Saturday, October 26, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Jetsmart Chile transfers A320ceo CC-AWC "Loica" to Jetsmart Argentina on 18Oct24

Jetsmart Chile A320ceo, CC-AWC (c/n 7691), at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on a cloudy and foggy 24Jul24, almost three months before it was transferred to Jetsmart Argentina.  Note Republica Argentina 757-200, ARG-01, presidential transport aircraft parked in the background.   (Phil Perry Photo)    

Jetsmart Chile transferred A320ceo, CC-AWC (c/n 7691), to its Argentine affiliate Jetsmart Argentina  on 18Oct24.  The aircraft is operating in Argentina on the basis of the "Interchange" agreement signed by Chile and Argentina in August 2024, which was facilitated by the changes in Argentine regulations allowing for the operation of foreign aircraft by Argentine carriers, which took effect on 04Oct24.  Jetsmart Argentina is flying the plane with Argentine crews.

CC-AWC was orginally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 28Jull7 where it flew with the carrier until its recent transfer to Jetsmart Argentina.  The aircraft has worn the "Loica" (Longtail Meaadowlark) scheme pictured at the top of this posting since it was first delivered to Jetsmart Chile in 2017.  

Jetsmart Argentina now has ten A320ceo's in its fleet with the last A320ceo currently flying for Jetsmart Chile scheduled to join the Argentine affiliate in January 2025 for a total of eleven aircraft flying for the Buenos Aires-based carrier.  At that point, Jetsmart Chile will have a fleet comprised entirely of A320neo's and A321neo's.  

Jetsmart Argentina will use the new additions to its fleet to increase frequencies on many existing routes and expand its overall route network. 
  
Fleet List of Jetsmart Argentina A320's:

Jetsmart Argentina's current fleet of Airbus A320ceo's consists of the following ten aircraft.

Registration - C/N - Delivery Date - Remarks
  • CC-AWC - 7691 - 18Oct24 - Remarks: "Loica" (Longtail Meaadowlark) tail scheme.  Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 28Jul17.  Transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 18Oct24 with no change of registration, still CC-AWC.
  • CC-AWE - 8028 - 02Oct24 - Remarks: "Gaviota Austral" (Dolphin Gull) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 14Dec17, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 30Oct22, re-registered as LV-KGO, transferred back to Jetsmart Chile on 27Nov23, re-registered as CC-AWE, transferred back to Jetsmart Argentina on 02Oct24 with no change of registration, still CC-AWE.
  • LV-HEK - 8599 - 11Dec18 - Remarks: "Huemul" (South Andean Deer) tail scheme. Factory-delivered new to Jetsmart Argentina.
  • LV-HVT - 8574 - 15Apr19 - Remarks: "Jaguar" tail scheme.  Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 13Nov18, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 15Apr19, re-registered as LV-HVT.
  • LV-IVN - 8730 - 15Nov19 - Remarks: "Zorro Culpeo" (Fox) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 12Feb19, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 15Nov19, re-registered as LV-IVN.
  • LV-IVO - 8838 - 01Apr19 - Remarks: "Cardenal" (Cardinal) tail scheme.  Factory-delivered new to Jetsmart Argentina.
  • LV-JQE - 8539 - 28Sep21 - Remarks: "Pinguino Rey" (King Penguin) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 21Nov18, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 28Sep21, re-registered as LV-JQE.
  • LV-KDP - 8493 - 29Apr22 - Remarks: "Puma Concolor" (Cougar) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 27Oct18, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 29Apr22, re-registered as LV-KDP.
  • LV-KFX - 8006 - 03Sep22 - Remarks: "Condor Andino" (Andean Condor) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 09Dec17, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 03Sep22, re-registered as LV-KFX.
  • LV-KJA - 7502 - 29Jun23 - Remarks: "Martin Pescador" (Fisher Bird) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 02Sep17, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 29Jun23, re-registered as LV-KJA.   

