PHOTO: LATAM Brasil A320neo, PR-XBG, with "Brasil" tail colors at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP)

LATAM Brasil A320neo, PR-XBG, c/n 11725, in special yellow and green-striped tail colors representative of the Brazilian national flag, taxis out at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Jul24. (Phil Perry Photo) 

This was the first of five LATAM A320 Series aircraft to have its tail painted in the colors of the national flags of the countries where LATAM has subsidiaries; Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.  All but Chile have been painted so far.  See posting for details: https://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2024/08/fleet-update-latam-airline-group-has.html

FLEET UPDATE: LATAM airline group has painted at least four of five A320 Series aircraft in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru national tail colors

                                                                                                                                        (LATAM Photo)

The LATAM airline group announced in early January 2024 that five of its aircraft would have their tails painted in the colors of its five national subsidiaries; Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.   

As of this posting, at least four aircraft have been painted in national tail colors so far:  

* LATAM Brasil A320neo, PR-XBG, c/n 11725 - The aircraft with the green and yellow-striped tail noted on the first plane in the above photo was the first to be painted with a special tail in January 2024. 

* LATAM Colombia A320, CC-BFE, c/n 5364 - The aircraft with the red, blue and yellow-striped tail noted on the third plane above was the second to be painted with a special tail in April 2024. 

* LATAM Ecuador A320, HC-CPR, c/n 3663 - The aircraft with the red, yellow, blue and yellow-striped tail noted in the fifth plane above was the third to be painted with a special tail in May 2024.

* LATAM Peru A320, CC-BFW, c/n 6135 - The aircraft with the red and white-striped tail noted in the fourth plane above was the fourth to be painted with a special tail in June/July 2024.

* LATAM Chile A320 series aicraft - To the best of your editor's knowledge, this aircraft, with the red and blue stripes on the tail noted in the second plane above, has not been painted yet. 

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=690455999923908&set=a.536812261954950

https://www.airdatanews.com/latam-will-paint-five-planes-with-the-colors-of-the-countries-where-it-has-domestic-flights/

https://volavi.co/aviacion/noticias/latam-pinta-avion-homenaje-colombia

https://volavi.co/aviacion/noticias/latam-pinta-avion-homenaje-colombia

https://www.airliners.net/photo/LATAM-Ecuador/Airbus-A319-132/7580667?qsp=eJwtjEEKwkAMRa8iWbspgovu7AV04QVC8tHi1BkyER1K724c3D3e/7yVJD8dH7%2B2Ahqpgk3utKfCxkulcaUH2jubBlNi52UHebFmi1PN5lOLQdlxEkFx6N%2BfTWG/CVV67xb9IQB26UyHY3ida0ncG3CeE23bF9kfMa0%3D

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/olinplacido_esta-semana-presentamos-ante-sociedad-nuestro-activity-7209739824990212096-SDby/?originalSubdomain=es

www.airfleets.net

PHOTO GALLERIES: Viva Air A320neo HK-5388 at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Aug22

 

Viva Air A320neo HK-5388 (c/n 10693) taxis for takeoff at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Aug22 on its return trip to Colombia after having been diverted to AEP while operating inbound to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) due to fog earlier that morning.  Viva Air never operated scheduled flights to Aeroparque. (Phil Perry Photo)

Viva Air shut down operations on 27Feb23 after on again-off again plans for its acquisition by Avianca for several months due to the ULCC carrier's financial problems.  As of this writing, the carrier might still be acquired by Avianca with much depending on whether the Colombian government finally approves the merger. 

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral likely to order best financial deal between 737 MAX 8 and A320neo

Austral E190, LV-CPJ (c/n 463), taxis in at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 29Mar18.  Austral's E190's are expected to start leaving the fleet later this year. (Phil Perry Photo) 

Aviacion News reports that the announced four-way competition between aircraft manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer for Aerolineas Argentinas' order of replacement aircraft for its Austral division's 26-strong E190 fleet is really a two-way affair between Airbus' A320neo family of aircraft and Boeing's 737 MAX series, given that the airline group has repeatedly stated in recent times that the type chosen will have approx. 186 seats.

Both aircraft are comparable technically and from a performance standpoint, with Boeing's 737 MAX series considered to have the advantage given Aerolineas Argentinas' existing fleet of 31 737-800's and four 737 MAX 8's and the commonality that additional MAX series aircraft would bring.  According to Aviacion News the eventual winner of the contract (expected to be decided in June) might be the manufacturer that offers the best financing package, either through purchase of the aircraft, leasing through an aircraft lessor or a combination of both.  In any case, the winning manufacturer is expected to take Austral's existing fleet of 24-owned and two-leased E190's as part of the deal.  The first of the winning order of aircraft is expected to be delivered to Austral by the end of this year.  

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180510/avn-180510.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Azul expands Argentina & Uruguay connections with Brazil

Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras entered the Argentina - Brazil air travel market in March 2016 and has not stopped growing since, steadily adding new gateways in Argentina during the last two years.  Service to Uruguay has also increased.

