AIRPORT PROFILE: Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Airlines, Aircraft & Destinations - Week of 18Jun18 - 24Jun18

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE)

Total Weekly Departures 18Jun18 - 24Jun18 

Scheduled flights are noted according to online sources.  

Blog editor checked some flights to verify actual operations and discovered some variations, as noted below.  

Domestic

* Bariloche (BRC)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x 737-800 (daily)

* Cordoba (COR)

   Austral - 21x E190 (3x daily)

* El Calafate (FTE)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 6X 737-800

* Iguazu (IGR)

   Austral - 7x E190 (daily)

* Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD)
   Austral - 4x E190

* Mar del Plata (MDQ) - Ushuaia (USH)
   Austral - 3x E190

* Mendoza (MDZ)
   Austral - 14x E190 (2x daily)

* Rio Grande (RGA)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 3x 737-700
   Austral - 4x E190

* Rosario (ROS)
   Austral - 7x E190 (daily)

* Salta (SLA)
   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x 737-800 (daily)

International

Latin America - Brazil

* Belo Horizonte (CNF)

    Azul - 14x A320 (2x daily)

* Brasilia (BSB)

   LATAM Brasil - 2x A320, 3X A321

* Florianopolis (FLN)

   Azul - 5x A320  

* Fortaleza (FOR)

   Gol - 1x 737-800 (Sat only) 

* Joao Pessoa (JPA)

   Gol - 1x 737-800 (Sat only)

* Manaos (MAO)

    Gol - 1x 737-800 (Sun only)

* Natal (NAT)

   Gol - 1x 737-800 (Sat only)

* Navegantes (NVT)

   Azul - 4x E195 

* Porto Alegre (POA)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x 737-800 (daily)
   Austral - 7x E190 (daily)

* Porto Seguro (BPS)

   Gol - 1x 737-800 (Sat only)

* Recife (REC)
   Gol - 2x 737-800 
   LATAM Brasil - 1x A320 (Sun only)

* Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG)
   Aerolineas Argentinas - 20x 737-800 (3x daily), 1x 737 MAX 8 apparent equipment sub
   Gol - 10x 737-800
   LATAM Brasil - 2x A321
   LATAM Paraguay - 7x A320 (daily) 

* Salvador de Bahia (SSA)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 3x 737-800
   Gol - 1x 737-800
   LATAM Brasil - 1x A320 (Sun only)

* Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU)
   Austral - 7x E190 (daily)
   Gol - 15x 737-800
   LATAM Brasil - 16x A320, 12x A321

Latin America - Other

* Asuncion (ASU)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 4x 737-700
   Austral - 3x E190
   Amaszonas Paraguay - 6x CRJ-200 
   LATAM Paraguay - 7x A320 (daily)

* Bogota (BOG) 
   Aerolineas Argentinas - 4x A330-200
   Avianca - 7x 787-8 (daily)

* Cancun (CUN)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 5x A330-200
   

* Caracas (CCS)

   Estelar - 3x A340-300

* Cayo Coco (CCC) - Havana (HVA)

   Cubana - 1x IL-96 (Mon only)

* Lima (LIM) 

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x 737-800 (daily)
   Avianca - 5x A320, 3x A321, 6x A330 (apparently -200 series)
   LATAM Argentina - 7x A320 (daily) 
   LATAM Peru - 14x 767-300 (2x daily)

* Lima (LIM) - Quito (UIO)

   LATAM Ecuador - 7x A319 (daily)

* Mexico City (MEX)
   Aeromexico - 4x 787-8, 3x 787-9

* Panama City (PTY)
   Copa - 21x 737-800 (3x daily)

* Punta Cana (PUJ)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x 737 MAX 8 (daily)

* Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x 737-800 (daily)

   Boliviana - 5x 737-800, 2x 767-300

* Santiago (SCL)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 1x 737 MAX 8, 11x 737-800
   KLM - 6x 777-300
   LATAM Argentina - 7x A320 (daily)
   LATAM Airlines - 10x A320, 16x A321 
   Sky - 14x A319 (2x daily)

Europe

* Amsterdam (AMS)
   KLM - 6x 777-300

* Barcelona (BCN)
   Level - 4x A330-200

* Frankfurt (FRA)
   Lufthansa - 7x 747-8 (daily)

* London-Gatwick (LGW)

