Andes Lineas Aereas will fly families of Argentine soldiers fallen in the South Atlantic War to the islands on 26Mar18

Two chartered Andes Lineas Aereas MD-83's will fly from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to the Mt. Pleasant Royal Air Force base on the Malvinas/Falklands islands on 26Mar18 carrying 180 family members of 88 Argentine soldiers buried in the Argentine War Memorial Cemetery at Darwin. 

The 88 soldiers were identified last year by a team from the Argentine Forensic Society assisted by specialists from Australia, Chile, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the International Red Cross through the use of DNA samples.  The British authorities will reportedly hand over personal belongings of the previously unidentified soldiers to the families.  

The charter of these aircraft and all of the costs on the islands associated with this journey are being paid for by Eduardo Eurnekian, president of Corporacion America, owner of Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, which runs most of the airports in Argentina that have airline service (and some that do not).  A Gulfstream business jet owned by Mr. Eurnekian and a chartered American Jet Fairchild Metro 23 freighter (also paid for by Mr. Eurnekian) will also fly to the islands, the latter carrying new tombstones with the fallen soldiers' names on them to replace the existing ones bearing the legend "Argentine Soldier only known to God".    

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180222/avn-180222.html
https://www.clarin.com/politica/familiares-caidos-viajaran-darwin-aviones-privados-ezeiza-26-marzo_0_SyAc3Lxdz.html

FLEET UPDATE: Andes adds 5th MD-80 LV-BEG to its active fleet

Austral MD-83, LV-BEG (c/n 49630/1591), taxiing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 01Oct10 prior to its retirement from service with the carrier in April 2012. (Phil Perry Photo)

Andes Lineas Aereas added MD-83, LV-BEG (c/n 49630/1591), to its fleet when the aircraft arrived at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 08Jul17.  It is the airline's  5th currently active MD-83 and seventh active aircraft overall including its two recently delivered 737-800's. 

LV-BEG was delivered to Spanair in 1989 joining Austral on 21Mar06 until its retirement in April 2012 and subsequent storage at San Juan (UAQ) from 10Apr12 until September 2014.  Shortly after that the MD-83 entered service with Sanford (SFB) Florida-based charter carrier Orange Air registered as N926AV until June 2017, just prior to its return to Argentina to fly for Andes.  

Welcome Home ! ! !  

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/07/naranjin-en-salta.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=lv-beg
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas-active-md80.htm

PHOTO GALLERY: Andes MD-83 LV-WGM painted in Travel Rock colors with variations from same scheme in 2015

Andes MD-83, LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627), in the special Travel Rock billboard scheme at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 11Jul17.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

The same aircraft in the same scheme at Aeroparque on 10Dec15 but with a few differences as described below.  (Phil Perry Photo)

The Travel Rock logo on the front of the aircraft previously had the wording "TRAVEL ROCK TRAVEL COMPANY" but it now reads "TRAVEL ROCK, ROCK YOUR LIFE".

Previously there was script lettering above the billboard titles with the legend "La compania de viajes de egresados mas grande del mundo" (the largest company in the world of graduating student trips) in reference to Travel Rock but those are not there now. 

The "ROCK YOUR LIFE" logo on the engine now replaces what in 2015 was at first a simple logo followed by the brown colors illustrated above. 

This year the tail has the new-style "andes" lettering on the tail compared to the "TRAVEL ROCK TRAVEL COMPANY" logo painted there in 2015.  

ROUTE UPDATES: Andes Lineas Aereas adds several new routes

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rio Hondo (RHD) - eff 23May17

Operated using MD-80's 3x/weekly. 

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Cordoba (COR) - Samana (AZS) - eff 27May17

Operated using 737-800 / MD-80's 1x/weekly. 

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Bariloche (BRC) - eff 19Jun17

Operated using 737-800 / MD-80's 5x/weekly. 

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Iguazu (IGR) - eff 03Jul17

Operated using MD-80's 5x/weekly. 

Andes will soon have ten cities in its scheduled route network; Bariloche (BRC), Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Cordoba (COR), Iguazu (IGR), Jujuy (JUJ), Mar del Plata (MDQ) (seasonal), Mendoza (MDZ), Puerto Madryn (PMY), Rio Hondo (RHD), and Salta (SLA), its home base.

