ROUTE UPDATES: January 2022 - Part 3 - Conviasa, GOL Linhas Aereas, Paranair

Route Updates - January 2022 - 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  

Conviasa                 Caracas (CCS)               Buenos Aires                01Jan22     A340-300     1x/weekly

                                                                         Ezeiza (EZE) 

Remarks: First regularly-scheduled service by Conviasa to EZE since May 2017

GOL Linhas             Florianopolis (FLN)         Buenos Aires                01Jan22    737 MAX 8    2x/weekly

Aereas                                                             Aeroparque (AEP)

Remarks: Using 737 MAX 8 on route

GOL Linhas             Rio de Janeiro                 Buenos Aires                01Jan22    737-800        1x/daily

Aereas                     Galeao (GIG)                   Aeroparque (AEP)

Remarks: Increasing frequency to 1x/daily

Paranair                   Asuncion (ASU)               Buenos Aires                01Jan22    CRJ-200       1x/daily

                                                                          Aeroparque (AEP)

Remarks: Moved their daily fight from Ezeiza to Aeroparque.  Still operating 4x/weekly from Ezeiza to Asuncion, so there is an overall increase in frequency between Buenos Aires and Asuncion to 11x/weekly.   

                         

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

Hi Fly Malta operated first A380 commercial service to Argentina on 23Jul19

Venezuelan airline Estelar wet-leased Airbus A380, 9H-MIP (c/n 006) from charter specialist Hi Fly Malta in July 2019 to temporarily replace one of its A340-300's that was undergoing heavy maintenance.  The airframe in question was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SKC on 11Mar08, making it one of the oldest A380's, even though it has only been in service some 12 years.  It was the first A380 to have moved from the airline that it was delivered to onto a second carrier. 

One of the main routes that Hi Fly Malta flew the A380 on for Estelar was Caracas (CCS) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) with the first flight on this sector arriving in the Argentine capital on 23Jul19, making it the third visit by an A380 to Argentina and first commercial service by the type to the country, the other two visits having been part of promotional tours in December 2007 and March 2012.  

Blog posting including a photo of the first visit:

https://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/search/label/A380

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2019/avn190725/avn-190725.html

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com/2019/07/primer-vuelo-comercial-de-un-airbus-380.html   

ROUTE UPDATES: Estelar to Caracas (CCS) + Gol to Porto Alegre (POA)

* Caracas (CCS) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - eff 14Dec17 - 3x/Weekly

This airline started service between Caracas (CCS) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) using a single A340-300 wet-leased from Hi-Fly Malta. The route was previously flown by Conviasa, the state-owned flag carrier of Venezuela.

Estelar is a privately-owned Venezuelan airline that was founded in 2009 and currently flies one leased A340-300 plus three 737-300's and two 737-200's (not necessarily all active) from Caracas (CCS) to several domestic points plus Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Lima (LIM), Panama City (PTY), Santiago (SCL) and Madrid (MAD) internationally.  

* Montevideo (MVD) - Porto Alegre (POA) - eff 16Dec17 - 1x/Weekly

Operated by 737-800's.  Resumption of a route previously operated by Gol.

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/12/llegoa-ezeiza-aerolineas-estelar.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171221/avn-171221.html http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Estelar%20Latinoamerica.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelar_Latinoamerica 
http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/otras-noticias/item/25069-gol-retomara-vuelos-directos-entre-montevideo-y-porto-alegre

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Route Changes - Pursuit of Profitability & Direct Domestic Connections - Part 1

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Caracas (CCS) - eff 28Jul17 - Route Cancelled

Aerolineas Airbus A330-200, LV-FNK (c/n 358), operated the carrier's last service to Caracas (CCS) on 28Jul17, flying the return sector on 29Jul17.  Like many other airlines, Aerolineas has suspended service indefinitely to the Venezuelan capital due to political unrest in the country and the retention by the self-proclaimed Bolivaran government of hard-currency ticket sales that collectively have cost foreign carriers several billions (thousand millions) of lost USD revenue in the last few years.     

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bogota (BOG) - eff 09Aug17 - increase from 4x to 5x/weekly but back to 4x !

The suspension of the 1x/weekly service to Caracas freed up an A330 to be deployed on the EZE-BOG route allowing for one additional weekly flight on the sector.  However, it was announced in February that this route would go back to 4x/weekly.   