   Norwegian - 4x 787-9

* London-Heathrow (LHR)

   British Airways - 7x 777-200 (daily)

* Madrid (MAD)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 3x A330-200, 7x A340-300
   Air Europa - 6x 787-9
   Iberia - 14x A340-600 (2x daily)

* Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG)

   Air France - 7x 777-200 (daily)

* Rome-Fiumicino (FCO)
   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x A330-200 (daily)
   Alitalia - 7x 777-200 (daily)

* Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Istanbul (IST)

   Turkish - 7x 777-300 (daily)

United States & Canada

* Atlanta (ATL)

   Delta - 7x A330-300 (daily)

* Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW)
   American - 7x 777-200 (daily)

* Houston-Intercontinental (IAH)
   United - 7x 777-200 (daily)

* Miami (MIA)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 14x A330-200 (2x daily)
   American - 7x 777-200 (daily), 7x 777-300 (daily)
   LATAM Argentina - 8x 767-300

* Newark (EWR)

   United - 7x 767-400 (daily)

* New York-Kennedy (JFK)

   Aerolineas Argentinas - 7x A330-200 (daily)
   American - 7x 777-200 (daily)

* Toronto (YYZ)

   Air Canada - 3x 787-9

Middle East, Africa, Asia & Oceania

* Auckland (AKL)
   Air New Zealand - 5x 777-200

* Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - Dubai (DXB)
   Emirates - 7x 777-300ER (daily)

* Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Addis Ababa (ADD)

   Ethiopian - 7x 787-8 (daily)

* Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Doha (DOH)

   Qatar - 7x 777-200LR (daily)

Freighter Service

Domestic

None

International

Latin America - Brazil

* Manaos (MAO)

   LATAM Brasil Cargo - 10x, apparently with 767-300F  

* Sao Paulo Viracopos (VCP)

   LATAM Brasil Cargo - 4x, apparently with 767-300F

Latin America - Other

* Bogota (BOG) 

   Avianca Cargo - 2x, apparently with A330F

* Lima (LIM)

   Avianca Cargo - 1x with undetermined type 

* Montevideo (MVD)

   Aeromas - 8x apparently with Cessna Caravans, possibly Embraer Bandeirante

* Santiago (SCL)

   LATAM Brasil Cargo - 5x, apparently with 767-300F

   LATAM Chile Cargo - 1x 767-300F, 1x 777-200F

Europe

* Frankfurt (FRA)
   Lufthansa - 1x 777-200F (Sat only) operated by D-AALA Aerologic

United States & Canada

* Miami (MIA)
   UPS - 3x, apparently with 767-300F

Combinations

* Dakar (DKR) - Frankfurt (FRA)
   Lufthansa - 1x MD-11F

* Quito (UIO) - Amsterdam (AMS)
   Martinair Holland - 2x 747-400F apparently with KLM aircraft

* Quito (UIO) - Doha (DOH)
   Qatar Cargo - 3x 777-FDZ

* Santiago (SCL) - Miami (MIA)
   UPS - 1x with undetermined aircraft type

Sources:

www.flightstats.com
www.aa2000.com.ar

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas A340-300 LV-CSD finally leaves Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE)

Aerolineas Argentinas A340-313X, LV-CSD (c/n 123), pictured above, was retired by the airline in December 2017.  (Phil Perry Collection)

Aerolineas Argentinas A340-300, LV-CSD (c/n 123), which the carrier retired from service in December 2017, finally left Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Lourdes (LDE) on 14Jun16, arriving in France the following  day.  For now, the aircraft is parked at Lourdes (LDE) with no known future operator or anticipated change of registration. 

LV-CSD was delivered to Singapore Airlines in 1996, went on to fly for Cathay Pacific in 2001 and joined Aerolineas Argentinas on 22Dec11. 

Source:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com/2018/06/se-fue-otro-airbus-340.html

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas 5th 737 MAX 8, LV-HKW, arrived at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) tonight 09Jun18

Aerolineas Argentinas' fifth 737 MAX 8, LV-HKW (c/n 44296/6926), arrived at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) tonight at 20:45 hours on its delivery flight from Boeing Field (BFI) via Punta Cana (PUJ).