The carrier also flies charters, especially for sports teams and school vacations to Bariloche (BRC) from points all over Argentina. 

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170511/avn-170511.html

FLEET UPDATE & ROUTE UPDATE: Andes expanding with New Scheduled Routes & More Aircraft

Andes Lineas Aereas of Salta (SLA), which started flying with MD-80's in 2005, has always had a modest scheduled route network complemented with a lot of charter flying for sports teams and especially the student vacation market to the Bariloche (BRC) lake and mountain resort.

While most growth opportunities were stifled during the previous Argentine presidential administrations, the new growth-oriented air transportation policy in the country will apparently see the carrier's scheduled network grow substantially in the coming months. 

Fleet Status & Update

Andes currently operates four MD-83's, all ex-Austral with two of them having been originally delivered to Aerolineas Argentinas' sister carrier in 1989/90.  

LV-AYD (c/n 53015/1818)

LV-CCJ (c/n 49621/1495)

LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627) - Austral original delivery in 1989

LV-WGN (c/n 49934/1764) - Austral original delivery in 1990

The carrier is expected to take delivery of two MD-83's (probably ex-Delta) and two 737-800's, tentatively ex-Malaysian, 9M-FFD (c/n 30007/746) and 9M-FFE (c/n 30567/761), both in storage since late 2016, with the first aircraft expected in May. 

Route Status & Update

Andes' scheduled route network presently links Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) with Salta (SLA) and Jujuy (JUJ) in northwest Argentina plus Cordoba (COR) in the center and Puerto Madryn (PMY) on the Patagonian Atlantic coast.  Mendoza (MDZ), in the western wine country, near Chile was just added on a twice-daily basis from AEP on 20Mar17. 

The next destination to be added to its scheduled route network is Bariloche (BRC) from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) effective 16Jun17 to be followed tentatively by Iguazu Falls (IGR) and Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD).  

The 27Dec16 route hearings saw Andes granted routes that will see the carrier accumulate a network of 14 domestic destinations plus international service to Lima (LIM), Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU): 

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2017/01/airline-route-update-andes-lineas.html

Finally, its charter services, including flights to the Caribbean are expected to continue into the future. 

Sources:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/03/las-novedades-andes-marzo/

http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/03/andes-operara-vuelos-regulares-a-bariloche-desde-junio/

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas-active-md80.htm

Andes Lineas Aereas modifies Titles & Logo with New Color Schemes

Andes Lineas Aereas has modified its titles and changed its logo (as illustrated above) and has applied the new titles to MD-83, LV-AYD (c/n 53015/1818), on both the fuselage and tail in what will apparently be a fleetwide modified scheme.

This artist's rendering as published in the Sir Chandler blog shows profiles of the new scheme:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/03/andes-mete-pequeno-cambio-diseno-aviones/

Photos of LV-AYD on the avacionline.com website: 

http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/03/nuevo-livery-de-andes-lineas-aereas/

It is also possible that the airline will change its scheme entirely to have the new-style titles on the fuselage in a billboard format, the new logo on the tail plus a red rear upper fuselage and grey lower rear fuselage as shown in the Linea ALA blog on both its current MD-80 fleet and planned future 737-800 aircraft :      

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/03/andes-con-nuevos-colores.html 

FLEET UPDATE: Andes Lineas Aereas reportedly to add 6th MD-80 and two used 737-800's

Andes Lineas Aereas of Salta will reportedly add MD-83, N926AV (c/n 49630/1591), to its fleet in February.  The aircraft, which currently operates mostly charter flights for Orange Air of Sanford, Florida, flew with Austral Lineas Aereas as LV-BEG for almost nine years between 2006 and 2015 after a nearly 17-year career with Spanair since its initial delivery in 1989.  It is a coming home of sorts to Argentina for the airplane after a two-year hiatus. 

More significant is the news that Andes is looking to add two used 737-800's to its fleet in March with more to be added over time as replacements for its ageing MD-80 fleet. The airline hopes to have ten 737-800's by the end of 2017, presumably to operate some of the new routes that it applied for at the ANAC Argentine aviation authority's public route hearings on 27Dec16.  See this link to a previous posting for more details:

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2017/01/airline-route-update-andes-lineas.html

The 737-800 is a third-generation narrow body jet compared to the second-generation MD-80 Series. which is noisier and consumes considerably more fuel than the 737-800.

