LATAM Aircraft Color Schemes Revealed - Will appear on Current Airlines of LAN & TAM Group

LAN, LAN Argentina, LAN Peru and TAM, all airlines of the LATAM group that currently fly to Argentina and Uruguay, will soon fly under that one name and in the new color scheme revealed earlier today. 

It features a fuselage that is nearly all-white with all capital "LATAM" titles and a double sideways "V" logo above the windows in the front.  The tail features interlaced blue and pinkish red stripes with the blue sweeping down to the lower rear fuselage as illustrated here:

LATAM 787-9 over Rio de Janeiro.  (Photo: LATAM)   

LATAM A350 over the Andes.  (Photo: LATAM)

Details and commentary: 

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2016/04/28/latam-unveils-its-new-unified-livery/

http://www.airlinereporter.com/2016/04/latam-releases-new-livery-branding/

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/latam-airlines-group-premieres-the-global-latam-brand-with-new-aircraft-uniform-and-airport-designs-300259422.html

Look for this new color scheme at many airports in Argentina plus Montevideo (MVD) in Uruguay!

FLEET UPDATE: LAN Argentina A320, LV-CKV, rejoined the carrier's fleet

LAN Argentina A320, LV-CKV (c/n 1568), at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 11Oct15.  The aircraft rejoined the airline's fleet on 01Sep15 after a 10-month hiatus flying for parent airline LAN in Chile. (Phil Perry Photo)    

Dear Readers:

I have been very busy with work the last two months so I have not posted to this blog.  I am not sure when I will resume regular postings because I will be traveling for about a month starting in early January but I would suggest that you check back every couple of weeks for postings that summarize the latest happenings and photos of the Argentine and Uruguayan airline scene. 

Best Wishes,

Phil Perry 

Source: 

https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Airbus/A320/1568/LV-CKV-LAN-Argentina

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 UPDATES: Seasonal Summer Flights: Aerolineas Argentinas 28x/week to Mar del Plata + LAN Argentina 1x/week to Porto Seguro & Salvador

Some news on seasonal summer flights:

* Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mar del 
   Plata (MDQ)

   Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral doubled their service from Aeroparque to 
   Mar del Plata from the normal 14x/week flights to 28x/week for the southern
   hemisphere summer season. 

* LAN Argentina - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - 
   Salvador de Bahia (SSA)
   
   LAN Argentina added 1x/week flight on Sundays using A320's on the above 
   triangle route effective 11Jan15 until 08Mar15.

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141225/avn-141225.html
http://airlineroute.net/2014/12/31/la-bpsssa-jan15/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATES: Amaszonas starts Montevideo to Santa Cruz / TAM increasing flights Montevideo to Rio De Janeiro / LAN Argentina restarts Bahia Blanca flights / British reducing service from Buenos Aires to London

* Amaszonas Lineas Aereas started 3x/weekly service between Montevideo (MVD) and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) via Asuncion (ASU) on 11Dec14 using CRJ-200's.  From VVI, passengers will be able to connect to Cuzco (CUZ) and Arequipa (AQP) in Peru, La Paz, Bolivia (LPB), Iquique, Chile (IQQ), and Salta, Argentina (SLA). 

* TAM Brazilian Airlines will increase service from Montevideo (MVD) to Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) from 4x to 7x weekly effective 31Dec14 with all flights being operated with A320's. 

* LAN Argentina will reintroduce service between Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Bahia Blanca (BHI) on a daily basis effective January 2015 using A320's.  The airline suspended service on the route earlier this year due to the need for aircraft on heavily-traveled winter routes, but also because the Argentine aviation authorities would not grant the carrier permission to add more aircraft to its fleet, not even to replace airplanes out of service on a temporary basis for maintenance.  

* British Airways will reduce service between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and London Heathrow (LHR) from 7x to 5x/weekly effective 29Mar15, the end of the southern hemisphere summer season.  The service used to be operated with 747-400's via Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) but transitioned to nonstop 777-200's a few years ago which will be maintained.  Drop in demand is cited as the main reason for the service reduction. 

