Monday, October 30, 2017

PHOTO LINK: Aerolineas Argentinas first 737 MAX 8, LV-GVD, painted in company colors


Aerolineas Argentinas' first 737 MAX 8 has been painted in full company colors and is soon to start flight testing prior to delivery to the airline in mid-November with an expected arrival in Argentina in about three weeks' time.

Aerolineas will be the first carrier in Latin America to take delivery of  a 737 MAX series aircraft having converted some existing orders for the 737-800 to the MAX last year.  In addition to the first aircraft, LV-GVD (c/n 64207/6661), another example, LV-GVE (c/n 64208/ line number ?), is scheduled to be delivered to the Argentine state carrier in December with three more to follow in 2018.

Photo by Huy Do in Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cpthuy/24105384628/

Source:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/10/primer-max-aerolineas-argentinas-esta-pintado-llega-fines-noviembre/

Friday, October 27, 2017

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) 1960 Terminal & North Parking Lot to be demolished for New Aircraft Parking Positions


With the imminent opening of the new control tower atop of Buenos Aires Aeroparque's Terminal A, the old control tower which is mounted on the old 1960 Terminal C (currently used only for offices) will be decommissioned making way for its demolition.  

The adjacent North Parking Lot will be closed, which together with the space cleared by the removal of the old terminal, will allow new ramp space to be constructed with parking positions for up to four aircraft.

In a previous posting from 06Jul17: AEP - Old Terminal + Parking Lot = New Ramp Space the editor of this blog reported that the existing Terminal B structure would be extended northwards with five new jetways once the parking lot closed (see diagram above) but it appears that there are no plans for any such construction in the near future.   

In addition, the military sector, which is currently southeast of the terminals will be relocated to make room for 2-3 more parking positions for commercial aircraft.  

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170921/avn-170921.html

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Flybondi reserves registrations for its first 4 737-800's


CORRECTION (updated 02Nov17): 

Flybondi's first aircraft will be 737-8AS/WL (c/n 33821/1698) to be registered LV-HKS

ORIGINAL POSTING:

According to the blog Linea ALA, Flybondi has reserved the registrations for its first four 737-800's, seemingly indicating that the airline is moving steadily forward in its plans to start service.

The first 737-800 that Flybondi will take delivery of is reportedly 737-86J (c/n 28071/133) which is scheduled to be registered as LV-HFR.  It was originally delivered to Air Berlin (Germany) in 1998 and is coming from Sun Express (Turkey).

The aircraft to follow are (in no specific order):

737-8BK/WL (c/n 33029/1945) to be registered LV-HFQ.  It was originally delivered to AJet (Cyprus) in 2006 and is coming from Sunwing Airlines (Canada).

* 737-8AS/WL (c/n 33821/1698) to be registered LV-HKS.  It was originally delivered to Ryanair (Ireland) in 2005 and is coming from Nok Air (Thailand).

* 737-88L (c/n 61300/6585) to be registered LV-HKN.  Curiously, it was only recently Nok Air (Thailand) on 19Sep17 and is apparently being passed on directly to Flybondi.

Sources:

Monday, October 23, 2017

Andes paints "Vamos Argentina" logo on its second 737-800, LV-HHK

POST UPDATE ON 26NOV17:  Andes Lineas Aereas 737-800, LV-HHK (c/n 30567/ 761), sporting a special "Vamos Argentina" sticker at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Nov17.  (Phil Perry Photo)   

Andes Lineas Aereas, a privately-owned Argentine carrier with a fleet of approx. five MD-80 series aircraft plus two 737-800's which were delivered earlier this year, painted a "Vamos Argentina" (Let's Go Argentina) sticker on its second 737-800, LV-HHK (c/n 30567/761), in support of the national football/soccer team's efforts to qualify for the Football/Soccer World Cup finals in Russia 2018.

The aircraft flew a charter with the Argentine national team from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Guayaquil (GYE) on 08Oct17 for its match with Ecuador on 10Oct17, which it won 3-1, qualifying Argentina for the finals in Russia next year.   

