Saturday, August 31, 2024

ROUTE UPDATES: July 2024 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas

Route Updates - July 2024 - 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 verified by your editor only where indicated.

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

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Brasilia (BSB) - 02Jul24 - 737-800 -  3x/weekly - Remarks: 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Curitiba (CWB) - xxJul24 - 737-800 - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency for Seasonal Winter Service - Frequency increase verified by editor

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - 06Jul24 - 737 MAX 8 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rio Hondo (RHD) - 06Jul24 - E-190 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Salvador de Bahia (SSA) - xxJul24 - 737 MAX 8 - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency for Seasonal Winter Service - Frequency increase verified by editor

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Santa Fe (SFN) - 08Jul24 - E-190 -  2x/daily - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 1x/daily - Frequency verification by editor in July indicated 10x/weekly, not 2x/daily

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA) - xxJul24 - A330-200 - 11x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 9x/weekly - Frequency verification by editor in July indicated 2x/daily, more than the announced 11x/weekly

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Montevideo (MVD) - 01Jul24 - E-190 -  3x/weekly - Remarks:

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - xxJul24 - A330-200 - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Increased frequency - Frequency increase verified by editor

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - 03Jul24 - E-190 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - Rio de Janerio Galeao (GIG) - 01Jul24 - 737 MAX 8 -  2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service ?

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - San Martin de los Andes (CPC) - 04Jul24 - 737-800 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Jujuy (JUJ) - Mendoza (MDZ) - 02Jul24 - E-190 - 2x/weekly - Remarks:   Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Jujuy (JUJ) - Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - 02Jul24 - E-190 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Bariloche (BRC) - 02Jul24 - 737-800 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Mendoza (MDZ) - 03Jul24 - E-190 -  2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Neuquen (NQN) - Salta (SAL) - 01Jul24 - 737-800, 737 MAX 8 -  2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service ?

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Rosario (ROS) - San Martin de los Andes (CPC) - 02Jul24 - 737-800 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Bariloche (BRC) - 01Jul24 - 737 MAX 8 -  1x/daily - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service until 01Sep24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - xxJul24 - 737-800, 737 MAX 8 - 33x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service increase from 25x/weekly to be maintained year-round

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - San Martin de los Andes (CPC) - xxJul24 - type ? - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service - Your editor could not verify start of this service.  Maybe just a connection instead of through-flights.  

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Ushuaia (USH) - xxJul24 - type ? - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service - Your editor could not verify start of this service.  Maybe just a connection instead of through-flights.  

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Mendoza (MDZ) - xxJul24 - 737 MAX 8 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service going to year-round flights 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Salta (SAL) - 07Jul24 - 737 MAX 8 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service going to year-round flights with E-190 replacing 737 MAX 8 after two months 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Tucuman (TUC) - Mendoza (MDZ) - 01Jul24 - E-190 -  2x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service ?

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Tucuman (TUC) - Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - 03Jul24 - E-190 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service 

Sources:

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ROUTE UPDATES: July 2024 - Part 2 - Andes Lineas Aereas winter charters

Route Updates - July 2024 - 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 verified by your editor only where indicated.

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

Andes Lineas Aereas Argentine winter vacation student charter flights to the lake and mountainside Patagonian town of Bariloche on behalf of student tour operators, primarily Travelrock.  Operated with the two 737-800's in the Andes fleet; LV-KFW (c/n 37366/3628) and LV-HKS (c/n 33821/1698).  

List below is for departure cities first noted by your editor in July (see June Route Updates for cities served starting in that month).  Dates are for those first noted by your editor.  Frequencies are irregular charters with some orginating cities having more flights to Bariloche (BRC) than others:    

* Andes Lineas Aereas - La Rioja (IRJ) - Bariloche (BRC) - 16Jul24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Neuquen (NQN) - Bariloche (BRC) - 08Jul24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Resistencia (RES) - Bariloche (BRC) - 11Jul24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Rio Cuarto (RCU) - Bariloche (BRC) - 12Jul24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Rosario (ROS) - Bariloche (BRC) - 03Jul24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Santa Fe (SFN) - Bariloche (BRC) - 02Jul24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Bariloche (BRC) - 01Jul24 - 737-800 - Remarks: Seven charter flights from GRU to BRC in July

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Tucuman (TUC) - Bariloche (BRC) - 09Jul24 - 737-800 

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ROUTE UPDATES: July 2024 - Part 3 - Flybondi, Gol, Iberia, Jetsmart Argentina, LATAM Brasil, Sky

Route Updates - July 2024 - Part 3

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 usually not verified by your editor.