* Cordoba (COR) - Posadas (PSS) - eff 26Dec17 - 3x/weekly

Flights operated by Austral E190's.  Posadas (PSS) is the 15th destination operated year-round by the Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral group from its Cordaba (COR) hub, and the 16th when counting Mar del Plata (MDQ), which is served on a seasonal summer basis. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - eff 01Feb18 - Route Cancelled

The cancellation of this service was controversial as it was, according to Aerolineas Argentinas' president Mario Dell' Acqua, due to the weak financial performance of the route (presumably in the face of competition from new LCC Level on the route) and also the "lack of cooperation" from the carrier's labor unions that "aggravated" the situation.

* Bahia Blanca (BHI) - Neuquen (NQN) - eff 05Mar18 - 4x/weekly

Flights to be operated by Austral E190's.  This route was already operated in September and December 2017.  The airline has established a pattern where it will be operated most months of the year but will be replaced by Bahia Blanca (BHI) to Bariloche (BRC) during the summer and winter months (Bariloche is a lake and mountain resort).  

With this flight, Bahia Blanca (BHI) now has nonstop service to seven Argentine airports; Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Ezeiza (EZE), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Mar del Plata (MDQ), Neuquen (NQN), Trelew (REL) and Ushuaia (USH) with Cordoba (COR) to be added in April.   

Neuquen (NQN) now has nonstop flights to Bahia Blanca (BHI), Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Cordoba (COR) and Mendoza (MDZ). 

Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral continues to implement the Argentine national government's air transportation policy of connecting "internal" cities directly with each other without having to connect through Buenos Aires.    

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Parana (PRA) - eff 06Mar18 - increase from 6x to 11x/weekly

All 11 flights operated by Austral E190's. 

* Jujuy (JUJ) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - eff 24Mar18 - 30Jun18 - 1x/weekly

This flight was operated for a tour operator during the 2018 summer season and is now being flown again, at least until 30Jun18, with seats being sold directly to the general public.  The main purpose of the route is to promote inbound tourism to the high mountain desert region of northwest Argentina.  Flights operated by Aerolineas Argentinas 737-800's. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Alegre (POA) - eff 03Apr18 - increase from 7x to 14x/weekly

Additional flights to be operated by Austral E190's complementing the existing 737-800 flights that depart EZE but return to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2017/10/aerolineas-argentinas-suma-un-nuevo-vuelo-a-bogota-y-abandona-definitivamente-caracas/

https://aviacionline.com/2017/11/aerolineas-argentinas-confirma-a-posadas-como-nuevo-destino-del-hub-cordoba/

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275981/aerolineas-argentinas-ends-barcelona-service-in-jan-2018/ via Eric Trum

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171130/avn-171130.html

https://aviacionline.com/2018/02/aerolineas-argentinas-reanuda-sus-vuelos-entre-neuquen-y-bahia-blanca/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-ya-opera-11-vuelos-semanales-entre-parana-y-buenos-aires/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-extiende-y-abre-la-comercializacion-de-sus-vuelos-entre-jujuy-y-san-pablo/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-duplica-sus-vuelos-entre-buenos-aires-y-porto-alegre/

ROUTE UPDATE: Conviasa flights to Ezeiza by Wamos discontinued in May, operated by Turpial 737-400's and Conviasa E190's

Wamos Air of Spain had been operating 747-400, EC-KXN (c/n 25703/1025), on behalf of the Venezuelan state-owned carrier Conviasa between Caracas (CCS) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Madrid (MAD) for a couple of years after the European Union rescinded Conviasa's route rights after failing a safety audit in 2012.  However, Wamos operated its 747-400 to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) for the last time on 03May17 citing "political reasons" for the suspension, stranding hundreds of passengers in the process.  

In response, Conviasa chartered two of the three 737-400's operated by the privately-owned Venezuelan carrier Turpial Airlines, YV-613T (c/n 24795/1870) and YV-622T (c/n 27384/2673), to fly between Ezeiza and Caracas (CCS) with stops in Santa Cruz, Bolivia (VVI) on 08May17.  The airline's third 737-400, YV-621T (c/n 27352/2624) also flew this route on 11May17. These flights were later complemented by a flight by one of Conviasa's own E190's on 13May17, also with a stop in Santa Cruz (VVI) for refuelling.       

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/05/tapando-agujeros.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/05/conviasa-apela-al-e190.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Regional South American Routes

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - eff 09Jul16

   Operated 1x/weekly using 737-800's

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Belo Horizonte (CNF) - eff 12Sep16 - CANCELLED

   Aerolineas dropped this route after flying it 5x/weekly since 2013

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Caracas (CCS) - Bogota (BOG) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza          (EZE) - eff 05Nov16

   Operated 1x/weekly using A340-300's

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160714/avn-160714.html
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/269527/aerolineas-argentinas-resumes-caracas-flight-in-nw16/ via Eric Trum

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

ROUTE UPDATES: COPA adds Montevideo (MVD) flights / Conviasa to fly A340's to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) / Amazonas adds Salta (SLA) - Tarija (TJA) / LAN adding Salta (SLA) - Iquique (IQQ)

* Conviasa - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Caracas (CCS)

Leasing an A340-300 from Air Asia X to operate on this route on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, effective mid-August 2014.  The aircraft will also be operated between Caracas (CCS) and Madrid (MAD). 

