Thursday, April 28, 2016

LATAM Aircraft Color Schemes Revealed - Will appear on Current Airlines of LAN & TAM Group

LAN, LAN Argentina, LAN Peru and TAM, all airlines of the LATAM group that currently fly to Argentina and Uruguay, will soon fly under that one name and in the new color scheme revealed earlier today. 

It features a fuselage that is nearly all-white with all capital "LATAM" titles and a double sideways "V" logo above the windows in the front.  The tail features interlaced blue and pinkish red stripes with the blue sweeping down to the lower rear fuselage as illustrated here:


LATAM 787-9 over Rio de Janeiro.  (Photo: LATAM)   


LATAM A350 over the Andes.  (Photo: LATAM)

Details and commentary: 

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2016/04/28/latam-unveils-its-new-unified-livery/

http://www.airlinereporter.com/2016/04/latam-releases-new-livery-branding/

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/latam-airlines-group-premieres-the-global-latam-brand-with-new-aircraft-uniform-and-airport-designs-300259422.html

Look for this new color scheme at many airports in Argentina plus Montevideo (MVD) in Uruguay!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas & Austral New Routes & More Flights - OVERVIEW


Aerolineas Argentinas and sister carrier Austral Lineas Aereas are in the process of adding new service, mostly on domestic routes in Argentina.

The airlines are pursuing a three-pronged route strategy:

1) More Domestic Feeder Flights to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Hub 

Aerolineas and Austral plan to increase feeder flights from the "interior" of Argentina to their Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) international hub, thereby strengthening their South American and intercontinental networks.

2) More Direct Flights between Argentine Cities without connecting through Buenos Aires

Traveling from one city to another in Argentina usually involves connecting through Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), which can be very inconvenient, when flying between two northern cities, for example.  Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral have been seeking to alleviate this situation with new point-to-point flights within Argentina.

3) Cordoba (COR) and Rosario (ROS) "Focus Cities"

Special emphasis for new service between "interior" points is being placed on Cordoba (COR), Argentina's second-largest city with 1.2 million people, and Rosario, Argentina's third-largest city with a population of 900,000.

Cordoba (COR) has substantial international service, including to Santiago (SCL), Lima (LIM), Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and Panama City (PTY) but, until recently, has had little point-to-point domestic service other than to the Buenos Aires airports.   

Rosario also has significant international service, including to Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) with new service due to be added to Lima (LIM) by LAN Peru and Panama City (PTY) by COPA shortly.  However, as with Cordoba, most of Rosario's Argentine domestic flights were to Buenos Aires, until recently. 

Between new service added in recent months and also to be added in the near future, both Cordoba (COR) and Rosario (ROS) will have much more nonstop point-to-point service than at any time in recent years. 

Four more posts will follow this one in the coming days outlining specific route additions and frequency increases. 
    
Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160414/avn-160414.html

Sunday, April 17, 2016

FLEET UPDATE: Austral's 23rd ERJ-190, LV-GAQ, arrived at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 16Apr16

Austral Lineas Aereas' 23rd ERJ-190, LV-GAQ (c/n 275), flew from San Jose (SJO) Costa Rica via Lima (LIM) to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 16Apr16.   

The aircraft underwent nearly three months of maintenance and modification work at the Costa Rican MRO COOPESA, including installation of the "latest updates" (software?), inspection and testing of engines and other systems, and application of Spanish-language labels and signage throughout the plane.  LV-GAQ had also undergone some work at the Griffiss International Airport (RME) in Rome, New York after leaving the Republic Airways fleet, its previous operator. 

LV-GAQ (c/n 275), was originally due to be delivered to Baboo Airlines of Switzerland, registered as HB-JQI and was even seen being prepared for delivery that way on 15May09.  However, the Swiss carrier did not take the aircraft and it went instead to Republic Airways on 27Aug09 where it flew as N164HQ in the colors of Republic subsidiaries Midwest Connect and Frontier Airlines until it was stored in November 2015.           

