Thursday, December 24, 2020

ROUTE UPDATES: Argentina "Regular" Flights Restart - #3 of 4 - Other Latin American Carriers - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Departures - Week of 07-13Dec

The text immediately below this introduction is repeated from previous posting "ROUTE UPDATES: Argentina "Regular" Flights Restart - #1 of 4 - Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Departures - Week of 07-13Dec" to give context to the information regarding resumption of service by other Latin American carriers (non-Argentine) departing Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) in the second half of this posting: 

Regularly scheduled airline services came to an abrupt halt in Argentina on 20Mar20 with only "special" flights operated, mostly for the repatriation of both Argentines stranded overseas and foreigners marooned in Argentina, until 22Oct20 when "regular" flights were resumed. 

Many special cargo flights were also operated (and continue to be flown), such as at least sixteen Aerolineas Argentinas flights to Shanghai, China that brought back to Argentina massive numbers of masks, gowns and other equipment to be used in the fight against COVID-19.     

The resumption of "regular" flights in October was exclusively out of Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) because the capital's two other airports were and still are closed.  

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) is not operational due to the airfield's sole runway being resurfaced and extended (work scheduled to be finished in March/April) and the reopening of Buenos Aires El Palomar (EPA) was deemed inefficient costwise, considering that Ezeiza is operating well below capacity, so EPA's two carriers, Flybondi and Jetsmart, have been directed to fly out of EZE, at least for now. 

At first, only about a dozen "regular" flights per day flew out of EZE but this increased significantly to an average of 47 daily departures during the week of 07-13Dec with a total of 332 flights being operated by all airlines from EZE during that period.  

Avianca Colombia A330-200, N974AV (c/n 1208), at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 10Jan17.  The airline only has three A330-200's in service with a further three parked due to the pandemic.  (Phil Perry Photo)  

Services operated during the week of 07-13Dec:

Aeromexico - Operated 4 flights to Mexico City (MEX) using 787-9 - 3 weekly flights less than normal  

Avianca Colombia - Operated 3 flights to Bogota (BOG) using 787-8 - 3 weekly flights less than normal

Boliviana - 7 flights total (1x/daily) to Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) with 4 737-300 alternating with 3 767-300 - about normal  

COPA Panama - 7 flights total (1x/daily), all with 737-800 to Panama City (PTY) - normally operate 3x/daily 

LATAM Brazil - 7 flights operated with A320 to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - normally have about 28x/weekly

LATAM Chile - 11 flights operated with A320 to Santiago (SCL) - normally have about 33x/weekly (including flights that used to be operated by LATAM Argentina) 

LATAM Peru - 9 flights operated with A320 to Lima (LIM) - normally have about 21x/weekly (including flights that used to be operated by LATAM Argentina) 

Paranair - 3 flights flown by CRJ-200 to Asuncion (ASU) - about half of normal 

Sky Airline - 5 flights flown by A320neo to Santiago (SCL) - normally have about 14x/weekly 

Comments:

In normal times without a pandemic and also the economic consequences to the Argentine and world economies: 

* Flights between Buenos Aires and Santiago (SCL) typically totaled 65x/weekly with another 30x/weekly or so flights from other Argentine cities to SCL compared to only 21x/weekly currently being flown collectively between Aerolineas Argentinas, LATAM Chile and Sky Airline.

* Flights between Buenos Aires and Brazil typically totaled 145x/weekly to 14 airports with another 40x/weekly or so flights from other Argentine cities to Brazil compared to only 20x/weekly currently being flown collectively between Aerolineas Argentinas and LATAM Brazil.  Normally there would also be flights by Azul and Gol.  The sharp reduction in flights reflects the lack of Argentines traveling to Brazilian beach areas.  

* Flights between Buenos Aires and Lima (LIM) totaled 42x/weekly with another 14x/weekly or so flights from other Argentine cities to LIM compared to only 9x/weekly currently being flown by only LATAM Peru (Aerolineas Argentinas normally also flies the route).  

Sources:

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