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2016/12/andes-lineas-aereas-se-renueva.html
https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2016/12/novedades-en-andes.html
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/01/andes-recupera-sexto-md-sigue-plan-los-737-marzo/     
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md80-49630.htm

ROUTE UPDATES: MAR DEL PLATA (MDQ) - Summer Seasonal Service - Aerolineas Argentinas, Austral and Andes

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

   Increase to 21x/weekly for the summer using Aerolineas Argentinas 737-800's and Austral ERJ-    190's 

* Cordoba (COR) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - eff 07Dec16

   Operated 1x/daily using Austral ERJ-190's 

* Mendoza (MDZ) - Mar del Plata MDQ)

    Operated 3x/weekly using Austral ERJ-190's 

* Rosario (ROS) - Mar del Plata MDQ)

   Operated 3x/weekly using Austral ERJ-190's 

* Tucuman (TUC) - Mar del Plata MDQ)

   Operated 5x/weekly using Austral ERJ-190's 

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - eff 02Jan17

   Operated 5x/weekly using MD-80's.  Summer seasonal service.

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161006/avn-161006.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161110/avn-161110.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170105/avn-170105.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Andes Lineas Aereas seeks to Expand Scheduled Services at December 27 Route Hearings

Andes Lineas Aereas MD-83, LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627), taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 10Dec15.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Fleet History

Andes Lineas Aereas started operating in 2006 flying mostly MD-80's from its northern Argentina base of Salta (SLA).  It has operated a fleet of approx. fifteen MD-80 series aircraft since then, with seven examples currently in service, plus two A320's on wet lease from Vueling for a short time in early 2012 and two CRJ-900's in 2010-11. 

Scheduled Flights

Andes has operated mostly scheduled flights from Salta (SLA) to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) with continuing service to Puerto Madryn (PMY) in Patagonia. Jujuy (JUJ) was also added to the route system in recent months.

New service recently started: 

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Cordoba (COR) - eff 12Dec16

   Operated 10x/weekly using MD-80's

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - eff 02Jan17

   Operated 5x/weekly using MD-80's.  Summer seasonal service.

Charter Flights

Charters have been a very important source of business for Andes, especially flights carrying professional sports teams to many points throughout South America and high school graduation trips from airports all over Argentina to Bariloche (BRC) in Patagonia near the Chilean border, especially on behalf of student tour operator "Travel Rock", with one MD-80 even being painted in a special scheme depicting the travel company complete with billboard titles.          

December 27 Route Hearings

Andes, like several other carriers, is seeking to grow in the newly liberalized Argentine air transportation environment.  To that end, it filed for seven new scheduled routes at the ANAC's December 27 Route Hearings, considerably fewer than the other four carriers present.  

Interestingly, this included predictable domestic routes linking significant Argentine cities but Andes also requested international rights to Lima (LIM), Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU).  If granted, these would be the first international routes that Andes has operated on a scheduled basis.

Rumor has it that Andes, being an established carrier that has been operating for over ten years, will be one of the airlines awarded new route rights.

Routes requested:

1) BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – RESISTENCIA – POSADAS – PUERTO IGUAZÚ and v.v.

2) BUENOS AIRES – TUCUMÁN – SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO – SALTA – JUJUY and v.v.

3) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – MENDOZA – NEUQUÉN – BARILOCHE and v.v.

4) BUENOS AIRES – PUERTO MADRYN – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – EL CALAFATE – USHUAIA and v.v.

5) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – SANTIAGO DE CHILE and v.v.

6) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – LIMA and v.v.

7) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – SAO PAULO and v.v.   
  
Sources:

http://www.andesonline.com/
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2016/12/todos-los-pedidos-oficiales-nuevas-rutas-volar-la-argentina/ 
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161110/avn-161110.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170105/avn-170105.html

Andes Lineas Aereas - 10 years flying in Argentina - MD-82/83, MD-87 & CRJ-900 - PHOTO HISTORY

Aircraft Color Schemes

Andes' aircraft have carried four different, although closely related, color schemes. 