* Amaszonas - Salta (SLA) - Tarija (TJA) (Bolivia)

Amaszonas Linea Aerea of Bolivia to operate 50-seat Canadair CRJ-200's on the 35-minute flight between these two cities on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, effective 19Nov14. 

* COPA - Montevideo (MVD) - Panama City (PTY)

Increasing from 7 to 11 weekly flights on this route with the additional frequencies being operated by 737-800's on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, effective 06Dec14.  

* LAN - Salta (SLA) - Iquique (IQQ) (Chile)

Will resume summer seasonal service on this route from 03Jan15 - 28Feb15, possibly extending into March as they did in 2014.  Flights will be operated 2x/weekly (both on Saturdays) with A320's.

Sources:

http://airlineroute.net/2014/08/27/v0-ezemad-aug14/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140904/avn-140904.html
http://airlineroute.net/2014/07/26/cm-w14update1/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141120/avn-141120.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas was scheduled to substitute 737-800's for A340-300's between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Caracas (CCS) but increase frequency effective 08Aug14

Aerolineas Argentinas was scheduled to downgrade the size of aircraft that it operates from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Caracas (CCS) from A340-300's to 737-800's, effective 08Aug14, but at the same time increase frequency on the route from 5x to 6x/week until 01Sep14, at which time the route was scheduled to go to daily service.

Source: 

http://airlineroute.net/2014/06/30/ar-ccs-aug14/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATES: Argentina & Uruguay Airline Route Additions & Changes

Sol Lineas Aereas - Effective 23Dec13

Increased service from Rosario (ROS) - Punta del Este (PDP) to 6x/weekly for the summer season with their Saab 340's.    

Sol Lineas Aereas - Effective 01Jan14

Started 6x/weekly summer service from both Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Rosario (ROS) to Villa Gesell (VLG).

Conviasa - Effective First Quarter 2014 (unconfirmed)

Luis Graterol, president of the Venezuelan state airline that replaced the defunct VIASA, announced in a television interview that the carrier would start 2x/weekly service from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Porlamar (PMV) on the Venezuelan resort island of Isla Margarita sometime during the first quarter of 2014. 

Conviasa already flies from EZE to Caracas (CCS) 3x/weekly using 767's, possibly leased from Vision Air as the Venezuelan airline does not have long-range aircraft of its own.  Presumably the same type will be used to Porlamar (PVM).      

Air Europa - Effective March 2014

The Spanish low-cost carrier announced that it will increase its Montevideo (MVD) - Madrid (MAD) flights from the current 3x/weekly to 4x/weekly in March with plans to add a fifth flight on the route in 2015.  These flights are operated with A330-200's.  

The addition of more flights would seem to signal that this is a profitable route for Air Europa meaning that they are more likely to stay for the long run. This is good news for Uruguay as Air Europa flies the only non-stop service to Europe from the South American country.    

Aerolineas Argentinas - Effective 01Jun14

Starting Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Alegre (POA) daily service with 737-700's.   

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140102/avn-140102.html
http://www.aeropuertosarg.com.ar/2014/01/conviasa-operara-entre-buenos-aires-y-porlamar/
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/ConViasa.htm
http://www.flightstats.com
http://www.conviasa.aero/2012/site.php
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conviasa
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140206/avn-140206.html
http://airlineroute.net/2014/02/06/ar-poa-jun14/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas to increase EZE-CCS Flights to Daily

Aerolineas Argentinas is gradually increasing its service from Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) to Caracas (CCS) from the current four-times weekly to daily flights over the coming year starting on July 1 when the service goes to five-times weekly. 

On September 1 the airline will increase flights on the route to six-times weekly and finally go to daily on December 1.

Interestingly, the route is and will continue to be operated with Airbus A340's which would seem to be too big an aircraft for an "Origin & Destination" route of this nature (no hub-connecting traffic) but the Argentine and Venezuelan governments are close politically so that might be a factor.    
     
The flight operates as a same-day roundtrip departing EZE in the early morning and arriving back in Buenos Aires late that same evening. 

Flight     Routing   Dep    Arr    Equipment

AR1376  EZECCS  0630  1205  A340
AR1377  CCSEZE  1335  2215  A340

Source: http://airlineroute.net via Eric Trum