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

* Flybondi - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) / Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Bariloche (BRC) - xxJul24 - 737-800 - 37x/weekly - Remarks: Increase in frequency from 27x/weekly for Winter Season  

* Flybondi - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) / Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to El Calafate (FTE) - xxJul24 - 737-800 - 1x/daily - Remarks: Increase in frequency from 4x/weekly for Winter Season  

* Flybondi - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) / Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Ushuaia (USH) - xxJul24 - 737-800 - 11x/weekly - Remarks: Increase in frequency for Winter Season  

* Flybondi - Cordoba (COR) to Bariloche (BRC) - xxJul24 - 737-800 - 1x/daily - Remarks: Increase in frequency from 3x/weekly for Winter Season  

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Belo Horizonte (CNF) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 06Jul24 - 737 MAX 8 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Year-round service (was Seasonal Summer Service previously)

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Recife (REC) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 06Jul24 - 737 Series - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Increase in frequency from 1x/weekly until 04Aug24

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - xxJul24 - 737 Series -11x/weekly - Remarks: Increase in frequency from 1x/daily for the winter

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Mendoza (MDZ) - xxJul24 - 737 Series - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Increase in frequency from 4x/daily during July and August

* Iberia - Madrid (MAD) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - xxJul24 - A330-200, A350-900 - 3x/daily - Remarks:  Seasonal Winter Service (southern hemisphere) increase in frequency from 17x/weekly - Frequency verification by editor in July indicated still 17x/weekly, not 3x/daily

* Jetsmart Argentina - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Curitiba (CWB) - 11Jul24 - A320-200 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service until September (?) 

* Jetsmart Argentina - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Alegre (POA) - 12Jul24 - A320-200 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Route did not start up due to floods in Porto Alegre region, including the Porto Alegre airport

* LATAM Brasil - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Bariloche (BRC) - xxJul24 - A320neo - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service (?)

* LATAM Brasil - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Bariloche (BRC) - 05Jul24 - A320ceo - 5x/weekly - Remarks: Charter flights for travel agencies, apparently complementing regularly-scheduled seasonal winter flights

* Sky Airline - Santiago (SCL) - Bariloche (BRC) - xxJul24 - A320 Series - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Increase in frequency from 2x/weekly for the winter

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Wednesday, August 28, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Republica Argentina 757-200, presidential transport, ARG-01, grounded pending heavy checks

Republica Argentina 757-200, ARG-01, c/n 29306/920 parked in the Fuerza Aerea Argentina (Argentina Air Force) section at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 25Jul24. (Phil Perry Photo)  

Republica Argentina 757-200, ARG-01, c/n 29306/920, has been grounded at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) since 26Jun24 due to its having exceeded the allowed hours/cycles for the heavy maintenance  "C" Check, even after all permissble extensions. 

The aircraft was due for its "C" Check in March 2024, but a legal challlenge to the US$ 3 million contract for the check and an upgrade of its satellite communications system delayed its signing.  The "C" Check was further delayed when ARG-01 was unexpectedly pressed into continued service in April due to the greater security afforded to Argentine President Javier Milei by the use of this plane, with its government-level security, compared to the less stringent security measures of the private companies providing the smaller and more economical aircraft that were previously chartered as part of the president's austerity drive.  

ARG-01 can now only be flown using a ferry permit to a maintenance facility where the work to restore its airworthiness will be performed.  The "C" Check will apparently take two months or more to complete, largely depending on the number of unexpected items that need to be resolved, of which there are always at least a few.   

Sources:

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Sunday, August 25, 2024

PHOTO: LATAM Brasil A320neo, PR-XBG, with "Brasil" tail colors at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP)

LATAM Brasil A320neo, PR-XBG, c/n 11725, in special yellow and green-striped tail colors representative of the Brazilian national flag, taxis out at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Jul24. (Phil Perry Photo) 

This was the first of five LATAM A320 Series aircraft to have its tail painted in the colors of the national flags of the countries where LATAM has subsidiaries; Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.  All but Chile have been painted so far.  See posting for details: https://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2024/08/fleet-update-latam-airline-group-has.html

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Thursday, August 22, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: LATAM airline group has painted at least four of five A320 Series aircraft in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru national tail colors

                                                                                                                                        (LATAM Photo)

The LATAM airline group announced in early January 2024 that five of its aircraft would have their tails painted in the colors of its five national subsidiaries; Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.   

As of this posting, at least four aircraft have been painted in national tail colors so far:  

* LATAM Brasil A320neo, PR-XBG, c/n 11725 - The aircraft with the green and yellow-striped tail noted on the first plane in the above photo was the first to be painted with a special tail in January 2024. 