Summer 2018 - Seasonal Service - Scheduled

Azul was reported to be planning the following routes during the southern hemisphere summer months and presumably operated them though planned service occasionally does not materialize as announced:

* Sao Paulo Viracopos (VCP) - Punta del Este (PDP) - eff 21Dec17 - 04Feb18

Flights to the popular Uruguayan summer resort.

* Porto Alegre (POA) - Punta del Este (PDP) - eff 21Dec17 - 04Jan18

Flights to the popular Uruguayan summer resort.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Navegantes (NVT) - eff 11Dec17 - 04Mar18

1x/daily until 17Feb18 and 4x/weekly until 04Mar18 operated with E195's.

NOTE:  Above service has been extended indefinitely on a 4x/weekly basis. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cabo Frio (CBF) - eff 16Dec17 - 03Mar18 -1x weekly

Operated with Embraer E195's

Year-Round Scheduled Service

* Rosario (ROS) - Recife (REC) - eff 24Mar18 - 1x weekly

Operated with A320neo's

* Cordoba (COR) - Recife (REC) - eff 25Mar18 - 1x weekly

Operated with A320neo's

* Cordoba (COR) - Porto Alegre (POA) - eff 01Jul18 - 4x weekly

Operated with Embraer E-195's

* Rosario (ROS) - Porto Alegre (POA) - eff 03Jul18 - 3x weekly

Operated with Embraer E-195's

Winter 2018 - Seasonal Service - Scheduled

Azul is planning to operate the following route during the southern hemisphere winter:  

* Sao Paulo Viracopos (VCP) - Bariloche (BRC) - eff 30Jun18 - 29Aug18 - 3x/weekly

Operated with A320's to the popular Argentine ski / lakes / mountains resort. 

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2017/06/mas-destinos-de-azul-hacia-buenos-aires-navegantes-y-cabo-frio/
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171005/avn-171005.html
https://aviacionline.com/2017/11/azul-empezo-a-comercializar-sus-nuevos-vuelos-hacia-cordoba-y-recife/
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/02/azul-volara-bariloche-regular-desde-san-pablo-dos-meses/
https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/azul-extendio-sus-vuelos-entre-buenos-aires-y-navegantes/
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/277977/azul-adds-new-argentina-routes-from-porto-alegre-in-july-2018/ via Eric Trum

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Norwegian postponing Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - London Gatwick (LGW) flights until early 2018, might use A320neo's in Argentina

Flightglobal.com, the online website of the leading British aviation magazine, Flight International, reports that Norwegian has postponed the start of its 787 service between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and London Gatwick (LGW) from November 2017 to a hoped-for date of February 2018 due to necessary changes in its accounting system to adjust to the Argentine tax regime.

The newly-established Norwegian Air Argentina, which was presumed to be planning to operate 737 aircraft, might instead take on some of the A320neo's that the parent carrier has on order. 

Source:

https://www.flightglobal.com/asset/17019

ROUTE UPDATES: Gol, Avianca and Azul

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Manaus (MAO) - eff 04Feb17

Operated by 737-800's 1x/weekly southbound on Saturdays and northbound on Sundays. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Belo Horizonte (CNF) - eff 05Mar17

Operated by 737-800's 1x/weekly southbound on Sundays and northbound on Mondays. 

* Montevideo (MVD) - Bogota (BOG) - eff 15May17

Operated by by A319's 1x/daily. 

* Sao Paulo / Campinas Viracopos (VCP) - Bariloche (BRC) - eff 01Jul17 - 12Aug17

Operated by A320neo's 1x/weekly on Saturdays on a charter basis.

Sources: 

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/271271/gol-adds-new-argentina-routes-in-1q17/  via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170223/avn-170223.html
http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/03/azul-volara-entre-bariloche-y-san-pablo-durante-la-temporada-de-invierno/

PHOTO GALLERY: LATAM Brasil A320neo PT-TMN at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 17Nov16

LATAM Brasil A320-271N, PT-TMN (c/n 7126), taxiing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 17Nov16.  (Phil Perry Photo)

PT-TMN is one of only 32 A320neo's delivered worldwide as of 31Oct16 and only the third example delivered directly to airlines in the Americas so far, the other two carriers having received the A320 with new-generation engines being Frontier Airlines of the US and Viva Aerobus of Mexico.  

Both LATAM Brasil and Frontier have received examples with Pratt & Whitney PW1100 series engines and Viva Aerobus with CFM International LEAP-1A powerplants.  All three western hemisphere carriers had received only one A320neo each as of 31Oct16. 

Airbus currently holds orders for 58 A319neo's, 3,385 A320neo's and 1,375 A321neo's for a total of 5,171 orders for the A320neo family. 

Sources:

http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-7126.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Airbus_A320neo_family_orders_and_deliveries
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/frontier-airlines-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a320neo/
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/airbus-delivers-first-a320neo-to-mexicos-viva-aerobus/