First Scheme

The first aircraft that the airline took delivery of was MD-82 LV-BEP (c/n 49127/1082) on 08May06 with MD-82 LV-BHF (c/n 49508/1449) also joining the fleet on 16Dec06.  Both aircraft flew in Andes' first color scheme as illustrated below: 

Andes MD-82 LV-BEP (c/n 49127/1082) at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) in September 2007.  (Phil Perry Collection)

Second Scheme

The airline then modified the scheme moving the titles to mid-fuselage, doing away with the turismosalta.gov.ar website address, painting the tail and engines white, and modifying the tail logo as seen here:

LV-BNI (c/n 49415/1260) at Aeroparque in December 2008:

http://www.jetphotos.net/photo/6468315

Third Scheme

The third scheme saw the font on the titles change completely with "andes" being preceded and followed by small "www." and "online.com" titles making it into a web address.  The small logo on the engines stayed the same with the tail logo being modified though keeping its basic shape. These changes can be seen below:

Andes MD-82 LV-BTH (c/n 49952/1934) at Aeroparque in March 2009:  

http://www.jetphotos.net/photo/6523161

Fourth Scheme

The fourth variation on the scheme was introduced in 2010 on MD-83 LV-CCJ (c/n 49621/1495) with the only change from the third version being a completely different tail logo as seen below. The carrier continues to use this scheme today. 

Andes MD-83, LV-CCJ (c/n 49621/1495), taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 15Aug14.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Andes MD-87's 

Photos were taken of at least one of Andes' two MD-87's, LV-BZR (c/n 49706/1614) which sported an all-metal fuselage reflecting its previous service with AeroMexico:  

LV-BZR with small titles at Aeroparque in January 2010:             

www.jetphotos.net/photo/6876978 

LV-BZR with large billboard titles at Florianapolis (FLN) in February 2010: 

http://www.jetphotos.net/photo/6791695

Andes CRJ-900's

Andes operated two CRJ-900's, both for about a year in 2010/11.  

Andes CRJ-900, LV-CFD (c/n 15064), at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 03Oct10. This aircraft flew with Andes from 07Jun10 until August 2011.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

Andes CRJ-900, LV-CGW (c/n 15065), taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 20Mar11.  This was the second (and final) CRJ-900 delivered to Andes.  It was delivered to the carrier on 09Sep10 but only flew with the airline until August 2011. (Phil Perry Photo)   

Special Schemes / Stickers

"Travelrock" Billboard Scheme 

Andes MD-83, LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627), in a special scheme depicting the Travelrock student tour company for which the carrier flies special charters. This photo of the aircraft landing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) was taken on 10Dec15.  (Phil Perry Photo)

LV-WGM wore the special scheme from 10Aug15 until no later than May 2016 when it was photographed with a white tail, no Travelrock titles, and a "Chevrolet - Bariloche 2016" sticker.    

"Chevrolet- Bariloche 2016" Stickers

Andes MD-83, LV-AYD (c/n 53015/1818), landing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 07May16 wearing a special "Chevrolet Bariloche 2016" sticker.  (Carlos Abella Photo)  

LV-WGM wearing the same sticker with a white tail at Belo Horizonte (CNF) on 04May16:

http://www.jetphotos.net/photo/8269604

"Racing" Argentine football (soccer) club stickers

LV-AYD wearing this special sticker:  

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2015/05/andes-y-racing.html

Two A320's in 2011/12

Andes wet-leased two A320-214's from the Spanish airline Vueling, EC-JGM (c/n 2407) and EC-LLJ (c/n 4661), for a short period of time from 30Dec11 to 05Mar12 and 09Apr12, respectively.  Both aircraft retained their full Vueling colors during the lease. 

Source:

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm

Andes Lineas Aereas - 10 years flying in Argentina - Profile & History

Andes Lineas Aereas was founded in Salta (SLA), Argentina in 2005 and started service in June 2006.  The main reason behind its start-up was to add flights between Salta (SLA) and Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to make up for the loss of capacity on the route due to sharp cutbacks in service, including a significantly down-sized fleet, by the then-owner of Aerolineas Argentinas, the Spanish Marsans tourism group.   

Fleet

Andes fleet has consisted of a total of thirteen MD-82/83 series aircraft, two short-bodied MD-87's, two CRJ-900's and two A320's. It appears that some of the MD-80's never entered service with the airline and were only used for spare parts.  

