ROUTE UPDATES: March 2023 - Part 2 - Jetsmart Chile, LADE, LATAM Brasil, Lufthansa, Sky Airline Peru

Route Updates - March 2023 - Part 2

The following airlines / flights are confirmed to have started or re-started service on the indicated routes on the listed dates.  Many 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 by your editor.

Airline - Route - Eff Date - Aircraft Type - Flight Frequency - Remarks  

* Jetsmart Chile - Montevideo (MVD) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - 28Mar23 - A320, A321neo - 3x/weekly - Remarks: Continuation of Santiago (SCL) to Montevideo (MVD) flights

* Lineas Aereas del Estado (LADE) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Reconquista (RCQ) - 13Mar23 - F-28-1000 - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Service subsidized by Reconquista city government.

* Lineas Aereas del Estado (LADE) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) - Reconquista (RCQ) - 14Mar23 - Saab 340B - 1x/weekly - Remarks: Service subsidized by Reconquista city government.

* LATAM Brasil - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Cordoba (COR) - Mt. Pleasant (MPN) - 07Mar23 - 767-300ER - 1x/weekly - Remarks: SERVICE RESTART CANCELLED. Original service started on 20Nov19 with one stop in Cordoba (COR) in each direction, but was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic.  Flights almost restarted on more than one occasion since then, but the Argentine government revoked LATAM Brasil's authority on this route on 07Mar23. 

* Lufthansa - Frankfurt (FRA) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 26Mar23 - 747-8i - 1x/daily -Remarks: Increasing frequency from 6x/weekly 

* Sky Airline Peru - Lima (LIM) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Santiago (SCL) - 28Mar23 - A321neo - 3x/weekly

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATES: February 2021 - Part 3 - Delta, Lufthansa, Turkish, United

Route Updates - February 2021 - Part 3

The Argentine Government's ANAC national aviation authority issued an order on 26Jan21 requiring airlines to reduce the number of flights from Argentina to Europe, Mexico and the United States by 30% and to Brazil by 50%, effective 01Feb21.

Delta Air Lines 

* Atlanta (ATL) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE)

Reduced frequency from 3x/weekly to 2x/weekly for at least February and March. 

Upguaged equipment from 767-400 to A330-300 in February.

Lufthansa German Airlines

* Frankfurt (FRA) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) 

Continues 3x/weekly flights with 747-8 but with 2x/weekly both pax and cargo and 1x/weekly only cargo (still using a pax aircraft)  

Turkish Airlines 

* Istanbul (IST) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) 
 

Reduced frequency on the route (with stop in Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU)) from 3x/weekly to 2x/weekly, effective in February.

 

United Airlines 

* Houston Bush (IAH) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) 

Continues 3x/weekly flights with 787-9 but with two IAH-EZE legs for pax and one for cargo only. All three EZE-IAH legs continue to be available for pax.  

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas, American, COPA, Delta, Jetsmart Argentina, LADE, LATAM Brazil/Chile/Peru, Lufthansa Cargo

Route Updates - January 2021

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.

   

Please note that Flybondi's and Jetsmart Argentina's domestic flights from Buenos Aires would normally fly out of El Palomar (EPA) and Aerolineas Argentinas' domestic flights would operate from Aeroparque (AEP) but both of these airports are currently closed, with EPA possibly not to re-open and AEP likely to be operational again in the coming months when the extension and repaving of its runway are complete.  In the meantime, all three carriers are flying out of Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).  

Airline             Origin                      Destination        Eff Date    Type           Frequency   Remarks

Aerolineas       Buenos Aires           Cancun (CUN)    01Jan21    A330-200    3x/weekly      Increased      Argentinas       Ezeiza (EZE)                                                                                                 Frequency

Aerolineas       Cordoba (COR)        Mar del Plata      01Jan21    E-190         3x/weekly      Seasonal

Argentinas                                        (MDQ)                                                                           until Mar      

Aerolineas       Cordoba (COR)        Bariloche (BRC)  01Jan21   E-190          3x/weekly     Seasonal          Argentinas                                                                                                                              until Mar

