ROUTE UPDATES: March 2021 - Part 3 - Lineas Aereas del Estado (LADE), Turkish Airlines

Route Updates - March 2021 - Part 3

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started on the indicated dates.  Most, maybe all, of the services are the resumption of flights that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Increases / decreases in flight frequency are not always verified.

Airline                      Origin                             Destination                      Eff Date     Type          Frequency   

Lineas Aereas         Comodoro                       Puerto Madryn (PMY)      30Mar21     Twin Otter  2x/weekly 

del Estado (LADE)  Rivadavia (CRD)

Turkish Airlines       Buenos Aires                  Istanbul (IST)                   30Mar21      A350-900  3x/weekly    

                                  Ezeiza (EZE)                   

Remarks: 

Stop in Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) enroute.  

Passenger flights previously operated by 787-9 replaced by A350-900.  

Apparently cargo flights operated by passenger-configured 777-300's since at least August 2020. 

Sources: 

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aa2000.com.ar

www.flightstats.com

ROUTE UPDATE: KLM replaced 777-300 with 787-9 on Amsterdam (AMS) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Santiago (SCL) route in approx. mid 2019

KLM replaced its 408-seat 777-300's on the Amsterdam (AMS) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Santiago (SCL) route with 294-seat 787-9's in approx. mid-2019.  The equipment change apparently continues to this day as the Dutch carrier has operated the type on its authorized "special flights" on this route several times recently (regularly-scheduled flights have not returned to Argentina yet).

The change effectively reduced the number of Economy Class seats operated by KLM to Argentina and Chile while maintaining the quantity of Economy Comfort and World Business seats as the 777-300's have 334, 40 and 34 seats in each class, respectively, while the 787-9's have 216, 48 and 30 such seating.

The economy class seat reduction might be to balance out the increase in number of flights by KLM on the route in recent years from 4x/weekly to 6x/weekly.  The consistent number of premium cabin seating probably reflects the importance of business travel on this route.  

Sources:

https://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/12/klm-pasara-a-volar-con-boeing-787-9-en-la-ruta-a-buenos-aires/

www.seatguru.com

   

ROUTE UPDATE: Alitalia to introduce 777-300ER on Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) route on 04Sep17

Alitalia will start taking delivery of 777-300ER's in the third quarter of this year with the first route to see service with the new type being Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) starting on 04Sep17.  The 777-300ER will replace the 777-200 3x/weekly with the other 4x/weekly flights still being operated with the shorter 777 variant.   

However, it should be noted that the carrier is experiencing serious financial difficulties and might not be a going concern much longer. 

Source:

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/271794/alitalia-outlines-777-300er-operations-from-3q17/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: Air Canada replacing 767-300 with 777-300ER followed by 787 to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE)

Air Canada replaced the 767-300 on its Toronto (YYZ) - Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) route with the 777-300ER on 09Nov16 operating five to six times weekly at the start of the southern hemisphere summer season upgrading to daily service between 14Dec16 and 31Jan17. The 777-300ER will in turn be replaced with the 787-8 on 25Mar17 and the route will be operated 6x/weekly. 

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161027/avn-161027.html  

ROUTE UPDATES: Odds & Ends - Air Canada, American, Avianca, British, Conviasa, Emirates

* Air Canada 

Replaced the usual 767-300 aircraft on its Toronto (YYZ) - Santiago (SCL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Toronto (YYZ) "triangle" route with the 777-300ER for the southern hemisphere "summer" period from October 2015 to March 2016, which resulted in a 65% increase in seating capacity with a total of 349 seats on each flight. 

The Canadian airline will once again operate the 777-300ER on the route from 30Oct16 to 24Mar17.

* American Airlines

Operated the 787-8 between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) for only five months (June - November 2015) and then went back to the 777-200, which it is still flying on the route today. 

* Avianca 

Started operating the 787-8 on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bogota (BOG) route on 01Feb15 but apparently replaced it with the A330-200, with the exception of the 787-8 again for a month from 16Aug15 to 17Sep15.  Avianca is currently operating the A330-200 between Argentina and Colombia on a daily basis.   

* British Airways 

After having reduced the frequency on its London Heathrow (LHR) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) route from daily to 5x/weekly on 31Mar15, the carrier returned to daily service operated by 777-200's in November 2015, which it is still flying to this day.   

* Conviasa

Leased a 747-446, EC-LNA (c/n 26346/897), that it started flying from Caracas (CCS) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) 2x/weekly on 01Nov15.  It is still flying to Argentina on the same basis.  

* Emirates 

Upgauged from the 777-200 to the 777-300ER on its daily Dubai (DXB) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) service on 01Sep15, which it still maintains today.  

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn151029/avn-151029.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn150924/avn-150924.html
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/250247/avianca-adds-boeing-787-buenos-aires-sao-paulo-service-in-augsep-2015/ via Eric Trum
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/251801/conviasa-adds-leased-boeing-747-operation-from-nov-2015/ via Eric Trum

PHOTO GALLERY: LAN Argentina A320 LV-FUX with special "Copa America - Chile 2015" Stickers

The Copa America - Chile 2015 football/soccer championships with national teams from all over the Americas participating was played in Chile in July and August and to celebrate the occasion, the Chilean airline LAN and some of its South American affiliates, including TAM, applied special "Copa America Chile 2015" stickers to select aircraft in their fleets.     