Andes currently operates four MD-83's, LV-AYD (c/n 53015/1818), LV-CCJ (c/n 49621/1495), LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627) and LV-WGN (c/n 49934/1764).     

Scheduled Routes

The airline has flown scheduled services, primarily between Salta (SLA) and Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) with extensions in the south to Puerto Madryn (PMY), the Patagonian city located on the Atlantic which is famous for whale-watching, and Jujuy (JUJ) in the north, some 80 miles from Salta.

Charter Services

Very important to Andes has also been its numerous charter services, with perhaps more charter flights during the last decade than any other Argentine airline.  

These include charter flights on behalf of tour operators selling vacation packages, such as to the Brazilian destinations of Florianopolis (FLN), Maceio (MCZ), Natal (NAT), Porto Seguro (BPS), Recife (REC), Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), and Salvador de Bahia (SSA). the Dominican Republic resorts of Punta Cana (PUJ) and La Romana (LRM) plus Montevideo (MVD) and Punta del Este (PDP) in Uruguay.   

Andes also flies sports charters for professional football (soccer) teams and their supporters all over South America for tournaments such as the Copa de Libertadores and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.    

The airline also flies many domestic charters in Argentina, especially student trips to the lake. mountain and ski resort of Bariloche (BRC) located near the Chilean border and Andes mountain range.  

Andes even painted an MD-83 with the name of one of Argentina's most important student tour operators, Travelrock, emblazoned on the side in billboard titles.  Cities served in Argentina on a charter basis have included Cordoba (COR), Malargüe (LGS), Puerto Iguazu (IGR), Resistencia (RES), San Juan (UAQ), Chapelco / San Martin de Los Andes (CPC), and Ushuaia (USH).

The next posting will feature a photo history of much of Andes' fleet and its aircraft color schemes.  

Sources:

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes_L%C3%ADneas_A%C3%A9reas

http://web.archive.org/web/20100825235622/http://www.andesonline.com/andes_site/index.php?l=servicios.php

FLEET UPDATE & PHOTO LINK: Andes MD-88, LV-VBX, with Andes titles in old Aerolineas Argentinas colors

Andes Lineas Aereas took delivery of ex-Aerolineas Argentinas MD-88, LV-VBX (c/n 53047/2016) on 28Aug15.  It was photographed that same day with Andes Lineas Aereas titles in the last Aerolineas Argentinas colors worn by the MD-80 series as shown in this link from the excellent Argentine aviation blog Linea ALA:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/09/primer-md-88-para-andes.html

The aircraft was delivered to Aerolineas Argentinas on 27Aug92 and went on to Austral in 2005 before rejoining Aerolineas in 2010 until its retirement from the Argentine national carrier's fleet on 10Apr12.  

Andes Lineas Aereas has operated approximately a dozen MD-80 series aircraft including two shorter-fuselage MD-87's with three aircraft currently active: LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627), LV-AYD (c/n 53015/1818), and LV-CCJ (c/n 49621/1495), soon to be joined by LV-VBX and LV-WGN (c/n 49934/1764).

Andes flies a small scheduled domestic network in Argentina covering its home base Salta (SLA), Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), and Puerto Madryn (PMY) plus many charters, especially for pro soccer teams, entertainment stars on tour, and school trips to the lake and ski resort of Bariloche (BRC).

LV-VBX at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 06Feb11 when it was still in service with Aerolineas Argentinas. (Phil Perry Photo)

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/09/primer-md-88-para-andes.html

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/04/lv-vbx-md-88-cn-530472016-pque-nac.html

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm

http://www.andesonline.com/    

PHOTO LINK: Andes added Racing Club stickers and titles to MD-83 LV-AYD

Andes Lineas Aereas operated a charter for the Racing football/soccer club to Paraguay to play a Copa Libertadores match against local side Guarani on 20May15.  To honor the occasion, the airline added a sticker (or painted on) the club's logo to the nose of the MD-83 operating the flight, LV-AYD (c/n 53015/1818) and added small titles saying "Racing Club El Primer Grande Argentino" (Racing Club, the first great Argentine club).  The stickers were apparently on the aircraft for a very short time as the editor of this blog has not seen any other photos of the plane with them on it.