Aerolineas       Tucuman (TUC)       Mar del Plata       01Jan21    E-190          2x/weekly    Seasonal 

Argentinas                                        (MDQ)                                                                           until Mar

Aerolineas       Rosario (ROS)         Bariloche (BRC)  02Jan21     E-190         3x/weekly

Argentinas

Aerolineas       Rosario (ROS)         Mar del Plata       02Jan21     E-190         2x/weekly   Seasonal          Argentinas                                       (MDQ)                                                                          until Mar

Aerolineas       Mendoza (MDZ)       Mar del Plata       03Jan21     E-190         2x/weekly   Seasonal

Argentinas                                        (MDQ)                                                                          until Mar 

Aerolineas       Buenos Aires            Florianopolis       03Jan21      E-190         2x/weekly   Seasonal

Argentinas       Ezeiza (EZE)            (FLN)                                     737-700/800                   until Mar

Aerolineas       Mendoza (MDZ)       Salta (SLA)         03Jan21      E-190         2x/weekly

Argentinas

American         Dallas Ft. Worth       Buenos Aires       04Jan21      787-9                            Upguage

Airlines            (DFW)                       Ezeiza (EZE)                                                                from 787-8

Aerolineas       Buenos Aires            Rio Cuarto           05Jan21      E-190         2x/weekly    

Argentinas       Ezeiza (EZE)            (RCU)

 

Delta Air Lines Atlanta (ATL)            Buenos Aires       05Jan21      A330-300    3x/weekly   Upguage 

                                                         Ezeiza (EZE)                                                               from 767-400           

LADE              Comodoro                Perito Moreno       05Jan21      Saab 340   1x/weekly      5 legs

                        Rivadavia (CRD)     (PMQ)

     

                        Perito Moreno          Esquel (EQS)       

                        (PMQ)

                        Esquel (EQS)           Bariloche (BRC)

                        Bariloche (BRC)       Trelew (REL)           

                        Trelew (REL)            Comodoro          

                                                          Rivadavia (CRD)

LATAM Brasil  Buenos Aires            Sao Paulo                Jan21                           10x/weekly    Increased

                        Ezeiza (EZE)            Guarulhos (GRU)                                                              Frequency

LATAM Chile   Buenos Aires            Santiago (SCL)       Jan21                            14x/weekly   Increased

                        Ezeiza (EZE)                                                                                                      Frequency

LATAM Peru    Buenos Aires            Lima (LIM)              Jan21                            12x/weekly  Increased                                          Ezeiza (EZE)                                                                                                     Frequency

Jetsmart          Mendoza (MDZ)       Bariloche (BRC)  06Jan21      A320              2x/weekly        

Argentina

Lufthansa        Frankfurt (FRA)       Viracopos (VCP)  06Jan21      777-200F        2x/weekly      777-200F        Cargo                                                                                                                                replacing MD-11F                                      Viracopos (VCP)     Montevideo (MVD)                                    

                                                                                                

                        Montevideo             Buenos Aires        

                        (MVD)                      Ezeiza (EZE)                                                                                                                                    

                        Buenos Aires          Frankfurt (FRA)

                        Ezeiza (EZE)

LADE               Comodoro              Trelew (REL)          07Jan21      Saab 340        1x/weekly       5 legs

                         Rivadavia (CRD)

                         Trelew (REL)         Bariloche (BRC)

                         Bariloche (BRC)    Esquel (EQS)

                         Esquel (EQS)         Perito Moreno

                                                        (PMQ)

                         Perito Moreno        Comodoro  

                         (PMQ)                    Rivadavia (CRD)

Lufthansa         Frankfurt (FRA)      Sao Paulo              12Jan21     777-200F         1x/weekly    777-200F

Cargo                                              Guarulhos (GRU)                                                    Replacing MD-11F                                 

                         Sao Paulo               Buenos Aires                                                                     

                         Guarulhos (GRU     Ezeiza (EZE)

                         Buenos Aires          Frankfurt (FRA)

                         Ezeiza (EZE)