* LATAM Colombia A320, CC-BFE, c/n 5364 - The aircraft with the red, blue and yellow-striped tail noted on the third plane above was the second to be painted with a special tail in April 2024. 

* LATAM Ecuador A320, HC-CPR, c/n 3663 - The aircraft with the red, yellow, blue and yellow-striped tail noted in the fifth plane above was the third to be painted with a special tail in May 2024.

* LATAM Peru A320, CC-BFW, c/n 6135 - The aircraft with the red and white-striped tail noted in the fourth plane above was the fourth to be painted with a special tail in June/July 2024.

* LATAM Chile A320 series aicraft - To the best of your editor's knowledge, this aircraft, with the red and blue stripes on the tail noted in the second plane above, has not been painted yet. 

Sources:

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Tuesday, August 20, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of its 12th 737 MAX 8, LV-KID, on 24Jul24

FLEET UPDATE:

Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of its 12th 737 MAX 8, LV-KID, c/n 66359/8936, when it flew from the Boeing manufacturer's delivery center at Boeing Field (BFI) to Miami (MIA) and onward to  Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 24Jul24.  

One more MAX 8, LV-KIV, c/n 43919/7581, (ex-UR-MXC), originally planned for delivery to Ukraine International, is set to be delivered to Aerolineas before the end of 2024, making for a total fleet of 13 737 MAX 8's flying with the Argentine national carrier by the end of the year.  

FLEET STATUS:

Aerolineas Argentinas' current fleet of 737 MAX 8's consists of the following 12 aircraft:

Registration - C/N - Delivery Date (to Aerolineas) - Remarks 
  • LV-GVD - 64207/6661 - 23/11/2017 - Remarks: factory-delivered to Aerolineas, airline-owned ?
  • LV-GVE - 64208/6717 - 30/12/2017 - Remarks: factory-delivered to Aerolineas, airline-owned ?
  • LV-HKU - 44293/6753 - 26/01/2018 - Remarks: factory-delivered to Aerolineas, leased from ACG  
  • LV-HKV - 44294/6807 - 24/02/2018 - Remarks: factory-delivered to Aerolineas, leased from ACG 
  • LV-HKW - 44296/6926 - 08/06/2018 - Remarks: factory-delivered to Aerolineas, leased from ACG  
  • LV-KEI - 65899/8121 - 10/08/2022 - Remarks: Originally slated for Belavia (Belarus) EW-551PA ntu, factory-delivered to Aerolineas
  • LV-KEJ - 43321/8051 - 24/06/2022 - Remarks: Originally slated for Belavia (Belarus) EW-546PA ntu, factory-delivered to Aerolineas, leased from ALC
  • LV-KID - 66359/8936 - 24/07/2024 - Remarks: factory-delivered to Aerolineas
  • LV-KIT - 43917/7450 - 17/05/2024 - Remarks: Ukraine International Airlines UR-MXA ntu, factory-delivered to Aerolineas, leased from ICBC Leasing 
  • LV-KIU - 43918/7529  - 07/06/2024 - Remarks: Ukraine International Airlines, UR-MXB ntu, factory-delivered to Aerolineas, leased from ICBC Leasing  
  • LV-KKD - 43564/7470 - 29/09/2023 - Remarks: Originally delivered to Flair Airlines (Canada) in 12/2022 but never operated, Smartwings (Czechia) ntu, leased from Altavair Airfinance  
  • LV-KKE - 60135/7635 - 06/10/2023 - Remarks: delivered to Flair Airlines (Canada) ntu, Smartwings (Czechia) ntu, leased from Altavair Airfinance  
Sources:

https://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com/

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Monday, August 19, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Flybondi 737-800, LV-KJE, returns to service after 05Jan24 tailstrike in Mar del Plata (MDQ)

Flybondi 737-800, LV-KJE, c/n 30700/1942, taxis out for takeoff at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 25Jul24 after returning to Argentina from repairs performed to its fuselage after a tailstrike in Mar del Plata (MDQ) on 05Jan24. (Phil Perry Photo) 

Flybondi 737-800, LV-KJE, c/n 30700/1942, arrived back in Argentina on 03Jul24 after repairs in Victorville (VCV) California, USA, to damage resulting from a tailstrike to the aircraft's lower rear fuselage while landing in Mar del Plata (MDQ) in the late evening of 05Jan24.

The aircraft apparently impacted the ground with significant force, enough to puncture the fuselage in several sections, not just the scrapes that are characteristic of tailstrikes.  The damage and nature of the incident were severe enough for the Argentine "Junta de Seguridad en el Transporte" (safety transport commission) to characterize it as an "Accident".

