FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas 737 MAX 8 - Fleet of 22 expected by end of 2028 - Details

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.  

2016 Order for 14 737 MAX 8's:

Aerolineas placed an order for 14 737 MAX 8's with Boeing in September 2016.

Of this order, five have either been cancelled or delivered as part of the 13 expected to have been  delivered by the end of 2024:  

* Two aircraft, LV-GVD (c/n 64207/6661) and LV-GVE (c/n 64208/6717) were delivered in late 2017 under a "lease financing" agreement.

* Two planes were cancelled and replaced with two other MAX 8's, LV-KEI (c/n 65899/8121) and LV-KEJ (c/n 43321/8051) that were scheduled for delivery to Belavia, the national airline of Belarus, but were ntu (not taken up) because of sanctions against Belarus due to its support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.  Aerolineas received these two examples in August and June 2022, respectively.  

* Aerolineas Argentinas cancelled one more MAX 8 in early June 2024. 

This leaves nine more MAX 8's of the original 2016 order to be delivered, all scheduled for 2027 and 2028 handovers, which when added to the 13 MAX 8's expected by the end of 2024, will make for a total of 22 737 MAX 8's in the Aerolineas fleet by the end of 2028.

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2024/07/aerolineas-argentinas-recibio-otro-boeing-737-max-directo-de-fabrica-lv-kid/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/06/aerolineas-argentinas-suspendio-la-recepcion-de-un-boeing-737-max-2/

ROUTE UPDATES: August 2024 - Aerolineas Argentinas, Andes, Avianca, COPA, Flybondi, Jetsmart Argentina

Route Updates - August 2024

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 Ezeiza (EZE) - New York Kennedy (JFK) - 08Aug24 - A330-200 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Route cancelled due to consistent financial losses.  Aerolineas Argentinas started flying between EZE and JFK in 1950 wth DC-6's, followed by Comet 4's in 1959, 707's in 1966, and 747's in the early 80's, until the route's cancellation in 2008 due to financial losses, only to be resumed in 2013 with A330's until now.  

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bariloche (BRC) - xxAug24 - 737-800 - 2-4x/daily - Remarks: Operated EZE-BRC round-trip 2-4x/daily on most days in August using their fleet of two 737-800's, LV-HKS and LV-KFW. 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - xxAug24 - 737-800 -Remarks: 22 charter flights for student tour company Soulmax through October 2024 using their fleet of two 737-800's, LV-HKS and LV-KFW. 

* Avianca - Bogota (BOG) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 01Aug24 - A320neo, 787-8 - 17x/weekly - Remarks:  Increasing frequency from 14x/weekly. Flights operated by 787-8 1x/daily and A320 10x/weekly for a total of 17x/weekly. 

*Avianca - San Jose (SJO) - Quito (UIO) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 31Aug24 - type ? - 1x/daily - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 4x/weekly until 25Oct24 when will revert to 4x/weekly because Avianca will start San Jose (SJO) - Guayaquil (GYE) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) 4x/weekly, eff 27Oct24 for a total of 8x/weekly flights from SJO through Ecuador to EZE.    

* COPA - Panama City (PTY) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - xxAug24 - 737-800 - 31x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 28x/weekly.  Additional frequencies to be operated by 737 MAX 9's

* Flybondi - Ushuaia (USH) - El Calafate (FTE) - 02Aug24 - 737-800 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: New year-round service increasing frequency to 4x/weekly in October.  Per aviacionline.com, the USH-FTE route is the Argentine interprovincial route (not originating/terminating in Buenos Aires) with the most passenger traffic, with 88,525 passengers and a load factor of 89% in the first six months of 2024. (this equals 486 per day, which seems high)

* Jetsmart Argentina - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Florianapolis (FLN) - 30Aug24 - A320-200 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Decreasing frequency from 3x/weekly until 13Dec24 when will increase flights up to 5x/weekly for the summer

