ROUTE UPDATES - January 2022 - Part 10 - Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Iberia

Route Updates - January 2022 - Part 10

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  

Air France               Paris Charles                  Buenos Aires               10Jan22       787-9                5x/weekly

                                 de Gaulle (CDG)             Ezeiza (EZE)

Remarks: Increase from 3x/weekly.

British Airways       London Heathrow           Buenos Aires               10Jan22       A350-1000        1x/daily                                             (LHR)                              Ezeiza (EZE)

Remarks: Now stopping in Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) instead of flying nonstop.

Air Canada              Montreal (YUL)               Buenos Aires               12Jan22       777-300            3x/weekly

                                                                         Ezeiza (EZE)

Remarks: Via Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU)

Iberia                        Madrid (MAD)                 Buenos Aires              13Jan22       A330-200/         10x/weekly

                                                                          Ezeiza (EZE)                                  A350-900

Remarks: Increase from 1x/daily.

                                

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATES: May 2021 - Iberia, Cubana

Route Updates - May 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.

Airline                      Origin                             Destination                      Eff Date     Type           Frequency   

Iberia                        Madrid (MAD)                 Montevideo (MVD)           18May21    A330-200    5x/weekly  

* Remarks: Increase from 3x weekly 

Cubana                     Havana (HAV)                Buenos Aires                    30May21    IL-96-300   2x/monthly                                                                                     Ezeiza (EZE)

* Remarks: Restart of service that operated in December 2020 and January 2021 that also included Cayo Coco      

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATES: February 2021 - Part 1 - Aerolineas Argentinas - Cancelled 50 International Flights

Route Updates - February 2021 - Part 1

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.

Aerolineas Argentinas 

Cancelled 50 international flights in February, including some frequencies on these routes:

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cancun (CUN)   

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Lima (LIM) 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD)

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA)

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) 

  

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATES: February 2021 - Part 4 - American Airlines, Level, Swiss, Air Europa

Route Updates - February 2021 - Part 4

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.

Airline                      Origin                             Destination                      Eff Date     Type          Frequency   

American                 Dallas - Ft. Worth            Buenos Aires                    01Feb21     787-9        3x/weekly

Airlines                    (DFW)                              Ezeiza (EZE)
*Remarks: Reduced frequency from 7x/weekly to 3x/weekly, still using 787-9.

Level                        Barcelona (BCN)             Buenos Aires                    02Feb21     A330-200  2x/weekly

                                                                          Ezeiza (EZE)

* Remarks: Reduced frequency from 3x/weekly to 2x/weekly, still using A330-200.

Swiss                       Zurich (ZRH)                    Buenos Aires                    05Feb21    777-300     1x/weekly

                                                                          Ezeiza (EZE)

*Remarks: Resumed passenger flights using 777-300 1x/weekly.   

Air Europa               Madrid (MAD)                  Buenos Aires                    08Feb21    787-9         2x/weekly

                                                                          Ezeiza (EZE)

* Remarks: Reduced frequency from 3x/weekly to 2x/weekly, still using 787-9.

American                  Miami (MIA)                     Buenos Aires                   12Feb21    777-300     1x/daily

Airlines                                                              Ezeiza (EZE)

* Remarks: Upguaged equipment from 777-200 to 777-300 on their 1x/daily flight on this route.  

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATE: Iberia added the A350-900 between Madrid (MAD) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 25Feb19

Iberia Airlines started operating the A350-900 on the Madrid (MAD) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) route on 25Feb19, the first Latin American airport to see service with this type by IB and the second overall after New York Kennedy (JFK).  The type was scheduled to operate one of Iberia's two daily flights between the Spanish and Argentine capitals. 

The equipment change apparently continues to this day as the Spanish  carrier has operated the type on its authorized "special flights" on this route several times in the past week (regularly-scheduled flights have not returned to Argentina yet).

Iberia was scheduled to receive a total of 16 A350-900's by 2021, although the delivery schedule might have been pushed back due to COVID-19. 

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2019/avn190228/avn-190228.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Air Europa increasing Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - Madrid (MAD) flights to 5 and then 7 weekly

* Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - Madrid (MAD) - eff 04Jul18 -increase to 5x/weekly - eff June 2019 to 1x/daily

Air Europa started flying from Madrid (MAD) to Asuncion (ASU) on 16Dec15 on a 2x/weekly basis using A330-200's, adding on Cordoba (COR) and increasing frequency to 4x/weekly in December 2016 with a planned further increase to 5x/weekly on 04Jul18 and daily flights in June 2019. 