The sticker will hopefully stay on the aircraft until after the tournament, which will conclude on 15Jul18 in Moscow.

Additional Photos:

Friday, October 20, 2017

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Avianca Argentina starting scheduled service on 21Nov17 from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Rosario (ROS)


After flying several charters for Argentina's two most important professional football/soccer teams, Boca Juniors and River Plate, in recent months, Avianca Argentina has started selling tickets on its website for its first scheduled flights:

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) eff 21Nov17

To be operated 12x/weekly with ATR-72-600's.

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) eff 28Nov17

To be operated 2x/daily with ATR-72-600's increasing to 4x/daily on weekdays and 3x/daily on weekends eff 25Dec17 for the summer season. 

Airfares start at AR$ 1156 (US$ 66) round-trip to Rosario (ROS) and AR$ 1496 (US$ 84) round-trip to Mar del Plata (MDQ).

Avianca Argentina earlier this year took delivery of the first two of 12 ATR-72-600's that it has on order, LV-GUG (c/n 1343) and LV-GUH (c/n 1395). 

Sources:

Friday, October 13, 2017

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Flybondi to start operating first route Cordoba (COR) - Iguazu (IGR) eff 15Nov17


Flybondi CEO Julian Cook announced on 25Sep17 that the new Argentine Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) will start service flying from Cordoba (COR) to Iguazu Falls (IGR) 2x/weekly on 15Nov17 using the sole 737-800 that it expects to take delivery of on 01Nov17.      

Mendoza (MDZ) to Iguazu Falls (IGR), possibly via Cordoba (COR), is expected to start at approximately the same time.  

Although Flybondi announced that its main operational base would be at El Palomar (EPA) airport (which is also an Argentine Air Force base) just to the west of the city of Buenos Aires, the airline has also signed agreements with the provinces of Cordoba, Corrientes and Misiones (details not revealed) to provide air service from the main cities of these regions to Buenos Aires.   

Flights out of the city of Corrientes (CNQ) to El Palomar (EPA) are planned to start in January 2018 7x/weekly with long-range plans for the carrier to fly the route 17x/weekly by 2021.        

Service from the Misiones city of Posadas (PSS) to El Palomar (EPA) is scheduled for January 2018 on a 1x/daily basis.

The above routes would depend on El Palomar (EPA) being authorized and ready for airline operations by January, which would seem optimistic.  The flights would presumably be routed to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) as an alternative until El Palomar (EPA) is ready.

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/flybondi-paso-por-misiones.html
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/09/flybondi-despegaria-mitad-noviembre-desde-cordoba/
http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/09/ultimas-novedades-de-flybondi-desde-corrientes-y-misiones/

Friday, October 6, 2017

FLEET UPDATE: Fuerza Aerea Argentina 737-500 T-04 returns to VIP service

Republica Argentina 737-5H6, T-04, (c/n 26456/2527) lands at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 15Aug14.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

Fuerza Aerea Argentina 737-5H6, T-04 (c/n 26456/2527), has returned to service flying for the Agrupacion Aerea Presidencial (presidential transport group) after a couple of years grounded at El Palomar Air Base near Buenos Aires undergoing heavy maintenance, including both engines being changed.  

The aircraft was originally delivered to Malaysian Airlines System in 1993 continuing on to fly for Air France in 1999 before joining Aerolineas Argentinas as LV-AYE in 2004 and then the Argentine Air Force in April 2014, after spending two years in storage following its withdrawal from service by the national carrier in 2012.  

T-04 was intended to replace the country's primary presidential transport 757 T-01 that had been due for very expensive maintenance leading to its grounding.  However, T-04 soon needed maintenance work too, which was recently completed at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) followed by several test flights and the aircraft resuming its governmental VIP transport role on 29Sep17 when it flew Argentine President Mauricio Macri and other government officials from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to San Luis (LUQ) and Mendoza (MDZ).   

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/un-dia-volvio-el-t-04.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=t-04