will increase back to 2x/weekly in July for the winter high season.

* DHL Air Express - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Santiago (SCL) - Miami (MIA) - 09Apr23 - 767-300ER (BCF) - 6x/weekly - Remarks: First time DHL Air Express has operated regular services to Argentina.

* Flybondi - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Corrientes (CNQ) - 11Apr23 - 737-800 - 9x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 6x/weekly

* Flybondi - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Florianopolis (FLN) - 10Apr23 - 737-800 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Summer Service extended until at least 28Jun23 with reduced frequency.

* Flybondi - Cordoba (COR) - Mendoza (MDZ) - 12Apr23 - 737-800 - 4x/weekly - Remarks: 

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Fortaleza (FOR) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - 01Apr23 - 737 MAX 8 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Summer Service suspended until 01Jul23 when Seasonal Winter Service will start. 

* Gol Linhas Aereas - San Salvador (SSA) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - 08Apr23 - 737 MAX 8 -  1x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Summer Service suspended until 01Jul23 when Seasonal Winter Service will start. 

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

ROUTE UPDATES: April 2023 - Part 2 - Jetsmart Argentina, Jetsmart (Chile), LATAM Peru

Route Updates - April 2023 - Part 2

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Route - Eff Date - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Jetsmart Argentina - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Asuncion (ASU) - 03Apr23 - A320-200 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Replacing existing Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Asuncion (ASU) 3x/weekly service.  

* Jetsmart Argentina - Cordoba (COR) - Salta (SLA) - 04Apr23 - A320-200 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Restart of service suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic..

* Jetsmart (Chile) - Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 05Apr23 - A321neo - 2x/weekly - Remarks: These are new additional flights.  Total Jetsmart (Chile) and Jetsmart Argentina flights are 14x/weekly SCL to AEP/EZE using A320 and A321neo.

* LATAM Peru - Lima (LIM) - Cordoba (COR) - 01Apr23 - A319, A320 - 1x/daily  - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 4x/weekly to 1x/daily in April, down to 5x/weekly in May and back to 1x/daily in July during the winter high season.

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

ROUTE UPDATES: March 2023 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, American Airlines, Boliviana, British Airways, Flybondi

Route Updates - March 2023 - Part 1

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Eff Date - Route - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Corrientes (CNQ) - Cordoba (COR) - 15Mar23 - E190 - 4x/weekly - Remarks: Temporary service between 15Mar23 and 29May23 replacing flights normally operated between RES-COR while the former airport undergoes runway work. 

* Air Europa - Madrid (MAD) - Asuncion (ASU) - Cordoba (COR) - 28Mar23 - 787-8 - 1x/daily - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 5x/weekly in December to 6x/weekly in January, February and March until 28Mar23.

* American Airlines - Miami (MIA) - Montevideo (MVD) - 25Mar23 - 787-8 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Discontinued Seasonal Summer Service after five months, reportedly until 30Oct23.

* American Airlines - Dallas-Ft. Worth - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - xxMar23 - 787-8 - 4x/weekly - Remarks: Frequency reduction from 1x/daily at end of high season.

* Boliviana - Cochabamba (CBB) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 08Mar23 - 737-800 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: One of the weekly EZE-CBB flights stops in VVI.

* British Airways - London-Heathrow (LHR) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 24Mar23 - 787-8 - 5x/weekly - Remarks: Increase in LHR-EZE nonstop service from 3x/weekly to 5x/weekly to replace LHR-GRU-EZE 3x/weekly one-stop flights that have operated since March 2021. Discontinued A350-1000 to EZE with the phasing out of LHR-GRU-EZE flights, which will be replaced by 787-8 and 787-9 service on LHR-EZE nonstops.  

* Flybondi - Cordoba (COR) - Salta (SLA) - 02Mar23 - 737-800 - 3x/weekly 

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com
www.sirchandler.com
www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATES: March 2023 - Part 2 - Jetsmart Chile, LADE, LATAM Brasil, Lufthansa, Sky Airline Peru

Route Updates - March 2023 - Part 2

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Route - Eff Date - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Jetsmart Chile - Montevideo (MVD) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - 28Mar23 - A320, A321neo - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Continuation of Santiago (SCL) to Montevideo (MVD) flights

* Lineas Aereas del Estado (LADE) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Reconquista (RCQ) - 13Mar23 - F-28-1000 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Service subsidized by Reconquista city government.