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

FLEET UPDATE: Republica Argentina 757-23A, T-01, "Tango Zero-One" flown to Dothan, Alabama, USA to be broken up for spares

Republica Argentina 757-23A, T-01 (c/n 25487/470), taxiing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 01Oct10.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Republica Argentina 757-23A, T-01 (c/n 25487/470), the country's former presidential transport aircraft from 1992 to 2015, left Argentina for the last time on 06Jun24, bound for Dothan Regional Airport (DHN), Alabama, USA, via technical stops in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI), Manaus (MAO), Baranquilla (BAQ) and Opa Locka (OPF), Florida, finally arriving at Dothan on 08Jun24.  Local sources indicated that T-01 flew the first leg of the journey with its undercarriage deployed (safety precaution due to no flying time over the previous nine years ?).    

T-01 was delivered to Argentina fresh from the Boeing factory in 1992 where it flew extensively for Argentine presidents, ranging from Carlos Menem to Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, until 2015 when the aircraft was parked indefinitely at El Palomar Air Force Base near Buenos Aires due to extensive maintenance requirements required for its airworthiness certificate, including a heavy C-Check on its airframe plus major work on its engines and landing gears and updating of avionics and other electronics that would have cost US$ 20 million to carry out, well above the value of the aircraft itself. 

Although the airframe had only accumulated approx. 14,000 hours over 1,500 cycles (very low compared to 757's in regular commercial service, which typically accumulate 8-12 hours flying time per day) its estimated value was only some US$ 2 million due to the above-noted cost of the maintenance required for it to become airworthy again (T-01's airworthiness certificate expired in 2016), plus:

• A history of recurring mechanical issues, especially with its Rolls-Royce engines, the worst of which was an inflight engine fire, forcing an emergency landing at El Palomar minutes after taking off from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 19Oct04.    
• An executive interior that, if sold for continued use in that role, would probably have entailed extensive and costly modifications to the new owner's tastes.
• Conversion to a cargo role would have been expensive with the addition of a cargo door.
• Significant modifications to the airframe might also have required costly system / equipment upgrades to be in compliance with 2015 safety standards.                  

T-01 remained forlornly on the ramp at El Palomar, when finally in late 2022 it was traded in towards the purchase of a replacement, 757-200, ARG-01 (c/n 29306/920) with a US$ 3 million credit towards the US$ 25 million purchase price of the new addition to the fleet, which arrived in Argentina on 25May23.  

The plane's new owner, C&L Aviation Group of Bangor, Maine, USA, subsequently sold T-01 to Bischoff Aerospace of Hialeah, Florida, an aircraft parts dealer.  In early 2024, the aircraft  underwent extensive preparations for delivery to Bischoff in Dothan (DHN), wearing its new registration, N757CL, where it finally arrived on 08Jun24.  The aircraft will presumably be broken up for spare parts. 

Sources:

https://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com/2010/07/t-01-boeing-757-23a-cn-25487470.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com/2018/09/off-tango-que-me-hiciste-sufrir.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com/2020/12/visita-al-t-01.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com/2024/06/adios-viejo-tango.html

https://www.perfil.com/noticias/actualidad/asi-es-el-nuevo-avion-presidencial-que-costo-25-millones-de-dolares.phtml

https://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2016/10/airline-fleet-updates-argentine.html

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:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

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 

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

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

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

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:

https://aviacionline.com/2024/07/329593/
https://www.infobae.com/politica/2024/06/14/se-vence-un-permiso-del-avion-presidencial-y-podria-afectar-los-proximos-viajes-de-javier-milei/