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141127/avn-141127.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140925/avn-140925.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141113/avn-141113.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141120/avn-141120.html
http://airlineroute.net/2014/09/29/ba-eze-s15/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140918/avn-140918.html
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1729411-british-airways-reducira-dos-frecuencias-entre-buenos-aires-y-londres

FLEET UPDATE: LAN Argentina takes delivery of its 12th A320-233, LV-FUX

LAN Argentina took delivery of its 12th A320-233, LV-FUX (c/n 4543) from parent company LAN Airlines on 29Oct14.  The A320 was first delivered to LAN on 15Jan11 and also flew for LAN Ecuador prior to its recent transfer to LAN Argentina.

LV-FUX will replace another LAN Argentina A320 while it is undergoing heavy maintenance so its stay in Argentina might be short-lived once the aircraft being worked on is returned to service.  In recent times, the Argentine government has not allowed LAN Argentina to bring in any more aircraft, even on a temporary basis to replace those undergoing maintenance but this policy has apparently been relaxed.     

Sources:    

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/10/otro-320-para-lan-argentina.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-4543.htm

Antonov AN-124 flies from Getafe, Spain to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) with A320 Horizontal Stabilizer

On 16Apr14, Antonov Design Bureau AN-124 UR-82072 (c/n 9773053359136) flew from Getafe, Spain to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) with a replacement horizontal stabilizer for LAN A320 LV-BET (c/n 1854) which was damaged in a ramp collision with GOL Transportes Aereos 737-800 PR-GGD (c/n 34275/2588) at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 04Mar14.

The A320 was taxiing in to position itself at the gate after arriving from Tucuman (TUC) when the left winglet of the 737-800 struck the Airbus' right elevator as it was taxiing out for a return flight to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU). The top part of the the 737-800's winglet broke off and part of the A320's elevator was damaged. 

Photos of the AN-124 at EZE:

http://avionesenezeiza.blogspot.com.ar/2014/04/un-gigante-en- ezeiza.html#more

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140424/avn-140424.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/04/nuevo-estabilizador-para-un-a320.html
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=164484

News from May: Aerolineas Argentinas 737-700 left winglet clips right horizontal stabilizer of an Aerolineas 737-800

LV-CPH takes off at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 11Feb12.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Aerolineas Argentinas 737-7Q8, LV-CPH, (c/n 28238/817) clipped the right horizontal stabilizer of sistership 737-81D, LV-CXS, (c/n 39425/4167) with its left wingtip while taxiing in to the gate at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 10May14.  

Photo:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/05/y-si-le-ponen-topetinas.html

It was the third such incident at AEP in the last six months.  

Previously, Aerolineas Argentinas 737-7Q8, LV-CYO (c/n 30633/1220) struck Austral Embraer 190, LV-CIE, (c/n 19000414) on 07Nov13 with its right wingtip colliding with the left horizontal stabilizer of the 190. 

Photo:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2013/11/aerolineas-la-pega.html

LV-BET taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 11Feb12.  (Phil Perry Photo)

And GOL 737-8EH, PR-GGO (c/n 35828/3025) collided with LAN Argentina A320-233, LV-BET, (c/n 1854) on 04Mar14, another case of a wingtip striking a winglet.  This last incident resulted in a new A320 horizontal stabilizer being flown into Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on an Antonov AN-124 to replace the damaged one on the LAN aircraft. 

Photo:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/03/otro-incidente-en-aeroparque.html

Aerolineas Argentinas aircraft had similar collisions internationally when AR A340-300's hit an Air France 777-300 in Miami (MIA) in January 2013 and an Avianca A330-200 in Caracas (CCS) in November 2013.

Photos:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/airbusaurio-de-ar-se-topa-con-777-de.html

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2013/11/aerolineas-tiene-buena-punteria.html

Sources:  As above and
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140515/avn-140515.html

LAN Argentina Hangar Dispute - Arguments For & Against

The dispute over LAN Argentina's hangar at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) stirred much debate during the week of August 26-30 with arguments both for and against the measure. 

Arguments:

Pro-Eviction

* Minister of Transport Florencio Randazzo explained the eviction as part of the Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) master plan put together in 2010 to reorganize the facility, including the use of its hangars, to accommodate growth of 100,000 passengers per month, with 850 million pesos (US$ 150 million at the official exchange rate) being invested in the project. 

* LAN Argentina operated out of AEP for three years, from 2005-2008, without the hangar so why is it so important now ?

* The hangar is not essential to LAN Argentina's operation, it can still operate in the country using hangars at other airports, such as Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE). 

