Aerolineas Argentinas A330-200, LV-FNI (c/n 290) on approach to an unnamed airfield. (Phil Perry Collection)
Aerolineas Argentinas recently retired the first A330 that it ever took delivery of, A330-200, LV-FNI (c/n 290).
The aircraft was first delivered to SABENA of Belgium in 1999, continuing to fly for several carriers, including VG Airlines and Delsey, both also of Belgium, and, more recently, Malaysia Airlines, until it joined Aerolineas in September 2013. LV-FNI soldiered on with the Argentine national flag carrier until it was withdrawn from use and stored locally in Argentina on 16Jun21. The aircraft was finally returned to the lessor (appears to be AerCap) when it departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 23Sep21 to Miami (MIA) and Roswell (ROW), arriving at the New Mexico facility on 25Sep21.
Aerolineas Argentinas built up a fleet of ten A330-200's between 2013 and 2017 in replacement of its long-range A340 and 747 fleets.. In addition to LV-FNI being returned, LV-FNJ (c/n 300) and LV-GKO (c/n 587) have been parked since March 2020 with LV-FNK (c/n 358) and LV-FNL (c/n 364) possibly to be returned to their lessor when their current leases expire in April 2022. However, two A330-200's will be added to the Aerolineas fleet when LV-KAN (c/n 877) and LV-KAO (c/n 899), both formerly of TAP Air Portugal, are delivered to Argentina before year's end.
If LV-FNK and LV-GKO both return to service with Aerolineas, the carrier will have a total of nine long-range Airbus twins in service.
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