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

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:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=690455999923908&set=a.536812261954950

https://www.airdatanews.com/latam-will-paint-five-planes-with-the-colors-of-the-countries-where-it-has-domestic-flights/

https://volavi.co/aviacion/noticias/latam-pinta-avion-homenaje-colombia

https://volavi.co/aviacion/noticias/latam-pinta-avion-homenaje-colombia

https://www.airliners.net/photo/LATAM-Ecuador/Airbus-A319-132/7580667?qsp=eJwtjEEKwkAMRa8iWbspgovu7AV04QVC8tHi1BkyER1K724c3D3e/7yVJD8dH7%2B2Ahqpgk3utKfCxkulcaUH2jubBlNi52UHebFmi1PN5lOLQdlxEkFx6N%2BfTWG/CVV67xb9IQB26UyHY3ida0ncG3CeE23bF9kfMa0%3D

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/olinplacido_esta-semana-presentamos-ante-sociedad-nuestro-activity-7209739824990212096-SDby/?originalSubdomain=es

www.airfleets.net

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: 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://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-66359.htm

https://aviacionline.com/2024/07/aerolineas-argentinas-recibio-otro-boeing-737-max-directo-de-fabrica-lv-kid/

https://www.airfleets.net

https://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com/

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:

https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/349677

https://jst.gob.ar/files/informes/AE/2024/010624-2048401/IB-2048401-24.pdf

https://avherald.com/h?article=513586e4

https://testaodp.dream.press/2024/05/con-una-ruta-muy-inusual-volvio-a-volar-el-boeing-737-800-de-flybondi-que-sufrio-un-tail-strike-en-mar-del-plata/

https://testaodp.dream.press/2024/05/confirman-el-regreso-del-avion-de-flybondi-que-sufrio-un-tail-strike-en-mar-del-plata/

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com/2024/08/roll-out-n-421-fleet-list.html

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:    

https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-43918.htm

https://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com/2023/03/lv-kiu-boeing-737-ng-cn-439187529.html

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:    

https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-43917.htm

https://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com/2023/03/lv-kit-boeing-737-ng-cn-439177450.html

https://linea-ala.blogspot.com/2024/05/otro-boeing-737-max-para-las-aerolineas.html

ROUTE UPDATES: June 2024 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas, Andes

Route Updates - June 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 usually not verified by your editor.

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

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD) - xxJun24 - A330-200 - 2x/daily - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 1x/daily at least through July 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA) - xxJun24 - A330-200 - 9x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 1x/daily

Andes Lineas Aereas traditional high school student 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).  

Dates are 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 - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Bariloche (BRC) - 14Jun24 - 737-800

 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bariloche (BRC) - 11Jun24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Jujuy (JUJ) - Bariloche (BRC) - 14Jun24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Bariloche (BRC) - 13Jun24 - 737-800 

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Montevideo (MVD) - Bariloche (BRC) - 28Jun24 - 737-800

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Posadas (PSS) - Bariloche (BRC) - 12Jun24 - 737-800

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - Bariloche (BRC) - 16Jun24 - 737-800

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Punta del Este (PDP) - Bariloche (BRC) - 28Jun24 - 737-800

* Andes Lineas Aereas - Santiago del Estero (SDE) - Bariloche (BRC) - 15Jun24 - 737-800

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

ROUTE UPDATES: June 2024 - Part 2 - Arajet, Avianca, Azul, Flybondi, ITA Airways

Route Updates - June 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 usually not verified by your editor.

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

* Arajet - Santo Domingo (SDQ) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - xxJun24 - 737 MAX 8 - 7x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 4x/weekly 

* Avianca - Medellin (MDE) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 15Jun24 - A320neo - 1x/daily - Remarks:

* Azul Linhas Aereas - Viracopos (VCP) - Bariloche (BRC) - 30Jun24 - A320neo - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal Winter Service until 25Aug24

* Flybondi - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Florianopolis (FLN) - 29Jun24 - 737-800 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Seasonal service being extended year-round

* ITA Airways - Rome Fimuicino (FCO) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 11Jun24 - A350-900 - 9x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 1x/daily

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

ROUTE UPDATES: May 2024 - Aerolineas Argentinas, Cubana, Jetsmart Argentina, Jetsmart Chile

Route Updates - May 2024

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  

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rio Cuarto (RCU) - 13May24 - E-190 - 4x/weekly - Remarks: Service on this route was suspended on 21Apr24 until at least 01Jul24 but it  restarted early due to the Rio Cuarto city government agreeing with Aerolineas Argentinas to cover the cost of any shortfall below a 80% load factor.  