* LAN Argentina has had special privileges not given to other airlines, such as discounted jet bridge access at AEP and handling services from ground operator InterCargo so it should not complain about the inconvenience of vacating the hangar.

* LAN Argentina limits its flying in Argentina to fourteen profitable city pairs, while Aerolineas Argentinas flies many more routes, many of which are to unprofitable smaller cities, another reason why LAN Argentina should not complain about abandoning the hangar.

Anti-Eviction 

* The airline invested US$ 5 million in building the hangar and pays US$ 20,000 rent plus it has a contract with the airport for its use until 2023.

* The airline actually did have a hangar that it rented at AEP from 2005-2008 prior to occupying its own hangar. 

* While LAN Argentina could use a hangar at EZE, ten of its twelve aircraft are based at AEP and ferrying them to EZE would incur costs and aircraft downtime that would have a significant financial impact on its operation.   

Blog Editor's Comments:

LAN Argentina gets no subsidies while Aerolineas Argentinas gets US$ 1 billion per year.  Compare this to the Essential Air Service program in the United States that subsidizes airline service at 112 airports on 150+ routes that totaled US$ 170 million in 2012.  Why does Aerolineas need six times as much money to subsidize flights to just a few dozen cities at best ?

The Argentine government seems intent on forcing LAN to leave Argentina. The hangar situation is only the latest measure that it has taken to make the company's Argentine operation more costly and difficult.  For a summary of some of these (and also multiple measures against other airlines) see the following blog entry from 20Dec12:   

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/argentine-government-multiple.html

LAN operates divisions in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru without encountering the same difficulties in those countries.  The airline employs some 3,000 people in Argentina creating economic activity and paying taxes.  Why the adversarial approach to this company ? 

Sources:  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1612595-el-gobierno-dio-ultimatum-de-
              10-dias-a-lan-para-que-deje-el-aeroparque-jorge-newbery
                  http://www.infonews.com/2013/08/21/sociedad-93336-lan-las-
              privatizaciones-y-una-historia-de-privilegios-en-el-aire.php
                  http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-227432-2013-08-
              23.html
                  http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-227433-2013-08-
              23.html
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1614043-lan-va-a-la-justicia-y-critica-
              al-programa-678
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1615274-se-queda-lan-pero-exigen-que-
              aerolineas-opere-en-chile-y-brasil
                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Air_Service 

LAN Argentina Aeroparque Hangar Dispute Continues

LAN Argentina A320, LV-BRY, rotates at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 03Oct10. (Phil Perry Photo)

The dispute between LAN Argentina and the Argentine government over the airline's hangar at Buenos Aeroparque (AEP) has been suspended indefinitely after a tumultuous week of events stemming from the government order issued on Tuesday, 20Aug13 for the company to abandon the hangar by Thursday, 29Aug13.  The week unfolded as follows:   

Monday, August 26:

* LAN Argentina filed a request with the courts that the order be suspended.

* The government television program 6,7,8 referred to LAN Argentina as the "flagship airline of the opposition" in reference to those opposed to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.  LAN Argentina Public Affairs spokesman Agustin Agraz criticized this remark noting that all of LAN Argentina's employees are Argentine and that the airline wants to keep growing and hiring employees.

* Two unions, the APTA (Association of Aeronautical Technical Personnel) and ATCPEA (Flight Attendants Union), protested the government order inside the Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) terminal and also by partially blocking the major roadway outside the airport known as the "Costanera".

ATCPEA spokesman Ricardo Cirielli indicated that the union would shut down air transportation in Argentina on Thursday, 29Aug13 with a strike affecting all the domestic airlines and even international flights because the air traffic controllers would participate in the action too.   

The goal of the measure was for the government to suspend the hangar eviction notice. 

* The head of ORSNA (National Airport Regulatory Agency), Gustavo Lipovich, indicated that if LAN Argentina did not abandon the hangar, the government would start legal proceedings against the company but that there would be no forced eviction.

* Perfil.com reported that the government is willing to let LAN Argentina continue using the AEP hangar until it can move to EZE.  It even offered the airline the possibility of more international route rights but LAN Argentina rejected the idea.

Wednesday, August 28:

* The Argentine justice dept. issued a restraining order prohibiting the government from forcibly evicting the airline from its hangar giving the government five days to "provide an update on the situation".  One of the reasons cited for issuing the order was that LAN Argentina was not given enough time to state its case against it.  