Aerolineas Argentinas has six more MAX series aircraft on order, for a total of 11, with the option of choosing which model for the remaining six to be delivered, MAX 7, MAX 8, MAX 200, MAX 9 or MAX 10, as noted by the leading British aviation publication, Flight International:  

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aerolineas-argentinas-receives-third-737-max-8-445268/

Sources:

Reader Matias Muse
https://www.flightradar24.com/ARG1087/11ab431b
https://aviacionline.com/2018/06/fotogaleria-el-quinto-boeing-737-max-8-lv-hkw-de-aerolineas-argentinas/

ROUTE UPDATE: Avianca Argentina operating Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) - Reconquista (RCQ) eff 17Jul18

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) - Reconquista (RCQ)  - eff 17Jul18 - 4x/weekly

Avianca Argentina will start flying to Reconquista (RCQ) on 17Jul18, the fifth city on its route network, joining Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Mar del Plata (MDQ), Rosario (ROS), and Santa Fe (SFE) (flights to the latter starting on 06Jun18).

The airline's ATR-72-600 fleet, currently consisting of two aircraft with a third example expected to join the carrier soon, will operate on a Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) - Reconquista (RCQ) round-trip routing 4x/weekly. 

Avianca Argentina has been expecting more ATR-72-600's to join the two that it took delivery of in early 2017 for some time now with A320's supposed to have also joined the fleet in recent months for international flights, but the carrier, which started service on 21Nov17, has been growing much slower than anticipated. 
  
Source:

https://vuelosyspotters.com/2018/05/31/avianca-argentina-volara-entre-rosario-y-reconquista/

PHOTO GALLERY + HISTORICAL INTEREST: Six Jetstream 32's operated by Macair

Macair, the airline purchased by Avianca Argentina in 2016 to rapidly access the Argentine passenger airline market, operated six Jetstream 32 aircraft in its history.  As a side note, Avianca Argentina did not start flying regularly scheduled commercial service until November 2017, which would bring into question the reasons behind its purchase of Macair instead of starting its own operation.

Four Macair Jetstream 32's flew charters from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Iguazu (IGR) on the morning of 06Feb11; LV-ZOW, LV-ZPW, LV-ZPZ and LV-ZRL as pictured below:     

Macair Jetsream 32 LV-ZOW (c/n 869). (Phil Perry Photo) 

  

LV-ZPW (c/n 861).  As far as the editor of this blog knows, this was the only Macair Jetstream 32 to carry Macair Jet titles.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

LV-ZPZ (c/n 931) wore Aerochaco titles reflecting Macair's wet-lease subservices on behalf of the carrier that represented the Argentina province of Chaco, mostly to its capital Resistencia.  These titles were eventually removed, however.  (Phil Perry Photo)

LV-ZRL (c/n 928) at Aeroparque with the early morning sun illuminating its fuselage from the rear.  (Phil Perry Photo)

The two other Jetstream 32's to fly for Macair were LV-ZSB and LV-ZST:


LV-ZSB (c/n 942) at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) flying for Aerovip under the Arg Express brand in December 2001.  The aircraft joined the Macair fleet in June 2007.  (Phil Perry Collection)

LV-ZST (c/n 941) taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 11Jul17. This aircraft was in service with AeroVip / ARG Express on 20Jan03 when it struck ground equipment at Aeroparque, damaging its left propeller, fuselage and engine fairing.  The plane was apparently repaired and re-entered service with Aerovip in 2002.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

LV-ZOW and LV-ZPW first flew in 1989 with LV-ZPZ, LV-ZRL, LV-ZSB and LV-ZST all having their first flight in 1991.  All six aircraft flew for American Eagle with some of them operating for other carriers in North America before going on to Argentina in 1999/2000 to fly for Aerovip under several brands, including Aerolineas Argentinas Express, LAPA Vip and ARG Express, finally joining Macair in 2006/2007/2008.  

The aircraft were successively retired from Macair service, especially after  Avianca Argentina bought Macair's Air Operator Certificate in early 2016. 

