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:

https://www.airfleets.es/ficheapp/plane-a320-8028.htm

https://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2024/10/jetsmart-argentina-trajo-su-antepenultimo-airbus-320-ceo/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/10/empezo-a-operar-vuelos-domesticos-en-argentina-un-airbus-a320-con-matricula-chilena/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/jetsmart-aumenta-su-presencia-en-el-mercado-argentino-con-mas-rutas-y-frecuencias-desde-octubre/

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:  

https://aviacionenargentina.com.ar/cielos-abiertos-ahora-con-interchange-anac-firmo-en-dependencias-del-pais-vecino-un-acuerdo-de-doble-vigilancia-con-chile/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/el-gobierno-reglamentaria-la-incorporacion-de-pilotos-y-tripulantes-extranjeros-al-sistema-aerocomercial-argentino/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/argentina-anac-tiene-60-dias-para-reglamentar-el-ingreso-de-pilotos-y-tripulaciones-extranjeras/

https://www.aviacionnews.com/2024/10/anac-extranjera/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/10/argentina-anac-reglamento-la-normativa-para-incorporar-pilotos-y-aeronaves-extranjeras/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/10/apla-contra-la-reglamentacion-de-las-operaciones-de-aeronaves-y-tripulantes-con-matricula-extranjera/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/jetsmart-aumenta-su-presencia-en-el-mercado-argentino-con-mas-rutas-y-frecuencias-desde-octubre/

https://aviacionline.com/2024/10/gerente-comercial-de-jetsmart-ratifico-voluntad-de-la-empresa-de-mantener-su-filial-en-argentina/

https://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2024/10/jetsmart-argentina-trajo-su-antepenultimo-airbus-320-ceo/

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:

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

https://aviacionline.com/2024/10/de-argentina-a-vietnam-vietjet-air-usara-los-dos-embraer-ex-aerolineas-argentinas/

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas returned E-190 LV-GBK to lessor, Embraer fleet presently at 25

Austral (later Aerolineas Argentinas) E-190, LV-GBK (c/n 19000291), taxis out for departure at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 19Dec18. (Phil Perry Photo)

After having accumulated 26 E-190's between 2010 and 2016, with 22 owned examples and four leased airframes, Aerolineas Argentinas for the first time had one of its E-jets leave its fleet when the lease on LV-GBK (c/n 19000291) recently expired.  

The aircraft departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), with the Austral titles removed from its fuselage, on 18Sep24 bound for Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) in Macon, Georgia, via Asuncion (ASU) and Manaos (MAO) for return to the lessor Azorra.  It was flown by a Brazilian crew due to the refusal of three Aerolineas pilots to operate the ferry flight, claiming that the aircraft's return, along with another E-190 LV-GAQ (c/n 19000275) slated to leave the fleet before year's end, indicated an intent on the part of management to start downsizing the company in preparation for the carrier's planned privatization by the Argentine government.   

Aerolineas' senior management claimed that the accusations were unfounded, noting that three 737 MAX 8's have been added to the airline's fleet so far in 2024 and proceeded to fire the three pilots who refused the flight due to damages that management claimed to be US$ 26,000 (apparently per day) possibly amounting up to US$ 800,000, resulting from penalties corresponding to the late return of the aircraft. 

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 on lease in 2016.    

FLEET STATUS:

Aerolineas Argentinas' current fleet of E-190's consists of the following 25 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-GAQ - 275 - 16/04/2016 - Remarks: Originally delivered to Republic Airways on 27/08/2009 as N164HQ.  On lease to Aerolineas Argentinas.
• 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:

https://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas.htm
https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/aerolineas-argentinas-retiro-por-primera-vez-un-embraer-e190-de-su-flota/

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