Thursday, August 29:

* Argentine Minister of Transport Florencio Randazzo stated that "we do not want to throw any airline out of Argentina" and indicated that the government had requested the Chilean and Brazilian authorities (LAN is part of LATAM, a Chilean and Brazilian airline holding company) reciprocal rights for Aerolineas Argentinas to be able to operate domestically in those countries.    

* The Chilean government replied that Aerolineas is free to operate in Chile and did so with its affiliate Aerolineas del Sur for several years in the 2000's but closed it voluntarily in 2008.   

* Argentine Vice Minister of the Economy Axel Kicillof met with LAN Airlines President Ignacio Cueto in Buenos Aires, where among other things, he asked Cueto to produce a technical report explaining why LAN Argentina could not operate in Argentina without the Aeroparque hangar. 

* LAN's Cueto claims that it would be very "viable" for Aerolineas Argentinas to operate in Chile and that it is fairly "fast and simple" to get authorized to do so. 

Friday, August 30: 

* Aerolineas Argentinas President Mariano Recalde replied to the claims of the Chilean government and Cueto that it would be easy for Aerolineas to operate in Chile by saying that LAN is famous for "dumping airfares" in the markets it operates to eliminate competition.  

Sources:  http://www.perfil.com/economia/El-Gobierno-acepta-que-LAN-se-
              quede-en-el-hangar-hasta-mudarse-a-Ezeiza-20130825-0047.html
              http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1614079-protesta-de-trabajadores-
              aeronauticos-en-aeroparque-por-el-desalojo-a-lan   
              http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1614043-lan-va-a-la-justicia-y-critica-
              al-programa-678
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1614364-el-gobierno-admite-que-no-
              podra-esta-semana-desalojar-a-lan-de-aeroparque
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1614708-la-justicia-le-impide-el-
              desalojo-de-lan-de-aeroparque
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1615037-florencio-randazzo-pedimos-
              que-aerolineas-goce-en-brasil-y-chile-de-los-mismos-beneficios-qu
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1615041-el-gobierno-de-chile-dice-que-
              aerolineas-argentinas-tiene-las-puertas-abiertas
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1615298-el-ceo-de-lan-aseguro-que-es-
              muy-viable-que-aerolineas-opere-en-chile
                  http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1615520-chile-da-via-libre-a-aerolineas-
              pero-recalde-critica-a-lan

LAN Argentina Ordered to Abandon Hangar at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP); May Cease Argentina Operations

The website of Argentine newspaper La Nacion reports that LAN Argentina received a letter from the Argentine government agency ORSNA - Organismo Regulador del Sistema Nacional de Aeropuertos (National Airport Regulation Agency) on Monday, August 20 ordering the company to abandon its hangar at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) within 10 days, putting in doubt the company's continued operations in Argentina as LAN claims that without the hangar to service its aircraft its Aeroparque flights and Argentine domestic flights, in general, would become unviable.

This letter is based on an order issued in late 2012 that was to take effect 01Aug13 effectively banning commercial operations from Aeroparque by any Argentine airline other than Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral.

This is the latest chapter in a long-running conflict between the Argentine government and LAN Argentina where the government has repeatedly enforced measures that have been disadvantageous to the carrier's operations in the country.  See blog entry from 20Dec12: 

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/argentine-government-multiple.html

Agustin Agraz, LAN Argentina Director of Corporate Relations, said that the airline will "Resort to the courts to enforce our rights.  We have a signed contract for the hangar and our maintenance base until 2023 with an investment of US$ 5,000,000 and a monthly payment of US$ 20,000."  Asked if the situation could result in employee layoffs, Agraz said that "without the hangar, LAN Argentina's operation is unviable" and added "If they take the hangar away from us we will be obligated to stop flying to the 14 destinations in Argentina (that the airline currently serves)". 

The seriousness of the situation is underscored by the fact that LAN's CEO, Ignacio Cueto, interrupted a trip to Colombia to inaugurate the country's first biofuel flight to fly to Argentina to negotiate with airport authorities.

It will be interesting to see if the police show up at Aeroparque in ten days to forcibly remove LAN from the hangar.           