For a history and profile of Macair's operations, including subservices for Aerochaco and Lineas Aereas Entre Rios, please visit these previous postings in this blog:

Argentina Airline News - ROUTE UPDATES: Macair Jetstream 32P Regional Operations

Argentina Airline News - ROUTE UPDATE: Macair flew Jetstreams in Paraguay as Ad Maiora Lineas Aereas in early 2013

Argentina Airline News - ROUTE UPDATES: Macair to fly Resistencia (RES) to Asuncion (ASU) & Internal Paraguayan Routes

Argentina Airline News - Macair Operations for LAER (Lineas Aereas Entre Rios)

Argentina Airline News - Macair Operations for Aerochaco - Profile & Photos

Sources:

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=lv-zow
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=lv-zpw
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=lv-zpz
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=lv-zrl
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=lv-zsb
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=lv-zst
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian

ROUTE UPDATES: 50% of Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) international flights move to Ezeiza (EZE) (except Uruguayan flights)

As announced in July 2017, all international flights operating from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) (with the exception of flights to Uruguay) will be transferred to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) in two phases, effective in 2018 and 2019.  

See posting from 18Jul17: 

ROUTE UPDATES: Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) international flights to move to Ezeiza (EZE) (except Uruguayan flights)

The first phase commenced on 03May18 with the total number of international flights to Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay operating from Aeroparque being reduced from 222 to 112 operations weekly.  Reductions by airline in terms of weekly flights: 

Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral - 120 to 60 

LATAM Argentina / Brasil / Chile - 70 to 35 

Gol Linhas Aereas - 21 to 11 

Amaszonas Paraguay - 11 to 6 

Aerolineas Argentinas transferred its flights bound for Porto Alegre (POA), Río de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), Salvador de Bahía (SSA) and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) from Aeroparque to Ezeiza.

Aerolineas will continue to operate from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Asuncion (ASU), Curitiba (CWB), Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), and Santiago (SCL) until 2019. 

The remaining 50% of international flights by all carriers are due to be moved on 01Apr19.

The purpose of the big move is to free up ramp space and to a certain extent air operations capacity at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) for the increasing number of Argentine domestic flights being added by carriers under the present government's policy of doubling the number of Argentine air travelers in the foreseeable future.        

Sources:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/05/arranco-la-desregionalizacion-de-aeroparque/  including ANAC press release
https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/la-desinternacionalizacion-de-aeroparque-asi-lo-implementaria-cada-aerolinea2/#comment-49354
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/05/popurri-de-noticias-aeronauticas/

ROUTE UPDATE: Air Europa increasing Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - Madrid (MAD) flights to 5 and then 7 weekly

* Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - Madrid (MAD) - eff 04Jul18 -increase to 5x/weekly - eff June 2019 to 1x/daily

Air Europa started flying from Madrid (MAD) to Asuncion (ASU) on 16Dec15 on a 2x/weekly basis using A330-200's, adding on Cordoba (COR) and increasing frequency to 4x/weekly in December 2016 with a planned further increase to 5x/weekly on 04Jul18 and daily flights in June 2019. 

Presumably, the idea of including both Asuncion (ASU) and Cordoba (COR) on the route was originally intended to assure profitable load factors on the transatlantic operation but 25% of the passengers traveling on this flight fly between Asuncion (ASU) and Cordoba (COR), which would probably be about 50+ passengers, a seemingly high number for a secondary route and probably a pleasant surprise to the airline. 

Source:

https://aviacionline.com/2018/05/air-europa-operara-diariamente-entre-cordoba-asuncion-y-madrid/

ROUTE UPDATES: Amaszonas, Amaszonas Paraguay, Amaszonas Uruguay

* Montevideo (MVD) - Cordoba (COR) - eff 27Sep17 - 3x/weekly

This route started approx. one month later than originally planned.  Amaszonas Uruguay was scheduled to take on a third CRJ-200 for route expansion but managed to start this new service with its existing fleet of two CRJ-200's; CX-SDU (c/n 7209) and CX-LVA (c/n 7561), not having taken delivery of a third aircraft to this day.

* Asuncion (ASU) - Corrientes (CNQ) - eff 30Nov17 - 3x/weekly

Operated with Paraguayan-registered CRJ-200's from the fleet of parent airline Amaszonas Linea Aerea of Bolivia.  However, this service is scheduled to be discontinued soon and might already have ceased. 

* Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) - Cordoba (COR)  - eff 13Dec17 - 3x/weekly

Operated with CRJ-200's from the fleet of 11 of the type belonging to the parent Amaszonas Linea Aerea of Bolivia.   