LV-GAQ is the first used ERJ-190 to join the Austral fleet with all 22 previous aircraft entering the fleet having been delivered directly from the factory. Another former Republic ERJ-190, LV-GBK (c/n 291) is due to join Austral shortly.  

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2016/04/llego-otro-embraer-190-para-austral.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2016/02/dos-embraer-proximos-al-arribo.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-e190-275.htm

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas has taken delivery of four new 737-800's since October 2015

LV-FXQ taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on the late summer morning of 17Mar16.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

LV-GGK taxis in at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) later the same morning.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

Aerolineas Argentinas has taken delivery of four factory-new 737-800's since October 2015. 

737-8MB, LV-FXQ (c/n 43881/5539) first flew on 05Aug15 with Aerolineas formally taking delivery of the aircraft on 19Aug15.  It arrived at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) from San Salvador (SSA) on its delivery flight on 23Oct15. It is on lease from ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China).

737-8MB, LV-FYK (c/n 43882/5546) first flew on 15Aug15 with Aerolineas formally taking delivery of the aircraft on 28Aug15.  It arrived in Argentina on 31Oct15 and is also on lease from ICBC 

737-8SH, LV-GFQ (c/n 41338/5735) first flew on 07Jan16 with the aircraft arriving at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on its delivery flight on 23Jan16.  It is on lease from Air Lease Corporation. 

737-8SH, LV-GGK (c/n 41339/5774) first flew on 05Feb16 with the aircraft departing Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 17Feb16 via Caracas (CCS) arriving in Argentina the following day, 18Feb16.  It is also on lease from Air Lease Corporation. 

With these deliveries, Aerolineas Argentinas has a 40-strong fleet of 737NG's, comprised of 18 737-700's and 22 737-800's.  More 737-800 deliveries are scheduled while 737-700 retirements will continue.  

Sources:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2015/10/roll-out-n-298-fleet-list.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-43881.htm
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/10/otro-boeing-viene-al-pais.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-43882.htm
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160128/avn-160128.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2016/01/buena-nueva-llego-uno-nuevo.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-41338.htm
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2016/02/nuevo-avion-para-aerolineas-argentinas.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-41339.htm
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas.htm

Sunday, April 10, 2016

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas returned four 737-700's to lessor GECAS in late 2015 / early 2016

LV-CBG at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 15Aug14, approximately one year before it left AR's fleet.  (Phil Perry Photo)


LV-CAM at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 20Sep10.  (Phil Perry Photo)


LV-CBS at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 20Sep10.  (Phil Perry Photo)


LV-CCR taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 22Jan11, a beautiful sunny summer day.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Aerolineas Argentinas returned four 737-700's (all pictured above) to lessor GECAS in late 2015 and early 2016.

All are 737-73V models that were delivered to EasyJet in 2000/2001 passing on to Aerolineas Argentinas in 2009/2010 and all four have been or will be delivered soon to Southwest Airlines of the USA.  Aerolineas will be returning many 737-700's to lessors as they come off lease in the next couple of years with a total of ten of them going to Southwest.  

Return flight details:

LV-CBG (c/n 30235/672) left the airline's fleet on its return flight to the USA on 10Nov15 where it was stored for a couple of months prior to delivery to Southwest Airlines on 08Jan16 as N7838A.  
LV-CAM (c/n 30243/919), departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 30Nov15. GECAS will reportedly deliver the aircraft to Southwest Airlines registered as N7839A soon.

LV-CBS (c/n 30236/715), departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 17Dec15 and was delivered by GECAS to Southwest Airlines on 29Jan16 as N7840A.

LV-CCR (c/n 30237/730), left Argentina on 29Jan16 and will join Southwest as N7842A soon.

Al of the delivery flights apparently followed a Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Caracas (CCS) - Miami (MIA) - Boeing Paine Field (PAE) routing. 

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/11/aerolineas-argentinas-primer-boeing.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/11/aerolineas-se-fue-el-lv-cam.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/12/aerolineas-argentinas-otra-devolucion.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2016/01/devolucion-del-lv-ccr.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-30235.htm
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-30243.htm
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-30236.htm
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-30237.htm