Source: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1612595-el-gobierno-dio-ultimatum-de-
           10-dias-a-lan-para-que-deje-el-aeroparque-jorge-newbery

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas, LAN Argentina, GOL & TAM Flights to Bariloche for Ski Season

GOL 737-800's are expected to bring many welcome Brazilian tourists to Bariloche for some skiing this winter. Pictured is PR-GTT at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 16Jan11.  (Phil Perry photo)  

With the start of the winter ski season, flights are on the increase to Bariloche (BRC), mainly for skiing at the nearby Cerro Catedral mountain.

Aerolineas Argentinas will fly to Bariloche (BRC) from:

* Buenos Aires (combination of AEP & EZE?) - 5x/daily on weekdays and  
   7x/daily on weekends 

* Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - 3x/weekly 

* Santiago de Chile (SCL) - 1x/weekly     

* Belo Horizonte (CNF) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bariloche (BRC) 

Flights will presumably be operated with a mix of 737-700's, 737-800's and Austral ERJ-190's, but the occasional widebody might be flown in too. 

LAN Argentina will fly there from:

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - 5x/daily on weekdays, 10x on Saturdays and 9x on Sundays, with A320's.   

GOL & TAM are expected to fly 120 charters to Bariloche (BRC) from various Brazilian cities between July and September carrying some 20,000 Brazilian tourists, presumably with a mix of 737-700's, 800's and A319/320/321's respectively but TAM might bring in widebodies too. 

Source:

Aviacion News 27Jun13:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion062713/aviacion062713.html

Argentine Government Multiple Discriminatory Measures to Protect Aerolineas Argentinas

LAN Argentina and LAN Peru have been the airlines most damaged by the policies of  Argentina's ANAC.  Taxiing above is LAN Argentina A320, LV-BRA, at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 07Jul10.  Photo: Phil Perry

The Argentine government's National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) recently denied LAN Argentina's request to add one more A320 to its fleet forcing the airline to cancel additional flights to Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) and Ushuaia (USH).  The aircraft would have been the 11th A320 in LAN Argentina's fleet and a registration had even been tentatively reserved for it, LV-CZY. 

No clear reasons were given for the denial but this action is only the latest of many such denials and discriminatory measures taken by the ANAC against competing airlines, both foreign and domestic, to shield Aerolineas Argentinas, which has been losing US$ 2 million per day for the past year with no end in sight, from competition.   

Similar measures and denials during the past 2-3 years include:

* Sky Airlines of Chile applied to fly Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Santiago (SCL) starting in September 2010 but permission was delayed forcing the airline to postpone the start of service three months until December of that year after having sold tickets on the route.  This caused great inconvenience to passengers and the airline. 

* AeroVIP, set up by PLUNA as an Argentine subsidiary, was repeatedly denied route rights making the project unviable.

* PLUNA was denied route right requests to several points in Argentina with the only new airport that they were allowed to fly to being Cordoba (COR).

* ORSNA, the Argentine airport regulatory authority, ordered in December 2010 that the jetways at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) be reserved for the exclusive use of Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral with other carriers only allowed to use the remote stands.

* TACA flew some charters from Mendoza (MDZ) to Lima (LIM) in early 2011 and applied for permanent authority to fly on a scheduled basis on the route but was similarly never given permission.

* LAN Peru applied to fly from Iguazu (IGR) to Lima (LIM) but was denied permission only a few weeks prior to the scheduled start of service in January 2011 forcing the airline to fly to neighboring Foz de Iguacu (IGU).  The Brazilian authorities did not hesitate to grant permission to LAN Peru and welcomed them with open arms.      

* COPA sought permission to fly from Rosario (ROS) to Panama City (PTY) in late 2011 but was denied the request. 

* In early 2012, LAN Argentina was forced to move its regional flights to neighboring countries, such as Brazil and Chile, from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) while Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral continued to fly to these points from AEP.

* Also in early 2012, LAN Argentina was denied permission to add another 767 to its fleet that would have been used to increase Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA) flights from 7x/weekly to 10x/weekly. 

* LAN Peru flew from Rosario (ROS) to Lima (LIM) for several months but were denied permission to continue the flights with the last one operating on 29Feb12.

