FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas returned E-190 LV-GBK to lessor, Embraer fleet presently at 25

Austral (later Aerolineas Argentinas) E-190, LV-GBK (c/n 19000291), taxis out for departure at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 19Dec18. (Phil Perry Photo)

After having accumulated 26 E-190's between 2010 and 2016, with 22 owned examples and four leased airframes, Aerolineas Argentinas for the first time had one of its E-jets leave its fleet when the lease on LV-GBK (c/n 19000291) recently expired.  

The aircraft departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), with the Austral titles removed from its fuselage, on 18Sep24 bound for Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) in Macon, Georgia, via Asuncion (ASU) and Manaos (MAO).  It was flown by a Brazilian crew due to the refusal of three Aerolineas pilots to operate the ferry flight, claiming that the aircraft's return, along with another E-190 LV-GAQ (c/n 19000275) slated to leave the fleet before year's end, indicated an intent on the part of management to start downsizing the company in preparation for the carrier's planned privatization by the Argentine government.   

Aerolineas' senior management claimed that the accusations were unfounded, noting that three 737 MAX 8's have been added to the airline's fleet so far in 2024 and proceeded to fire the three pilots who refused the flight due to damages that management claimed to be US$ 26,000 (apparently per day) possibly amounting up to US$ 800,000, resulting from penalties corresponding to the late return of the aircraft. 

LV-GBK was originally delivered to Republic Airways in 2009 operating regional flights on behalf of mainline carriers American, Delta and United before joining the Aerolineas Argentinas fleet in 2016.    

FLEET STATUS:

Aerolineas Argentinas' current fleet of E-190's consists of the following 25 aircraft:

Registration - C/N - Delivery Date (to Austral before merger with Aerolineas) - Remarks 

• LV-CDY - 365 - 20/9/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CDZ - 377 - 20/9/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CET - 383 - 4/10/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CEU - 389 - 12/11/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CEV - 390 - 12/11/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CHO - 395 - 11/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CHQ - 397 - 14/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CHR - 400 - 22/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CHS - 402 - 22/12/2010 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CID - 409 - 11/02/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CIE - 414 - 25/02/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CIF - 421 - 28/03/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CIG - 427 - 02/05/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CIH - 428 - 29/04/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CKZ - 439 - 18/06/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CMA - 445 - 26/08/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CMB - 448 - 26/08/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CPI - 457 - 16/9/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CPJ - 463 - 23/09/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-CPK - 474 - 23/09/2011 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-FPS - 639 - 27/09/2013 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-FPT - 640 - 25/10/2013 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-GIK - 715 - 26/06/2016 - Remarks: factory-delivered new 
• LV-GAQ - 275 - 16/04/2016 - Remarks: On lease to Aerolineas Argentinas. Originally delivered to Republic Airways on 27/08/2009 as N164HQ 
• LV-GIQ - 716 - 29/07/2016 - Remarks: factory-delivered new      

Sources:

https://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas.htm
https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/aerolineas-argentinas-retiro-por-primera-vez-un-embraer-e190-de-su-flota/