Sources:

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Monday, October 21, 2024

ROUTE UPDATES: September 2024 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas, COPA, Flybondi, Gol

Route Updates - September 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 - Bahia Blanca (BHI) - Trelew (REL) - 30Sep24 - Remarks: Route "suspended" (cancelled?), apparently as a cost-saving measure 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Cordoba (COR) - Punta Cana (PUJ) - 13Sep24 - 737 MAX 8 -  2x/weekly - Remarks: Restart of service between COR and PUJ since before the pandemic with connections to/from various points of the Argentine "Interior" through AR's COR hub.  Operated as a throughflight originating in AEP to COR and PUJ.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Bahia Blanca (BHI) - 30Sep24 - Remarks: Route "suspended" (cancelled?), apparently  as a cost-saving measure 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Mendoza (MDZ) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - 29Sep24 - Remarks: Route "suspended" (cancelled?), apparently  as a cost-saving measure 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Trelew (REL) - Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) - 30Sep24 - Remarks: Route "suspended" (cancelled?), apparently  as a cost-saving measure 

* COPA - Panama City (PTY) - Cordoba (COR) - 18Sep24 - 737 Series - 11x/weekly - Remarks:
Decreasing frequency from 14x/weekly.  Shifting three rotations to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE). Some of COPA's frequencies are operated by its Colombian subsidiary Wingo from Medellin to PTY to EZE under Fifth Freedom rights to bypass bilateral air agreements between Panama and Argentina.  Fifth Freedom, in this case, permits a Colombian carrier to fly from a city originating in its home country (Colombia) to its destination (Argentina) stopping in a third nation (Panama) enroute. 

* Flybondi - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - San Juan (UAQ) - 02Sep24 - 737-800 - 4x/weekly - Remarks: New route

* Gol Linhas Aereas - Montevideo (MVD) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - 01Sep24 - 737 Series - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Summer Service increasing to 4x/weekly on 28Oct24.

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ROUTE UPDATES: September 2024 - Part 2 - Andes Lineas Aereas high school graduation charter flights to Bariloche (BRC)

Andes Lineas Aereas 737-800, LV-KFW (c/n 37366/3628), takes off from runway 13 at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 14May24. (Phil Perry Photo)  

Route Updates - September 2024 - Part 2

Andes Lineas Aereas traditional high school graduation 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).  

These flights operate from June to December.  Below example is just one month of service. 

September 2024 flight segments flown:

LV-KFW

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bariloche (BRC):  71
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Mar del Plata (MDQ):  2
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS):  22
Resistencia (RES) - Bariloche (BRC):  6
Rosario (ROS) - Bariloche (BRC):  3
Salta (SLA) - Bariloche (BRC):  7
Santa Fe (SFN) - Bariloche (BRC):  2
Tucuman (TUC) - Bariloche (BRC):  2

Total Segments Flown by LV-KFW in September:  115

LV-HKS

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bariloche (BRC):  107
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS):  1
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Puerto Iguazu (IGR):  1
Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Bariloche (BRC):  1
Rosario (ROS) - Bariloche (BRC):  2
Salta (SLA) - Bariloche (BRC):  5
Santa Fe (SFN) - Bariloche (BRC):  4
Tucuman (TUC) - Bariloche (BRC):  1

Total Segments Flown by LV-HKS in September: 122

Total Segments Flown by LV-KFW and LV-HKS in September: 237

Notes:

* Number of flights is total of one-way segments in both directions 
* Some of the segments might have been one-way ferry positioning flights 
* A few other flights between cities that were clearly only for positioning are not shown, such as, for example, Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rosario (ROS)   

Sources:

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Monday, October 14, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Jetsmart Chile transferred A320ceo CC-AWE "Gaviota Austral" to Jetsmart Argentina on 02Oct24

Jetsmart Chile A320ceo, CC-AWE (c/n 8028), at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Jul24, a little more than two months before it was transferred to Jetsmart Argentina. (Phil Perry Photo)      

Jetsmart Chile transferred A320ceo, CC-AWE (c/n 8028), to its Argentine affiliate Jetsmart Argentina  on 02Oct24 with the aircraft entering service on the Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Salta (SLA) route on 08Oct24.  CC-AWE is operating in Argentina on the basis of the "Interchange" agreement signed by Chile and Argentina in August 2024, which was facilitated by the changes in Argentine regulations allowing for the operation of foreign aircraft by Argentine carriers, which took effect on 04Oct24.  Jetsmart Argentina is flying the plane with Argentine crews.