The latest rumor is that Aeroparque (AEP) will be reserved for the exclusive use of Aerolineas and Austral forcing other airlines to move operations to San Fernando (FDO) or Ezeiza (EZE).  Of course, due to reciprocal international route rights, Gol and TAM of Brazil, LAN of Chile, and BQB of Uruguay could not be forced to move out of AEP as long as Aerolineas and Austral continued to fly out of there to those countries but Argentine airlines would be obligated to obey the order.  This includes LAN Argentina, which would have to move to Ezeiza (EZE) but the airline would not be able to compete from that airport (20 miles / 32 km from downtown Buenos Aires) with AR/AU flights out of convenient Aeroparque (AEP).  

LAN Argentina's parent airline, LAN, would be forced to shut down its Argentine affiliate, throwing several hundred employees out of work.  These would probably be hired on by AR/AU much as the "paper" airline Lineas Aereas Federales did with former LAPA and Southern Winds employees in 2003.  Interestingly, Aerolineas Argentinas' planned fleet expansion for 2017 shows a doubling of 737-700/800 aircraft.  Where are they going to fly all of those planes ?  Could the plan to push LAN Argentina to Ezeiza (EZE) be part of a deliberate strategy to force LAN out of Argentina to create a virtual AR/AU monopoly on domestic flights ?

Sources:  La Nacion 11Dec10
              La Nacion 12Jul11
              La Nacion 12Jan12
              Aviacion News 01Mar12
              La Nacion 20Nov12 
              Aviacion News 22Nov12

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas, Andes & LAN Argentina to fly Argentina-Originating Charters this Summer

Andes Lineas Aereas will be operating many charters from Argentina to Brazil and the Dominican Republic this summer with their MD-80's.  Pictured is Andes MD-83, LV-BTH, landing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 24Sep10.  Photo: Phil Perry  

Three airlines have been authorized by the Argentine ANAC to fly charters from Argentina to foreign destinations during the upcoming southern hemisphere summer - Aerolineas Argentinas, Andes and LAN Argentina.

The process was lengthy with the conclusion only arrived at recently.  Aerolineas Argentinas was given first choice of routes with other carriers only allowed to fly the routes that Aerolineas agrees to, effectively giving the national carrier a regulatory role in Argentine aviation policy.

The ANAC also required that the airlines operating charters from Argentina must be Argentine, operate regularly scheduled services (not charter-only operators) and use aircraft registered in Argentina.  This ruled out charter-only carriers like Leal Lineas Aereas that flew two MD-83's and an MD-87 on charters in the past and the use of foreign aircraft such as Vueling A320's leased in by Andes last year. 

Some of the seats that were sold to tour operators will be operated on a pure-charter basis while others will be part-charters using regularly-scheduled flights. 

Charter flights will include:

Aerolineas Argentinas 

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS), 4x/week 

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Salvador de Bahia (SSA), 4x/week

Because these destinations are in the far northeastern coast of Brazil, Aerolineas will likely operate 737-700/800's or A340's on these routes (not Austral's EMB-190's).

Part-charters with extra sections will also be operated from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Caracas (CCS), Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), Florianopolis (FLN), and Cancun (CUN)

Andes Lineas Aereas

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Punta Cana (PUJ), Dominican Republic

Cordoba (COR) - Punta Cana (PUJ), Dominican Republic

Rosario (ROS) - Punta Cana (PUJ), Dominican Republic

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Salvador de Bahia (SSA)

Cordoba (COR) - Salvador de Bahia (SSA)

Rosario (ROS) - Salvador de Bahia (SSA)

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS) 

Cordoba (COR) - Porto Seguro (BPS) 

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Samana (AZS), Dominican Republic

Rosario (ROS) - Samana (AZS), Dominican Republic

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - La Romana (LRM), Dominican Republic

Cordoba (COR) - Talara (TYL) in northwestern Peru, unconfirmed

All to be operated 1x/week with MD-80's. 

LAN Argentina

Cordoba (COR) - Salta (SLA) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - Maceio (MCZ), Daily with A320

Source: Aviacion News 01Nov12

Please note that La Voz, Cordoba's daily newspaper, reported in its online edition on 26Oct12 that charters to be operated from Cordoba (COR) will be the following, somewhat different from Aviacion News: 

Andes Lineas Aereas 

Recife (REC)
Salvador de Bahía (SSA)
Punta Cana (PUJ)
La Romana (LRM)
Punta Sal / Talara (TYL) 

All above with 1x/week flights. 