* Asuncion (ASU) - Punta del Este (PDP) - eff 26Dec17 - 3x/weekly

Service that was scheduled on a seasonal summer basis that is presumed to have taken place (unconfirmed by blog editor).   Operated with Paraguayan-registered CRJ-200's from the fleet of parent airline Amaszonas Linea Aerea of Bolivia. 

* Asuncion (ASU) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - eff 02May18 - 6x/weekly

Operated with Paraguayan-registered CRJ-200's from the fleet of parent airline Amaszonas Linea Aerea of Bolivia. 

Sources:

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275256/amaszonas-adds-cordoba-service-in-2h17/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171109/avn-171109.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171019/avn-171019.html
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/278373/amaszonas-files-proposed-asuncion-buenos-aires-ezeiza-scheduled-from-may-2018/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATES: Estelar to Caracas (CCS) + Gol to Porto Alegre (POA)

* Caracas (CCS) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - eff 14Dec17 - 3x/Weekly

This airline started service between Caracas (CCS) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) using a single A340-300 wet-leased from Hi-Fly Malta. The route was previously flown by Conviasa, the state-owned flag carrier of Venezuela.

Estelar is a privately-owned Venezuelan airline that was founded in 2009 and currently flies one leased A340-300 plus three 737-300's and two 737-200's (not necessarily all active) from Caracas (CCS) to several domestic points plus Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Lima (LIM), Panama City (PTY), Santiago (SCL) and Madrid (MAD) internationally.  

* Montevideo (MVD) - Porto Alegre (POA) - eff 16Dec17 - 1x/Weekly

Operated by 737-800's.  Resumption of a route previously operated by Gol.

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/12/llegoa-ezeiza-aerolineas-estelar.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171221/avn-171221.html http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Estelar%20Latinoamerica.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelar_Latinoamerica 
http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/otras-noticias/item/25069-gol-retomara-vuelos-directos-entre-montevideo-y-porto-alegre

ROUTE UPDATES: Avianca & Avianca Argentina

* Cordoba (COR) - Lima (LIM) - eff 17Nov17 - APPROVAL REJECTED

Avianca had planned to start this service using E190's but approval of the flight was rejected, which came as a surprise given the current Argentine national government's apparent policy of approving almost all new proposed airline service.  LATAM Peru already flies this route so maybe the government considered that flights by both Avianca and LATAM Peru to their respective hubs in Lima (LIM) would be too much capacity on one route for a medium-sized city like Cordoba.  

* Mendoza (MDZ) - Lima (LIM) - eff 01Apr18 - 1x/Daily

Flights operated with A320's.  This is Avianca's third route from Argentina with the other two being Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Bogota (BOG), operated 1x/daily with 787's, and Ezeiza to Lima (LIM), flown 2x/daily using A321's and A330's.  

* Cordoba (COR) - Rosario (ROS) - APPROVAL REJECTED

Avianca Argentina included this route linking Argentina's second and third-largest cities in its requests made at the route hearings in September 2017 but it was rejected.  Apparent reason given was insufficient traffic on past scheduled flights on the route, which made the request subject to a law prohibiting services on lightly-traveled routes.    

It should be noted that Avianca and Avianca Argentina are two separate entities owned by the same parent company, Synergy Group. 

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2018/01/avianca-volara-entre-mendoza-y-lima/
http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/novedades-aerocomerciales-en-cordoba_28.html
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/05/popurri-de-noticias-aeronauticas/

ROUTE UPDATE: Flybondi to request international routes from El Palomar (EPA) and other Argentine points

Flybondi reportedly intends to request international routes for start up later this year subject to the acquisition of additional aircraft and the approval of foreign governments.  However, the first step would be for the Argentine government to hold route hearings, which, if they happen, would reportedly likely take place as soon as June of this year. 

Flybondi apparently would apply for 200 new routes to add to the 85 route approvals that it already has from previous route hearings, 12 of which the company is already operating with 4-5 more due to be added in June/July and more in the coming months / years.  Airlines normally request many more routes than they intend to operate, mainly to maximize the number of options available to themselves when making expansion plans.    

The international routes that Flybondi would like to request include El Palomar (EPA) to Asuncion (ASU), Punta del Este (PDP) and Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG)  plus Cordoba (COR), El Palomar (EPA), Iguazu (IGR), Mendoza (MDZ) and Salta (SLA) to Santiago (SCL).