CC-AWE was orginally delivered to Jetsmart Chile in 2017 where it flew with the carrier until it was transferred to Jetsmart Argentina in late 2022 and re-registered as LV-KGO, following the rules then in place that required Argentine carriers to operate only aircraft that were on the national registry.  After only a year, the plane went back to Chile in late 2023, once again assuming its Chilean registration of CC-AWE until it recently returned to Argentina, but keeping its CC-AWE reg this time.  Since it was first delivered to Jetsmart Chile in 2017, the aircraft has always worn the "Gaviota Austral" (Dolphin Gull) scheme pictured at the top of this posting.       

Jetsmart Argentina now has nine A320ceo's in its fleet with one more expected before the end of 
October for a total of ten aircraft.  At that point, Jetsmart Chile will only have one A320ceo left in its fleet, which will likely be reassigned to Jetsmart Argentina, maybe in January 2025, as Jetsmart Chile focuses on a fleet comprised entirely of A320 and A321neo's.  

Jetsmart Argentina will use the two new additions to its fleet primarily to increase frequencies on many existing routes, such as, in October:

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Ezeiza (EZE) to Bariloche (BRC), Cordoba (COR), El Calafate (FTE), Neuquen (NQN), Puerto Iguazu (IGR), Salta (SLA), San Martin de los Andes (CPC) and Tucuman (TUC).

Also in October, new international service will be added from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Lima (LIM) and Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG).   
 
More new service and increased frequencies will be added in the November through January period.
  
Fleet List of Jetsmart Argentina A320's:

Jetsmart Argentina's current fleet of Airbus A320ceo's consists of the following nine aircraft:

Registration - C/N - Delivery Date - Remarks
  • CC-AWE - 8028 - 02Oct24 - Remarks: "Gaviota Austral" (Dolphin Gull) tail scheme.  Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 14Dec17, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 30Oct22, re-registered as LV-KGO, transferred back to Jetsmart Chile on 27Nov23, re-registered as CC-AWE, transferred back to Jetsmart Argentina on 02Oct24 with no change of registration, still CC-AWE.
  • LV-HEK - 8599 - 11Dec18 - Remarks: "Huemul" (South Andean Deer) tail scheme. Factory-delivered new to Jetsmart Argentina.
  • LV-HVT - 8574 - 15Apr19 - Remarks: "Jaguar" tail scheme.  Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 13Nov18, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 15Apr19, re-registered as LV-HVT.
  • LV-IVN - 8730 - 15Nov19 - Remarks: "Zorro Culpeo" (Fox) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 12Feb19, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 15Nov19, re-registered as LV-IVN.
  • LV-IVO - 8838 - 01Apr19 - Remarks: "Cardenal" (Cardinal) tail scheme.  Factory-delivered new to Jetsmart Argentina.
  • LV-JQE - 8539 - 28Sep21 - Remarks: "Pinguino Rey" (King Penguin) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 21Nov18, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 28Sep21, re-registered as LV-JQE.
  • LV-KDP - 8493 - 29Apr22 - Remarks: "Puma Concolor" (Cougar) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 27Oct18, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 29Apr22, re-registered as LV-KDP.
  • LV-KFX - 8006 - 03Sep22 - Remarks: "Condor Andino" (Andean Condor) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 09Dec17, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 03Sep22, re-registered as LV-KFX.
  • LV-KJA - 7502 - 29Jun23 - Remarks: "Martin Pescador" (Fisher Bird) tail scheme. Originally delivered to Jetsmart Chile on 02Sep17, transferred to Jetsmart Argentina on 29Jun23, re-registered as LV-KJA.   

Sources:

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Friday, October 11, 2024

Argentine Government authorizes Foreign Crews & Aircraft to fly for Argentine Airlines

Argentine President Javier Milei signed the "Decree of Necessity & Urgency" #70/2023 on 20Dec23, ten days after assuming office, designed to "free" the Argentine economy of excessive regulation, including a sharp reduction in the number of companies owned and run by the national govenment. 

As Milei settled into the presidency in 2024, he and his allies in the Argentine senate and congress agressively pushed their deregulation agenda, especially with regard to the airline industry, which has historically been heavily regulated in Argentina with the dominant carrier being Aerolineas Argentinas, entirely state-owned through most of its 75-year history, including since 2008 to the present day. 