Porto Seguro (BPS) with 2x/week flights.

LAN Argentina

Maceio (MCZ), 1x/week

ROUTE UPDATES: Bariloche (BRC) Sharp Increase in Flights for Winter Ski Season

Bariloche Profile

Bariloche is a city of 108,000 people located on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi in the central western Patagonia region of Argentina near the Chilean border. It is a year-round tourist destination and the number one winter ski resort in Argentina in terms of number of skiiers taking advantage of the nearby Cerro Catedral mountain. Argentines and Brazilians are the main visitors but many Europeans and Americans visit Bariloche too.

Aerolineas Argentinas 737-700, LV-CBF, at AEP on 17Sep10

Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral  

Aerolineas Argentinas increased the number of flights it operated from Buenos Aires to Bariloche (BRC) in June to 35 weekly with 28 being from Aeroparque (AEP) and 7 from Ezeiza (EZE).  The carrier will further increase its flights between the two cities to 45 per week for the peak ski season of July and August.  Flights to Bariloche (BRC) will also be increased from Cordoba (COR), Argentina's second-largest city and Mendoza (MDZ) its fourth-largest metropolis.  Aerolineas will also operate thrice-weekly scheduled flights from Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) to Bariloche (BRC).    

       LAN Argentina A320, LV-BHU. landing at AEP on 03Oct10 

LAN Argentina

Starting in July, LAN Argentina will fly up to five daily flights from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) ro Bariloche (BRC) and nine daily flights on weekends using the carrier's Airbus A320 aircraft. 

 

TAM A320, PR-MBB, preparing for takeoff at AEP on 11Feb12

GOL 737-800, PR-GGA, at AEP on 11Feb12

TAM & GOL

Reflecting the strong Brazilian interest in skiing at Bariloche, the two main Brazilian airlines, TAM and GOL have been authorized by the Argentine National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC by its Spanish initials) to operate 140 charters from Brazil to Bariloche (BRC) during July and August.  The originating airports will be Belo Horizonte (CNF), Porto Alegre (POA), Rio de Janeiro (GIG), and Sao Paulo (GRU) with the services being flown by GOL 737-700's and -800's plus TAM A320's (plus possibly TAM A330's as BRC's 2,348 meter / 7,703 ft. runway can probably handle them when they only carry enough fuel to fly to GIG, the furthest away of the aforementioned Brazilian airports). 

Sources:  Aviacion News 31May12, 07Jun12, 14Jun12
              http://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php?topic=6649.0
              Wikipedia

Photos: Phil Perry

GOL 737-800 clips LAN Argentina A320 at Aeroparque (AEP)

On February 13 at 10:20am at Buenos Aires - Aeroparque, the left winglet of a GOL Linhas Aereas 737-800 inbound from Sao Paulo (GRU) collided with the tailcone and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) of LAN Argentina A320, registration LV-BGI, as the Brazilian aircraft was taxiing in to the Gate #2 hardstand and the LAN aircraft was pushing back from its hardstand for departure.   

The LAN A320 was about to depart operating flight LA4022 to Puerto Iguazu in northern Argentina where the famous falls are located when the incident happened.   Its APU and tailcone were visibly dented leading to the aircraft being moved to a hangar for inspection to determine the extent of the damage and needed repairs. 

Interestingly, though the damage was substantial, passengers on the LAN aircraft did not feel the impact and were not even aware of the collision until told about it.   The stranded passengers were accommodated on an afternoon flight to Iguazu. 

The GOL 737-800 was also removed from service.   Passengers from both aircraft were deplaned without incident and nobody was injured.

The Civil Aviation Accident Division of the Argentine National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC are its initials in Spanish) will investigate the incident.

While preliminary speculation was that the GOL pilot "miscalculated", the editor of this blog would put the responsibility on the shoulders of the individuals and wing walkers marshalling the two aircraft, that is if such personnel were in place, which they are supposed to be.

The incident has brought attention to the overcrowded conditions of AEP's ramp area, especially since regional flights to neighboring countries were authorized in March 2010 leading to a 30% increase in the number of commercial movements at Aeroparque. 

This link has two photos of the incident:

http://www.clarin.com/sociedad/Polemica-choque-aviones-Aeroparque_0_646135447.html

Source: www.clarin.com