Unidentified AlbaStar 737-800 with the same scheme as EC-NLK (c/n 33104/1337), which arrived at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 09Nov24, the second of two AlbaStar 737-800's on wetlease to Flybondi until March 2025. (AlbaStar Photo)
Text repeated from posting on arrival of the first AlbaStar 737-800 in Argentina in early November with slight updates:
Flybondi is wet-leasing two 737-800's from Spanish carrier AlbaStar, EC-MUB (c/n 32920/1293) and EC-NLK (c/n 33104/1337), from November 2024 to March 2025, the southern hemisphere summer high season, to cover for two of its 15-strong 737-800 fleet that are out of service for maintenance and apparently financial reasons. AlbaStar has, at various times since its founding in 2009, operated scheduled and charter flights in partnership with European tour operators and on behalf of private organizations, such as sports clubs and other associations, largely to Spanish and Italian destinations.
EC-MUB and EC-NLK are being flown by AlbaStar for Flybondi on an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) basis where AlbaStar will assume responsibility for all aspects of aircraft operations. The aircraft are on the Spanish register and will be flown by Spanish crews employed by AlbaStar.
While it is a common practice in Europe and many other parts of the world for airlines to wetlease aircraft from foreign carriers, airlines in South America usually only sign on for such leases with carriers from their own countries, such as when Flybondi leased Andes 737-800's to cover for capacity shortfalls at various times in 2024. Wetleases from foreign airlines have only occurred a few times in Argentina, with the last occasion being when Andes Lineas Aereas briefly leased in an A320 from Vueling Airlines of Spain in early 2012. However, on 23Sep24, Argentine President Javier Milei, in keeping with his overall philosophy of freeing up the Argentine economy, issued Decree #844/2024 instructing the National Civil Aviation Administration (spanish initials ANAC) to loosen regulations which required Argentine airlines to employee only Argentine workers and fly only aircraft registered in Argentina, paving the way for wetleases to fill capacity gaps and transfers of aircraft from one airline subsidiary to one in another nation, such as Jetsmart did recently when it transferred two A320ceo's from its Chilean to Argentine affiliate, although in the latter case, the aircraft are said to be flown by Argentine crews. Even with the new regulations, Argentine airlines are apparently only allowed to employ foreign crews for the short term, not on a permanent long-term basis.
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