Link to photo on the blog Rollout Spotting:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2015/05/andes-y-racing.html

PHOTO LINK: Andes Flying MD-80 Charters from Secondary Argentine Airports to Bariloche (BRC) using new Logo Jet !

Andes Lineas Aereas of Salta, Argentina recently contracted with Argentina's #1 student travel company, Travel Rock, to fly student charters from many secondary Argentine airports to the student / ski / lakes resort of Bariloche, located in the Patagonia region near the Chilean border.

Bariloche annually draws thousands of Argentine graduating high school students, most of whom take very long bus rides, such as 20-24 hours from Buenos Aires, to arrive at the resort.  To alleviate the situation and make Bariloche tour packages more attractive, Travel Rock is offering students nonstop charter flights on Andes MD-80's from secondary Argentine cities, such as Cordoba (COR), Iguazu (IGR), La Rioja (IRJ), Mar del Plata (MDQ), Posadas (PSS), Rio Cuarto (RCU), Rosario (ROS), Salta (SLA), Santiago del Estero (SDE) and others for an average 500 peso surcharge (US$ 55 at the official exchange rate) over ordinary charter bus travel to Bariloche. The charters started in July and are due to operate through the rest of the year. 

To celebrate and publicize this new service, on August 10 Andes rolled out its MD-83 LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627) painted with billboard Travel Rock titles on the fuselage topped by "The largest company of graduate travel in the world" in Spanish in small cursive letters plus company logos on the tail and near the nose.  These photos by Rafael Reca and published in the Argentine aviation blog Linea ALA detail the new logojet scheme: 

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/08/un-nuevo-logojet.html

Sources:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2015/07/andes-esta-haciendo-charters-de-egresados-a-bariloche/#comments

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn150813/avn-150813.html

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2015/08/un-nuevo-logojet.html    

ex-Austral MD-83, LV-BHN, (c/n 53190) crashes in Mali flying with Swiftair for Air Algerie as EC-LTV

ex-Austral MD-83 (c/n 53190) that crashed in Mali on 24Jul14 while flying with Swiftair on a wet-lease to Air Algerie.  Photo was taken at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 05Sep10.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Sources:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/07/se-extravio-un-ex-austral.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md80-53190.htm
http://edition.cnn.com/

FLEET UPDATE: Leal Lineas Aereas returns two of its "Flying Duck" MD-80's

Two MD-80 series aircraft that flew for Leal Lineas Aereas, a small now-defunct Argentine charter airline that operated in the late 2000's, recently flew back to the USA on return to their American lessor, Sky Holding:  

MD-83, LV-CIT (c/n 49568/1380), now re-registered N598SH, and MD-87, LV-BSC (c/n 49727/1621), now re-registered N599SH, both departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to the US via Lima (LIM) on 22Jan14.

Leal's aircraft were well-known for their cartoon-character ducks on different colored tails.  

LV-CIT had a dark blue tail as seen in this photo: 

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/01/se-fue-un-patito.html

And LV-BSC had a green tail:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/01/sigue-el-exodo-de-leal.html

A third aircraft, MD-83 LV-CSW (c/n 49845/1573) had a light purple tail:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(Leal-Lineas/McDonnell-Douglas-MD-83/2270157/L/&sid=4fc2bd59ad1efd70e49eb8231b6c97

Sources:  

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/01/se-fue-un-patito.html

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/01/sigue-el-exodo-de-leal.html

FLEET UPDATE: Andes Lineas Aereas takes delivery of ex-Austral MD-83 LV-WGM

Austral MD-83, LV-WGM (c/n 49784) approaching to land at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) runway 31 on 11Feb12.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Andes Lineas Aereas of Salta, Argentina recently took delivery of former Austral MD-83 LV-WGM (c/n 49784), illustrated above.  

It joins three other Andes MD-83's, LV-CCJ (c/n 49621) formerly of Spanair, LV-AYD (c/n 53015), originally delivered to Aero Lloyd of Germany but which also saw service with Spirit Airlines and Austral and LV-BGV (c/n 49904) which was originally delivered to Finnair in 1990 and flew for several other airlines before joining Austral and then Andes in 2012.  