Sources:    

https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2129692-flybondi-preve-sumar-este-ano-vuelos-low-cost-a-punta-del-este-y-rio

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180510/avn-180510.html

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral likely to order best financial deal between 737 MAX 8 and A320neo

Austral E190, LV-CPJ (c/n 463), taxis in at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 29Mar18.  Austral's E190's are expected to start leaving the fleet later this year. (Phil Perry Photo) 

Aviacion News reports that the announced four-way competition between aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer for Aerolineas Argentinas' order of replacement aircraft for its Austral division's 26-strong E190 fleet is really a two-way affair between Airbus' A320neo family of aircraft and Boeing's 737 MAX series, given that the airline group has repeatedly stated in recent times that the type chosen will have approx. 186 seats.

Both aircraft are comparable technically and from a performance standpoint, with Boeing's 737 MAX series considered to have the advantage given Aerolineas Argentinas' existing fleet of 31 737-800's and four 737 MAX 8's and the commonality that additional MAX series aircraft would bring.  According to Aviacion News the eventual winner of the contract (expected to be decided in June) might be the manufacturer that offers the best financing package, either through purchase of the aircraft, leasing through an aircraft lessor or a combination of both.  In any case, the winning manufacturer is expected to take Austral's existing fleet of 24-owned and two-leased E190's as part of the deal.  The first of the winning order of aircraft is expected to be delivered to Austral by the end of this year.  

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180510/avn-180510.html

FLEET UPDATE: Flybondi's fourth 737-800, LV-HQY, arrived at Cordoba (COR) at 7:05pm

Flybondi's fourth 737-800, LV-HQY (c/n 34406/1852), arrived at Cordoba (COR) on its delivery flight at 7:05pm this evening.  

The aircraft was originally delivered to Turkish Airlines in 2006 where it flew until it was stored in November 2017.  It was turned over to Flybondi on 12Apr18 and flown to Montpellier France (MPL) where its interior was modified into Flybondi's 189-seat configuration.  Yesterday, 11May18, LV-HQY departed Montpellier (MPL) on its delivery flight to Cordoba (COR) via Sal Island Cape Verde (SID) and Salvador de Bahia (SSA).  

LV-HQY will add additional capacity to Flybondi's fleet allowing the carrier to introduce new service to Posadas (PSS) on 15May18 and Bahia Blanca (BHI) on 30May18.

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2018/05/el-cuarto-737-800-lv-hqy-de-flybondi-esta-en-vuelo-hacia-la-argentina/
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/lv-hqy
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-34406.htm

FLEET UPDATE: LATAM Argentina to transfer two A320's to Chile, reportedly on a temporary basis

LATAM Argentina A320-233, LV-GLP (c/n 1355), taxis in at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 29Mar18.  Two such aircraft will leave the LATAM Argentina fleet, at least temporarily, to add capacity to LATAM Chile's fleet. (Phil Perry Photo)

LATAM Argentina will transfer two A320's to LATAM Chile at the end of May, reportedly to help make up for a capacity shortfall resulting from many of the parent carrier's 787-8's and 787-9's being grounded to undergo work on their Rolls-Royce engines.

Some sources have claimed that the A320's will directly replace some of the 787's on shorter routes while one Argentine aviation blog has suggested that the replacement is part of a reshuffling of aircraft within the LATAM Chile fleet with some aircraft replacing other similar types, such as 787-8's and 787-9's being replaced with 767-300's, which in turn are being replaced by A321's, which are seeing A320's take their place.  

LATAM Chile is making up for most of the capacity shortfall by wet-leasing four A330-200's and one 747-400 from Spanish charter operator Wamos Air.  There are also rumors that the carrier is leasing in two ex-Singapore 777-200's.  

LATAM Argentina will be closing two of its Argentine stations, Bahia Blanca (BHI) and San Juan (UAQ), on 01Jun18, thereby eliminating all flights to these two points and reducing the need for aircraft.  The airline said in a press release that the A320 transfer will not result in layoffs (redundancy) of personnel due to an intensified use of the remaining fleet to make up for the departure of the two aircraft.

LATAM Argentina's fleet after the transfer of the two A320's will be 13 A320's and three 767-300's. 

Sources:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/05/latam-se-lleva-dos-airbus-320-por-el-problema-de-los-787/

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180510/avn-180510.html