LATAM Argentina (4M) announced on 17Jun20 that it would suspend operations indefinitely.
The stoppage included all domestic and international routes, the latter consisting of some regional South American services and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA) flights. The international routes that are resumed when the COVID-19 quarantine is loosened (it is unlikely that all of them will start again) will be operated by other LATAM affiliates, such as LATAM Brazil, Chile and Peru), and not LATAM Argentina.
Short-Term Reasons for Closure
The most immediate factors behind LATAM Argentina's "suspension" were the cessation of all commercial flights to/from and within Argentina, effective 20Mar20, due to the coronavirus, plus the Argentine government requirement that the carrier pay its employees most of their wages during the shutdown.
All Argentine airlines, such as Aerolineas Argentinas, Andes, Austral, Flybondi, Jetsmart Argentina and LATAM Argentina lost nearly all of their revenue after 20Mar20 while still having to pay most of their fixed costs, such as aircraft leases and employee wages. In particular, LATAM Argentina was not allowed to furlough employees and only managed to negotiate a 7% to 35% reduction in their pay, representing a huge cash drain for the carrier.
Longer-Term Reasons for Closure
As difficult as 2020 was for LATAM Argentina, the carrier suffered increasingly poor financial results in recent years for a variety of reasons as detailed below
2018 Devaluation of the Peso
The Argentine Peso / US Dollar exchange rate was about 20:1 in early 2018 but it was devalued to approx. 40:1 by September of that year, making USD-denominated costs, such as aircraft leases and fuel costs, twice as expensive in pesos.
In the meantime, the airline could not raise airfares very much because most of its customers were Argentine, making more or less the same peso salaries after the devaluation as before.
LATAM Argentina was also prevented from raising fares much because of the advent of Low Cost Carriers (LCC), such as Avianca Argentina, Flybondi and Norwegian Air Argentina.
2019 Devaluation of the Peso
The same phenomenon happened again in 2019 with another devaluation of the peso with respect to the USD from 40:1 to 70:1 in September 2019. That year also saw the start up of another LCC, Jetsmart Argentina, putting more pressure on LATAM Argentina to keep fares down.
Recession & International Travel Decline
Argentina went into recession in 2019, further eroding ticket sales, with an especially large drop in international revenue, as foreign travel became ever more expensive for Argentines due to the highly-unfavorable exchange rates with the USD.
Employee Wage Levels
As an Argentine airline employing Argentine workers, LATAM Argentina was under pressure to pay their employees wages similar to those paid by Aerolineas Argentinas, the country's official flag carrier, that paid relatively high wages made possible by government subsidies, something that was unavailable to LATAM Argentina.
Aerolineas Argentinas - Historical Favoritism
Ever since the Argentine government expropriated Aerolineas Argentinas from the Spanish travel groups Marsans in 2008, it has favored the state carrier in ways big and small. Examples include:
* Gates with jetways at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) being reserved for Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral with other carriers having to use remote stands.
* Attempted denial of use of a hangar at Aeroparque by LATAM Argentina.
* When LATAM Argentina sent Argentine-registered aircraft to the parent company's headquarters in Santiago, Chile for maintenance, they were not allowed to temporarily use Chilean-registered planes until the work was done on the Argentine aircraft and they returned to Argentina, resulting in a reduced schedule and lost revenue for the carrier.
Financial Results
The above factors are reflected in LATAM Argentina's eroding financial results in recent years:
2015: US$ 9.4 million profit
2016: US$ 29.6 million loss
2017: US$ 41.6 million loss
2018: US$ 132.5 million loss
2019: US$ 133.4 million loss
In addition, 2019 revenue was US$ 585 million, 41% less than in 2018.
While many of LATAM Argentina's misfortunes have been due to external factors, such as the ones described above, the carrier's management should probably bear at least some responsibility for its loss of profitability, such as coming up with answers for the new competition from LCC's.
LATAM Argentina - Historical Profile
LATAM Argentina was founded in 2005 as LAN Argentina.
Fleet History
The carrier initially operated 737-200's transferred from parent carrier LAN Chile.
LATAM Argentina went on to operate 16 different A320's with 12 in service when it closed. They were used for domestic and regional flights around South America. All 16 aircraft were originally delivered to LAN Chile.
The carrier also flew five different 767-300's with typically three in service at any one time on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA) route. All but one were original LAN Chile aircraft with the exception having been delivered to Russian carrier Transaero. After the carrier's closure, two of the 767-300's went to LATAM Chile and one each to LATAM Colombia, LATAM Cargo and Canadian carrier CargoJet Airways.
Destinations Served
LATAM Argentina was serving a total of 17 different airports prior to the 20Mar20 national quarantine.
13 Domestic Airports
Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP)
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE)
Bariloche (BRC)
Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD)
Cordoba (COR)
El Calafate (FTE)
Mendoza (MDZ)
Neuquen (NQN)
Puerto Iguazu (IGR)
Rio Gallegos (RGL)
Salta (SLA)
Tucuman (TUC)
Ushuaia (USH)
4 International Airports
Lima (LIM) - LATAM hub
Santiago (SCL) - LATAM hub
Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - LATAM hub
Miami (MIA)
Network Expansion
With the nearly open skies ushered in by the administration of Argentine President Mauricio Macri in 2016, the LAN / LATAM group of carriers introduced services from several Argentine airports to the LAN / LATAM hubs of Santiago (SCL), Lima (LIM) and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU).
At one point, LAN / LATAM offered international flights from nine Argentine airports; Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Cordoba (COR), Mendoza (MDZ), Neuquen (NQN), Rosario (ROS), Salta (SLA), San Juan (UAQ) and Tucuman (TUC), more than any other airline group.
LATAM Argentina operated at least two of these routes, Neuquen (NQN) and San Juan (UAQ) to Santiago (SCL), although they were cancelled when the country started to experience financial difficulties.
LATAM Argentina also operated summer seasonal services from Argentina to Brazil.
Other Data
The carrier had 1,715 employees in eight unions.
LATAM Argentina had an 18% share of the Argentine domestic market - 2nd after Aerolineas Argentinas
The LATAM group of carriers had a 23% share of the international market out of Argentina - 1st overall
The carrier most recently had an 80% load factor.
2019 - 2.53 million domestic passenger on 16,759 flights
2019 - 3.36 million international passenger on 21,674 flights
Cargo:
* Weekly average of 270 tons of exports (berries, fresh meats and pharmaceuticals)
* Weekly average of 290 tons imports (auto parts, industrial machinery and pharmaceuticals)
Sources:
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