COPA Panama Buenos Aires          Panama City         12Jan21       737-800           2x/daily      Increased                                       Ezeiza (EZE)          (PTY)                                                                                    Frequency 

Jetsmart           Buenos Aires           El Calafate            21Jan21       A320               2x/weekly

Argentina         Ezeiza (EZE)           (FTE)

   

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

Longest Passenger Flight in Lufthansa History - A350 charter from Hamburg (HAM) to Mt. Pleasant (MPN) Islas Malvinas / Falkland Islands on 31Jan21

Lufthansa German Airlines will operate a nonstop charter flight from Hamburg (HAM) to Mt. Pleasant (MPN), Islas Malvinas / Falkland Islands on 31Jan21 carrying a party of researchers that will continue to Antarctica by sea.  This will be the longest nonstop passenger flight in Lufthansa's history.  

A350-900 registration D-AIXP will be the aircraft assigned to the flight, designated LH2574 with the return to Munich (MUC) on 03Feb21 being LH2575. Interestingly, the southbound fight will track over the Argentine city of Mar del Plata, which can be followed at https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/lh2574  Social media coverage of the flight is available at @lufthansaNews (Twitter) and @lufthansaviews (Instagram) - #LHLongestFlight.

The flight will have 17 Lufthansa crewmembers plus 92 passengers, half of them being researchers and scientists from the German Alfred Wegener Institute with the other half being crewmembers of the German expeditionary ship "Polastern".  They will sail from the islands to the "Neumayer III" station on Antarctica with the institute staff spending the south pole winter there.  The flight could not operate directly to Antarctica because there are no airstrips on the continent that can take aircraft as large as the A350.

  

Lufthansa operates this flight twice-yearly in the southern hemisphere summer for the annual changeover of Antarctica-based staff, usually via South Africa, but special care is being taken this year to avoid introducing COVID-19 to the Antarctic continent, which is one of the few regions of the world that the virus has not yet reached.  This is especially important because of the limited medical facilities on Antarctica and the inaccessibility of the territory most of the year due to the brutal weather conditions.  Operating via the Malvinas / Falklands greatly reduces the likelihood of virus transmission due to no cases of COVID-19 currently on the islands.  

The flight will cover a routing 8,560 miles / 13,700 km long, taking some 15 hours to complete.  After arriving at Mt. Pleasant (MPN) on 01Feb21, D-AIXP will lay over at the British Royal Air Force base for two days as it is prepared for its journey back to Germany carrying staff traveling in the opposite direction after finishing their year of Antarctica duty. 

In addition to making arrangements with the RAF for use of the Mt. Pleasant (MPN) airbase, the German government also asked the government of Argentina for permission to land on the islands, a seemingly tacit recognition of Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the archipelago, which has been in dispute with the British since the early 19th century, culminating in the 1982 South Atlantic War resulting in a heavy reinforcement of the Malvinas / Falklands by British military forces.  The Argentine foreign office gave its approval to the German request.

Sources:

https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/newsroom/releases/record-flight-lufthansa-takes-off-with-antarctica-researchers-on-its-13700-kilometer-journey.html

https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/01/lufthansa-planea-vuelo-non-stop-a-las-islas-malvinas/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/01/se-conocen-mas-detalles-del-vuelo-de-lufthansa-a-las-islas-malvinas/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/01/el-vuelo-de-lufthansa-hacia-las-islas-malvinas-pasara-sobre-mar-del-plata/

https://www.aviacionline.com/2021/01/lufthansa-solicito-a-la-argentina-permiso-para-volar-a-las-islas-malvinas/  

ROUTE UPDATES: Argentina "Regular" Flights Restart - #4 of 4 - European, US & Worldwide Carriers - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Departures - Week of 07-13Dec

The text immediately below this introduction is repeated from previous posting "ROUTE UPDATES: Argentina "Regular" Flights Restart - #1 of 4 - Aerolineas Argentinas - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Departures - Week of 07-13Dec" to give context to the information regarding resumption of service by other Latin American carriers (non-Argentine) departing Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) in the second half of this posting: 

Regularly scheduled airline services came to an abrupt halt in Argentina on 20Mar20 with only "special" flights operated, mostly for the repatriation of both Argentines stranded overseas and foreigners marooned in Argentina, until 22Oct20 when "regular" flights were resumed. 