* Lineas Aereas del Estado (LADE) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) - Reconquista (RCQ) - 14Mar23 - Saab 340B - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Service subsidized by Reconquista city government.

* LATAM Brasil - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Cordoba (COR) - Mt. Pleasant (MPN) - 07Mar23 - 767-300ER - 1x/weekly - Remarks: SERVICE RESTART CANCELLED. Original service started on 20Nov19 with one stop in Cordoba (COR) in each direction, but was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic.  Flights almost restarted on more than one occasion since then, but the Argentine government revoked LATAM Brasil's authority on this route on 07Mar23. 

* Lufthansa - Frankfurt (FRA) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 26Mar23 - 747-8i - 1x/daily -Remarks: Increasing frequency from 6x/weekly 

* Sky Airline Peru - Lima (LIM) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Santiago (SCL) - 28Mar23 - A321neo - 3x/weekly

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas Cargo 737-800F LV-CTC in cargo livery entered service on 03May23 (photo)

Aerolineas Argentinas Cargo 737-800F, LV-CTC (30570/879), pictured in its sparkling new livery, probably at the Fabrica Argentina de Aviones airfield in Cordoba where it was painted, on 13Apr23. (Photo: Source Unknown)

Aerolineas Argentinas announced on 30Dec22 that it would be adding two 737-800F's to its fleet in the first half of 2023 with the aircraft formng the first pure- freighters flying for the carrier in 16 years. 

The aircraft are slated to transport automotive parts and household and industrial electrical products manufactured by Mirgor S.A. in its Rio Grande factories located in the province of Tierra del Fuego in extreme southern Argentina, which is highly-dependent on the air transport of goods as surface options, such as highways, are scarce in the rugged region.

Mirgor has contracted for exclusive use of the aircraft for 12 hours each day with the freighters available for the transport of other cargo by Aerolineas the rest of the time.     

LV-CTC (30570/879) was delivered to the Argentinean national airline on 22Dec11 as a passenger aircraft after first having flown for Air Berlin for a few months earlier in 2011.  The aircraft left the Aerolineas fleet during the pandemic on 03Dec20 and spent the next 16 months in storage in Goodyear (GYR) (Arizona) and Miami (MIA) before flying to Dothan (DHN) (Alabama) in April 2022 where it was modified to a pure freighter configuration with the work completed and the plane arriving back at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 23Feb23.  

The aircraft features a large cargo door measuring 2.14m x 3.40m allowing for up to 11 large freight containers and 1 small one on the main deck totalling 23,900kg in weight.    

LV-CTC flew to the Fabrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) airfield in Cordoba on 28Mar23 where it was painted in the above-pictured Aerolineas Argentinas Cargo color scheme, returning to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 15Apr23.  The aircraft entered service on 03May23.

Aerolineas' second 737-800 freighter will be a 737-85(BCF) "Boeing Converted Freighter" with registration LV-KHQ and is scheduled to join the Aerolineas fleet in the coming months. 

Sources:

https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/12/aerolineas-argentinas-incorporara-dos-boeing-737-800-cargueros/

https://www.aviacionnews.com/2023/02/llega-a-la-argentina-el-primer-carguero-puro-para-aerolineas/
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/boeing-737-800-lv-ctc-aerolineas-argentinas/e91v8r

https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/02/llego-al-aeropuerto-de-ezeiza-el-primer-boeing-737-800sf-de-aerolineas-argentinas-cargo/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/02/el-primer-boeing-737-800sf-de-aerolineas-argentinas-cargo-recibira-el-livery-de-la-empresa-en-fadea/
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com/2023/04/un-carguero-para-aerolineas.html  

ROUTE UPDATES: February 2023 - Avianca, Emirates

Route Updates - February 2023

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified by your editor.

Airline - Eff Date - Route - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Avianca - San Jose (SJO) - Quito (UIO) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 01Feb23 - A320, A320neo - 4x/weekly - Remarks: Equipment upguage from A319 

* Emirates - Dubai (DXB) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 01Feb23 - 777-300ER - 1x/daily - Remarks:  Increased frequency from 5x/weekly

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com