LV-KJE remained on the ground in MDQ for several months while the extent of the damage was evaluated to determine if it was economically feasible for it to be repaired or if it would be written off for spare parts.  Plus, there was the matter of the damage possibly rendering the aircraft unairworthy for a ferry flight to where it could be repaired. 

Finally, maintenance technicians from Flybondi and representatives from Boeing judged that LV-KJE could possibly be repaired at a reasonable cost to save the aircraft from the scrapyard, but that the ferry flight to Victorville (VCV), where it would be repaired would need to be done at below 10,000 ft. because the aircraft's structural integrity was not sufficient enough for it to be pressurized for high-altitude flight. 

The routing from Mar de Plata (MDQ) to Victorville (VCV) would normally be over the towering Andes mountain range bordering Argentina and Chile with some peaks reaching over 20,000 ft., but the non-pressurization requirement made this routing impossible, so the airline decided that LV-KJE would fly to southern Patagonia, near the Tierra del Fuego province, to fly west and back north along the Chilean territory, north to Santiago (SCL), more than doubling the normal routing of 1,300 km. to 2,950 km.    

LV-KJE departed Mar del Plata (MDQ) on 25May24 to the Boeing repair shops in Victorville (VCV) on a multi-stop journey via Santiago (SCL), Guayaquil (GYE), San Salvador (SAL) and Yuma (YUM).    

Over the next few weeks, Boeing engineers and the contracted staff of other companies performed the necessary repairs to LV-KJE's fuselage and other components that were damaged in the tailstrike, with the aircraft flying back to Argentina on a Victorville (VCV) - Panama City (PTY) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) routing, departing the US on 02Jul24 and arriving at EZE the following day. 

LV-KJE re-entered service on Flybondi's route system in the following days. 

Sources:

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Friday, August 16, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas (hybrid Ukraine International) 737 MAX 8, LV-KIU, delivered on 07Jun24

Aerolineas Argentinas 737 MAX 8, LV-KIU, c/n 43918/7529, resplendent in a hybrid color scheme consisting of the basic UIA livery and Aerolineas Argentinas titles, taxis out for take off at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Jul24. (Phil Perry Photo)

Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of the 2nd 737 MAX 8 that was originally slated to be taken by  Ukraine International Airlines, c/n 43918/7529, LV-KIU (formerly UR-MXB) on 07Jun24 after its delivery flight from the Boeing factory at Paine Field (PAE) near Seattle to Miami (MIA) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).  The aircraft is the 11th 737 MAX 8 to join Aerolineas' fleet.

Like aircraft c/n 43197/7450, LV-KIT, LV-KIU first flew in the first half of 2019, but was never  delivered to Ukraine International due to the COVID-19 pandemic and invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 follwed by the subsequent suspension of all flights by the carrier.  The lease from ICBC Aviation Leasing of China was then taken up by Aerolineas Argentinas.  

The plane entered service with the Argentine carrier in a hybrid color scheme consisting of the basic UIA livery and Aerolineas Argentinas titles. 

Sources:    

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Monday, August 12, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of its 10th 737 MAX 8, LV-KIT, on 16May24

Aerolineas Argentinas 737 MAX 8, LV-KIT, c/n 43197/7450, taxis out for takeoff at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Jul24. (Phil Perry Photo)

Ukraine International Airlines had leasing agreements in place for three 737 MAX 8's from ICBC Aviation Leasing of China, all of which made their first flights in the first half of 2019, presumably with plans to be delivered that year, but they were all ntu (not taken up), possibly postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, if any plans were afoot for delivering the aircraft to UIA with the winding down of the pandemic, they were soon put aside with the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24Feb22 and the subsequent suspension of all flights by the carrier.  The aircraft were apparently stored at the Boeing manufacturing facility at Paine Field (PAE) near Seattle painted in full Ukraine International colors and titles.         

An agreement later came about between ICBC and Aerolineas Argentinas for the latter airline to lease all three aircraft with the first delivery of  aircraft c/n 43197/7450, ex-UR-MXA to Argentina taking place on a ferry flight on a Seattle (SEA) - Miami (MIA) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) routing departing 16May24 and arriving in Argentina on 17May24.

The plane was still in full UIA colors and titles, but was promptly flown to the FAdeA (Fabrica Argentina de Aviacion) airfield in Cordoba, located just southwest of the city (not the Cordoba (COR) commercial airline airport) for full repainting in Aerolineas Argentinas livery and titles.    

Sources:    

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