Many special cargo flights were also operated (and continue to be flown), such as at least sixteen Aerolineas Argentinas flights to Shanghai, China that brought back to Argentina massive numbers of masks, gowns and other equipment to be used in the fight against COVID-19.     

The resumption of "regular" flights in October was exclusively out of Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) because the capital's two other airports were and still are closed.  

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) is not operational due to the airfield's sole runway being resurfaced and extended (work scheduled to be finished in March/April) and the reopening of Buenos Aires El Palomar (EPA) was deemed inefficient costwise, considering that Ezeiza is operating well below capacity, so EPA's two carriers, Flybondi and Jetsmart, have been directed to fly out of EZE, at least for now. 

At first, only about a dozen "regular" flights per day flew out of EZE but this increased significantly to an average of 47 daily departures during the week of 07-13Dec with a total of 332 flights being operated by all airlines from EZE during that period.  

Air Europa A330-200, EC-LNH ? (c/n 551), at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 30Jun15.  The airline has retired nearly all of its A330's in favor of 787-8's and 787-9's.  (Phil Perry Photo)  

Services operated during the week of 07-13Dec:

Europe:

Air Europa - Operated 2 flights to Madrid (MAD) using 787-9 - 4 flights per week fewer than normal  

Air France - Operated 4 flights to Paris - Charles de Gaulle (CDG) using 3 787-9 and 1 777-300 - 3 flights per week fewer than normal

British Airways - 5 flights to London-Heathrow (LHR), all with 787-9 - about 1 or 2 flights per week fewer than normal  

Iberia - 6 flights to Madrid (MAD), 5 with A350-900 and 1 with A330-200 - 9 flights per week fewer than normal  

KLM - Operated 5 flights to Amsterdam (AMS) using 777-300 - 1 flight per week fewer than normal  

Level - Operated 2 flights to Barcelona (BCN) using A330-200 - 2 flights per week fewer than normal  

Lufthansa - Operated 3 flights to Frankfurt (FRA) using 747-8 - 4 flights per week fewer than normal  

Lufthansa Cargo - Operated 3 flights to Frankfurt (FRA), sometimes stopping in Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), using MD-11F - 1 flight per week more than normal  

Martinair Holland - Operated 1 flight to Quito (UIO) - Amsterdam (AMS), using 747-400F - 1 flight per week fewer than normal  

Swiss International - Operated 2 flights to Zurich (ZRH) using 777-300 

Turkish - Operated 4 flights to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Istanbul (IST) using 787-9 

United States:

American - Operated 7 flights to Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) using 787-8 - same number of flights per week as in the past but with a smaller aircraft than the previous 777-200  

American - Operated 7 flights to Miami (MIA) using 777-200 - 7 flights per week fewer than normal  

United - Operated 3 flights to Houston Intercontinental (IAH) using 787-9 - 4 flights per week fewer than normal and with a smaller aircraft than the previous 777-200   

Worldwide:

Ethiopian - Operated 1 flight to Addis Ababa (ADD) using 787-8 - 6 flights per week fewer than normal  

Qatar Cargo - Operated 4 flights to Doha (DOH), sometimes stopping in Quito (UIO), using 777-200F - 1 flight per week more than normal  

Comments:

* The 787 series of aircraft is increasingly popular on flights to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) with nine carriers currently operating the -8 and -9 versions to the city's intercontinental airport; Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, American, Avianca, British Airways, Ethiopian, Turkish, and United plus possibly two more, Air Canada and Norwegian, if and when they resume service to EZE.  This compares to six airlines flying the 787 to EZE in June 2018.    

* Air New Zealand and Emirates have already announced that they will not resume flights to Argentina, either now or when the pandemic is over.