* Cubana - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cayo Coco (CCC) - Havana (HAV) - 01May24 - A330-200 - Remarks: Service cancelled due to YPF Argentina oil company suspending fuel supplies at EZE to Plus Ultra airlines of Spain operating flights wet-leased to Cubana

* Jetsmart Argentina - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Jujuy (JUJ) - 15May24 - A320-200 - Remarks: Suspending route for 180 days 

* Jetsmart Argentina - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Montevideo (MVD) - 29May24 - A320-200 - 2x/daily - Remarks: First competition for Aerolineas Argentinas on the route since Amaszonas Uruguay before the pandemic

* Jetsmart Chile - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Lima (LIM) - 28May24 - A320-200 - 11x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 1x/daily.  JA Jetsmart Chile two-letter code

* Jetsmart Chile - Concepcion (CCP) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 22May24 - A320-200 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Route cancelled after only nine weeks of service   

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com

ROUTE UPDATES: April 2024 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas - Route Changes, Cancellations & Low-Season Suspensions

Route Updates - April 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 usually not verified by your editor.

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

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Bogota (BOG) - 03Apr24 - 737-700 - 10x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 1x/daily - UPDATE: Cancelled increase to 10x/weekly, will remain 1x/daily

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Lima (LIM) - 02Apr24 - 737 MAX 8 - 10x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 1x/daily - UPDATE: Cancelled increase to 10x/weekly, will remain 1x/daily

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - 02Apr24 - E-190 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: New service to compete with Paranair on the same route - UPDATE: Cancelled route start up plans in early February.  Was to replace COR-ASU leg of  Air Europa's COR-ASU-MAD service now that Air Europa has replaced that routing wth nonstop COR-MAD and ASU-MAD flights.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) - xxApr24 - E-190, 737-800 - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 4x/weekly

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - xxApr24 - 737-800 - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 4x/weekly

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - Neuquen (NQN) - xxApr24 - E-190, 737-800 - 6x/weekly - Remarks: Increasing frequency from 5x/weekly

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Salta (SLA) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - xxApr24 - 737-800 - 2x/weekly - Remarks: Replacing E-190 with 737-800

Per aviacionline.com, the following routes were suspended by Aerolineas Argentinas for the lull between the southern hemisphere Summer and Winter High Seasons (approx. April to July). 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rio Cuarto (RCU) - 21Apr24 - E-190 - 4x/weekly - Remarks: Suspending service until at least 01Jul24 with continuation of service to be evaluated - UPDATE: Service was reinstated on 13May24 on a 4x/weekly basis due to Rio Cuarto government revenue guarantees.

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rosario (ROS) - xxApr24 - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Suspending service until at least 01Jul24 with continuation of service to be evaluated 

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) - Rio Gallegos (RGL) - 05Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 01Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - San Juan (UAQ) - 07Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 01Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Cordoba (COR) - Trelew (REL) - 04Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 01Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Mendoza (MDZ) - Jujuy (JUJ) - 06Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 02Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Mendoza (MDZ) - Tucuman (TUC) - 29Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 01Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - Jujuy (JUJ) - 06Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 02Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Puerto Iguazu (IGR) - Tucuman (TUC) - 07Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 03Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Salta (SLA) - Neuquen (NQN) - 06Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 01Jul24

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Salta (SLA) - Resistencia (RES) - 06Apr24 - Remarks: Suspending service until 02Jul24

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.aviacionline.com
www.aviacionnews.com

www.flightradar24.com

www.flightstats.com

www.sirchandler.com