The excellent Argentine aviation blog, Gaceta Aeronautica, noted that at least 38 aircraft from the LAN fleet plus one TAM airplane had the stickers applied, including 3 A319's each of LAN and LAN Ecuador, 24 A320's of LAN, 4 A320's of LAN Argentina, 4 767-300's of LAN, and 1 TAM 777-300. 

The LAN Argentina A320's were LV-BET, LV-BRY, LV-BSJ and LV-FUX pictured below.

LAN Argentina A320, LV-FUX (c/n 4543), taxiing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 15Jul15 with special "Copa America Chile 2015" sticker.  (Phil Perry Photo)   

For the full list of 39 aircraft that wore the sticker, visit the following Gacena Aeronautica webpage and scroll about a third of the way down the page:

http://www.gacetaeronautica.com/gaceta/wp-101/?p=12371       

View the following YouTube video of the sticker being applied to a LAN 767-300:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrUYKj6XlFQ

ROUTE UPDATE: Turkish has switched from the 777-200 to A330 to 777-300ER on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Istanbul (IST) route

During the last few months, Turkish Airlines changed the equipment it operates on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Istanbul (IST) route from the 777-200 to the A330, which features Comfort Class, to the 777-300ER with the airline's new Premium Class offering.   
Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140501/avn-140501.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Air Canada to fly 777-300's on Buenos Aires - Santiago - Toronto Route for Six Months effective 26Oct14 with possible 787's in 2015

Air Canada will reportedly replace its current daily 767-300 flights on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Santiago (SCL) - Toronto (YYZ) route with 777-300's on 26Oct14 for the southern hemisphere summer.

Rumors are that the airline will employ the 787 on the route as it takes more deliveries of the type in 2015.

Source:  

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140403/avn-140403.html 

ROUTE UPDATE: Turkish Airlines Starting Service to Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) on 11Dec12

Airlineroute.net reports that Turkish Airlines started selling reservations to Buenos Aires - Ezeiza in GDS (Global Distribution Systems) on Saturday, 17Nov12. 

The service will be an extension of the carrier's four-times weekly Istanbul (IST) to Sao Paulo (GRU) flights operated by 777-300ER's.  The move is part of the airline's aggressive expansion to be a viable alternative to Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways connecting East and West through the Middle East (or close to it).  The airline recently also announced new service to Boston (BOS) and claims in its advertising that it flies to more countries than any other airline in the world. 

The flights will operate as follows:

Flight                Leg 1                       Leg 2                        Equipment   Frequency

TK015    IST 0920 - GRU 1900      GRU 2015 - EZE 2155          777-300ER   2,3,5,7 

TK016    EZE 2355 - GRU 0345+1  GRU 0505+1 - IST 2125+1    777-300ER   2,  3,5,7

Note: +1 = day following original departure day

Source:   http://airlineroute.net/2012/11/19/tk-eze-dec12/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: Air New Zealand to Operate its "All-Blacks" 777-300ER from Auckland to Buenos Aires on Two Flights in September 2012

Air New Zealand will operate two charter flights carrying the New Zealand national rugby team known as the "All Blacks" from Auckland (AKL) to Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) in September to participate in a rugby tournament taking place in Argentina.  The "All Blacks" are the current reigning Rugby World Cup champions and have held the top ranking in the world for longer than all other countries combined.

The aircraft to be used for these flights is 777-319ER, ZK-OKQ (c/n 40689/984) painted in a special "All Blacks" color scheme, which is also carried by at least two other Air New Zealand aircraft, including A320, ZK-OJR and Beech 1900D, ZK-EAG. 

The "All Blacks" 777-300ER entered service on 19Jan12 on the carrier's Auckland (AKL) - Los Angeles (LAX) - London-Heathrow (LHR) route.  It is due to fly to/from EZE on the following flight schedule:

NZ ???  22SEP  AKLEZE 1940  1640      777-300
NZ ???  30SEP  EZEAKL 1100  1700+1  777-300

Photo of 777-300ER, ZK-OKQ:  

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New-Zealand/Boeing-777-319ER/2063370/M/&sid=b2bc36970360382d956cd62ee12193eb

Photo of A320, ZK-OJR:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New-Zealand/Airbus-A320-232/2037983/&sid=4d803cbc0a14df887bdab7b05f8788a6

Photo of Beech 1900D, ZK-EAG:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New-Zealand/Raytheon-1900D/2101232/&sid=c9d51b7209cf978b20e767ff226bb3f8

Sources:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/11/nz-eze-sep12/ via Eric Trum
http://wikipedia.org
www.airliners.net

ROUTE UPDATE: Emirates Started Dubai - Rio de Janeiro - Buenos Aires Flights on January 4

Emirates Airlines started daily service from Dubai to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro on January 4.  Flights will be operated with 777-300ER aircraft.  The first flight, EK247, was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute at Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini de Ezeiza Airport (EZE) when it arrived there at 8:20pm on the 4th commanded by Argentine captain Marcos Medina.  

Several dignitaries, including Enrique Meyer - Argentine Minister of Tourism, Thierri Antinori - Vice President of Sales for Emirates, Ruben Caro - the Argentine ambassador in the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed Eissa Alzaabi - UAE ambassador to Argentina and Marcelo Cervetto from Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, operator of Ezeiza Airport, participated in a ceremony marking the inaugural flight and noting the connectivity that the flight will provide through EK's Dubai (DXB) hub as well as the seats offered on the EZE-GIG (Rio de Janeiro) and v.v. sectors.

Sources: Aviacion News, Emirates website, Cabecera Norte blog