In an effort designed to introduce more competition to the Argentine air transportation industry, which has three main players; Aerolineas Argentinas, Flybondi and Jetsmart Argentina, President Milei, after having run into strong opposition in the Argentine congress during the course of 2024, issued Decree #844/2024 on 23Sep24 instructing the National Civil Aviation Administration (spanish initials ANAC) to loosen regulations, which required Argentine airlines to employee only Argentine workers and fly only aircraft registered in Argentina.

To this end, resolución #363/2024 was issued on 04Oct24, amending Articles #106 and #107 to allow Argentine airlines to employ foreign workers and operate aircraft based in other countries, subject to the rules and regulations of the ANAC and other Argentine aviation regulatory bodies.  

This will allow the implementation of an "Interchange" agreement signed by Argentine and Chilean government authorities in August 2024, whereby aircraft of both countries will be authorized to fly for the airlines of both nations, subject to being inspected by both the Argentine and Chilean safety and licensing authorities for approval to operate in their airspace, a process referred to as "double vigilance".  Interchange agreements of this nature permit airlines to shift aircraft back-and-forth between the countries that are parties to the arrangement, with the flexibility that this allows in the use of aircraft resources resulting in much more cost-efficient operations that also better accommodate shifting customer demand.

Argentina had such an agreement in place with Chile in the 2010's, specifically permitting LATAM Argentina and LATAM Chile to interchange aircraft, which they apparently only did with LATAM Chile 767-300's flying for LATAM Argentina, but the recently signed agreement allows for all airlines of both countries to interchange with each other.    

The first airlines to take advantage of the newly liberalized regulations and agreement between Argentina and Chile will be Jetsmart Argentina and Jetsmart Chile, with the latter carrier already having transferred A320ceo CC-AWE "Gaviota Austral" to its Argentine affiliate on 02Oct24, with another such aircraft, CC-AWC "Loica", scheduled to be transferred on 24Oct24.         
  
Sources:  

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Friday, October 4, 2024

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas returned E-190 LV-GAQ to lessor, Embraer fleet presently at 24

Austral (later Aerolineas Argentinas) E-190, LV-GAQ (c/n 19000275), taxis out for departure at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 01Jun23. (Phil Perry Photo)
 
The first Embraer E-190 to ever leave the Aerolineas Argentinas fleet, LV-GBK (c/n 19000291), departed Argentina on 18Sep24 to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon (MCN) in the United States for return to the lessor Azorra.  This was followed by a second E-190, LV-GAQ (c/n 19000275) departing Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 26Sep24, also to Macon (MCN) and returning to Azorra, leaving Aerolineas with a fleet of 24 E-190's, which is slated to be further reduced in the coming years as the carrier is expected to take delivery of 12 E195-E2's and more 737 MAX 8's.  
      
LV-GAQ, like sistership LV-GBK, was originally delivered to Republic Airways in 2009 operating regional flights on behalf of mainline carriers American, Delta and United before joining the Aerolineas Argentinas fleet in 2016.    
FLEET STATUS:

Aerolineas Argentinas' current fleet of E-190's consists of the following 24 aircraft:

Registration - C/N - Delivery Date - Remarks
  • LV-CDY - 365 - 20/9/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CDZ - 377 - 20/9/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CET - 383 - 4/10/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CEU - 389 - 12/11/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CEV - 390 - 12/11/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CHO - 395 - 11/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CHQ - 397 - 14/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CHR - 400 - 22/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CHS - 402 - 22/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CID - 409 - 11/02/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CIE - 414 - 25/02/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CIF - 421 - 28/03/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CIG - 427 - 02/05/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CIH - 428 - 29/04/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CKZ - 439 - 18/06/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CMA - 445 - 26/08/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CMB - 448 - 26/08/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CPI - 457 - 16/9/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CPJ - 463 - 23/09/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-CPK - 474 - 23/09/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-FPS - 639 - 27/09/2013 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-FPT - 640 - 25/10/2013 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral
  • LV-GIK - 715 - 26/06/2016 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral. On lease to Aerolineas Argentinas. 
  • LV-GIQ - 716 - 29/07/2016 - Remarks: factory-delivered new to Austral. On lease to Aerolineas Argentinas.       

Sources:

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