Sources:

www.aa2000.com.ar

https://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Air%20Europa.htm

PHOTO: Lufthansa 747-8I at Buenos Aires - Ezeiza on 09Feb16

Lufthansa 747-830, D-ABYQ (c/n 37840/1503), rests at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Terminal C on 09Feb16 after arrival from Frankfurt (FRA).  (Phil Perry Photo)

Lufthansa German Airlines has taken delivery of all 19 examples of the passenger version of the 747-8 that it ordered, Boeing's latest version of its nearly half-century old 747 Jumbo Jet.

15 airlines have ordered a total of 121 747-8's with 102 delivered so far, including 39 of the 51 747-8I passenger version on order and 63 of the 70 747-8F freighter version bought by the airlines.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747-8
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b747-37840.htm 

ROUTE UPDATE: Lufthansa introduced 747-8I between Frankfurt (FRA) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 26Oct14

Lufthansa flew the 747-8I from Frankfurt (FRA) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) a few times earlier in 2014 but officially introduced the aircraft on a daily basis on the route on 26Oct14, the last Sunday of October, the traditional summer/winter schedule changeover date of the international airline industry.

Some interesting facts:

* The 747-8I is the longest-ever passenger-carrying aircraft at 250 ft. 2 inches (76.3m) compared to the A380 at 239 ft (72.73m). 

* Frankfurt (FRA) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) is Lufthansa's longest non-stop route.  

* Lufthansa's 747-8I is the only 747 of any version currently flying in Argentina.  

Sources:

http://747-8.lufthansa.com/#/b747/experience

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141030/avn-141030.html

Former Argentine Air Force 707-387B, TC-91, Painted in Lufthansa Colors for Movie

Former Fuerza Aerea Argentina 707-387B, TC-91 (c/n 21070/897) was recently painted in 1970's Lufthansa colors for filming of the movie "Colonia Dignidad" starring English actress Emma Watson.  The movie is based on events surrounding the 1973 Chilean military coup.  The aircraft was painted at El Palomar Air Force Base where some of the filming has taken place.       

TC-91 was delivered to the Fuerza Aerea Argentina on 11Jun75 where it flew for the Argentine Presidential Flight as T-01 until it was converted to a -387C configuration in June 1977 and joined the regular Fuerza Aerea Argentina fleet of 707's.  The aircraft went on to serve with Lineas Aereas del Estado (LADE) from 1996 until 2005/2006 when it operated some of the last 707 passenger services worldwide.  TC-91 has reportedly been at El Palomar ever since.

Photo of TC-91 in Lufthansa colors: 

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/12/la-ficcion-del-tc-91.html

Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2879407/Smiling-Emma-Watson-puts-recent-split-Matthew-Janney-gets-work-new-movie-Colonia-Dignidad-Argentina.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/10/tc-91-boeing-707-387b-cn-21070897.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Lufthansa to introduce the 747-8 on its Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Frankfurt (FRA) route on 26Oct14

Lufthansa is scheduled to replace the 747-400's that it currently operates on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Frankfurt (FRA) route with the 747-8 on 26Oct14 coinciding with the changeover by most international airlines to their winter schedules.  The German airline is the only foreign carrier to have consistently operated the 747 to Argentina in recent years with many airlines opting for smaller widebody types, such as the 777 and A340.  

An advance look at the type came about on 04Jun14 when Lufthansa brought 747-8 D-ABYD (c/n 37829/1453) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on an exceptional basis replacing the normal 747-400 flight.  It was reportedly the first time a 747-8 had visited Argentina, at least one belonging to the German carrier.   

The 747-8 is 5.6 meters (18.3 ft.) longer than the standard 747 models with Lufthansa operating the type with a total of 364 seats; 8 in First Class, 80 in Business, 32 in Premium Economy, and 244 in Economy.  

120 747-8's had been ordered through the end of May 2014; 51 of the 747-8I passenger version and 69 of the 747-8F cargo type with a total of 70 delivered so far.  Lufthansa has ordered 19 747-8's, more than any other airline, all of them being the passenger version.  It has taken delivery of 14 of them so far.

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140515/avn-140515.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140529/avn-140529.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140612/avn-140612.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747-8