The MD-80's will be busy during the southern hemisphere summer flying charters from Argentina to Brazil and the Dominican Republic plus the carrier's regularly scheduled flights within Argentina linking Salta (SLA) with Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Puerto Madryn (PMY) on the Atlantic shore of Patagonia and famous for its whale-watching.   

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/12/muchos-movimientos-durante-diciembre-de.html

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas-active-md80.htm

http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md80-49621.htm

http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md80-53015.htm

http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md80-49904.htm

ROUTE UPDATES: Andes & Aerolineas Argentinas Summer Charters to Dominican Republic

Some of the charter flights planned for the coming southern hemisphere summer from Argentina to the Dominican Republic:

Aerolineas Argentinas from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Punta Cana (PUJ), 2x/week, probably with A330-200's.

Andes Lineas Aereas from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Puerto Plata (POP), 1x/week with MD-80's.

Andes Lineas Aereas from Cordoba (COR) to Samana (AZS), 1x/week with MD-80's.

Source:  http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/avn130919/avn-130919.html

FLEET UPDATE: Six ex-Austral & Aerolineas Argentinas MD-80's Sold

Six former Austral and Aerolineas Argentinas MD-80 Series aircraft were auctioned off on 19Jul13:

Austral MD-83 LV-BEG, (c/n 49630) 
Austral MD-83 LV-BGZ, (c/n 49906)
Austral MD-83 LV-WGM, (c/n 49784)
Austral MD-83 LV-WGN, (c/n 49934)

Aerolineas Argentinas MD-83, LV-VAG, (c/n 53117)
Aerolineas Argentinas MD-88, LV-VBZ, (c/n 53049)

Air Capital Group of Miami bought the aircraft, which were reportedly to leave Argentina during August bearing American registrations.  The selling price has been kept private between the airline and the buyer.

Checking the company's website, http://www.air-capital.com/aerothrust.html, its AeroThrust division specializes in engineering work on the JT8D engine (the type used on the MD-80 Series) so its acquisition of the AU/AR MD-80's is presumably for their engines with the airframes possibly to be used for spares and/or scrapped.    

Most of the above aircraft, including LV-BEG, LV-WGM, and LV-VAG have been parked at the San Juan (UAQ) Argentina airport for at least a year, with LV-WGN resting at Jujuy (JUJ) and LV-BGZ at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP). 
  
One other MD-80, LV-VBX, (c/n 53407) continues parked at San Juan (UAQ) not available for immediate sale apparently due to legal reasons. 

Austral MD-83, LV-BGZ at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) 

resplendent in the carrier's new colors on 26May12

LV-BGZ is unique among these aircraft in that it was the only one painted in Austral's new colors and it underwent a major check only a few weeks before being retired from service, having reportedly operated a few scheduled flights in the new colors.    

Sources: http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/se-vendieron-los-md-de-
             austral-y.html
                http://www.airfleets.net/home/

Andes Lineas Aereas celebrates Seven Years in Service

Andes CRJ-900, LV-CFD, c/n 15064, at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 05Sep10.  The aircraft left the fleet less than a year later. (Phil Perry photo)  

Andes MD-83, LV-BTH, c/n 49952, at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 17Sep10. (Phil Perry photo)

June 20, 2013 marks seven years since the first flight of Andes Lineas Aereas, the privately-owned Argentine airline based in the northwestern city of Salta (SLA).  

Andes currently flies regularly scheduled flights using four MD-80's linking Salta (SLA) with Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Puerto Madryn (PMY) on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, famous for whale-watching.  

The airline has also flown an extensive charter schedule between various Argentine cities and beach resorts in Brazil and the Dominican Republic. Charters currently scheduled for July 2013 include flights from Cordoba (COR) to La Romana (LRN) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Samana (AZS), both in the Dominican Republic.     

The past fleet has included two CRJ-900's that were flown on scheduled services for about a year in 2010/11, an all-metal scheme MD-87, LV-CFJ, c/n 49389 that was originally delivered to Transwede in 1988 and even two Vueling A320's that were flown on wet-lease for a short time in December 2011 / January 2012. 

For complete fleet details see:

www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm

Sources:

www.andesonline.com/
www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm
Aviacion News 27Jun13:  http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion062713/aviacion062713.html