Presumably, the idea of including both Asuncion (ASU) and Cordoba (COR) on the route was originally intended to assure profitable load factors on the transatlantic operation but 25% of the passengers traveling on this flight fly between Asuncion (ASU) and Cordoba (COR), which would probably be about 50+ passengers, a seemingly high number for a secondary route and probably a pleasant surprise to the airline. 

Source:

https://aviacionline.com/2018/05/air-europa-operara-diariamente-entre-cordoba-asuncion-y-madrid/

FLEET UPDATE & ROUTE UPDATE: Iberia to introduce first upgraded A350-900 between Madrid (MAD) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 08Mar19

Iberia A350-900 artist's impression. (Image: Iberia Airlines)

UPDATE 10May18:

Iberia recently clarified that it loaded the A350-900 in its reservation system as operating between Madrid (MAD) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) starting in March 2019 only as a test and it did not signal an actual change of aircraft for one of its two daily flights between the two cities from the A340-600 to the A350-900.  The airline plans to continue operating two daily A340-600 flights between the Spanish and Argentine capitals. 

ORIGINAL POSTING:

Iberia will take delivery of the first of 16 Airbus A350-900's that it has on order in June of this year.  After placing the aircraft into initial service on some European routes to familiarize flight crews and other staff with the type, Iberia  will start flying the A350 on its first regular route, Madrid (MAD) - London-Heathrow (LHR) in July, followed by its first long-haul service, Madrid (MAD) - New York Kennedy (JFK), in August. 

The A350-900's second long-haul international route will be Madrid (MAD) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) starting on 08Mar19 when it will replace one of two daily A340-600's currently flying this sector.

Upgraded Version's Aerodynamic Improvements = Lower Fuel Burn + More Range

Interestingly, Iberia will be the first airline to take delivery of the upgraded version of the A350-900 with aerodynamic improvements resulting in a 1% increase in fuel efficiency and a 100 nautical mile increase in range to 8,200nm for Iberia's 280 ton version. These modifications include:

1) A change in the "spanwise twist distribution" of the wing to change the pressure distribution of the wing. 

2) Larger "sharklets" made possible by greater wing strength discovered during static load testing.  The larger "sharklets" and modified twist of the wing together will lower the aircraft's induced drag. 

3) Structural improvements lowering the operational empty weight of the aircraft.  

Sources:

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/278395/iberia-adds-a350-buenos-aires-service-from-march-2019/ via Eric Trum

https://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2018/03/21/iberia-a350-routes/

http://www.transponder1200.com/iberia-desplegara-el-airbus-a350-entre-madrid-y-buenos-aires/

https://leehamnews.com/2018/01/31/iberia-get-upgraded-a350-900/

ROUTE UPDATES: Air Europa, Ethiopian

* Madrid (MAD) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - eff 01Mar18 - 24Mar18 - Equipment alternating between 787-9 and 787-8 

Back in October, it was reported that MAD-EZE would be the first route that Air Europa would introduce its new 787-9's on with the type being flown on an alternating basis every other day with 787-8's between 01Mar18 and 24Mar18, presumably because Air Europa would be using its one and only 787-9 on the route during that time period. 

* Madrid (MAD) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - eff 25Mar18 (?) - 787-9 definitively replaced 787-8 

Air Europa is currently operating the 787-9 for all of its flights between MAD-EZE, 7x/weekly.   

* Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - Madrid (MAD) - Frequency increases & no change to 787-8

Air Europa is currently operating on the COR-ASU-MAD route 4x/weekly, with increases eff 29May18 to 5x/weekly and effective 26Jun18 to 6x/weekly.

The equipment change from the A330-200 to 787-8 which was previously announced for 03Mar18 did not take place. 

* Addis Ababa (ADD) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) extends to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - eff 08Mar18 - 5x/weekly

Ethiopian's service from Addis Ababa (ADD) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) that started in 2013 was extended to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 08Mar18 on a 5x/weekly basis using 787-8's.  In celebration of the first flight coinciding with International Women's Day, it was operated with an all-female cabin and flight deck crew. 

Interestingly, even before the first flight to Buenos Aires took place, the airline announced that the service would go to 1x/daily effective 25Mar18 with an upgauging from 787-8 aircraft equipment to larger 777-200LR's (an increase of 270 to 321 seats) on 01Jun18, signalling strong advance bookings.   

Sources:

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275280/air-europa-schedules-787-9-argentina-service-in-march-2018/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171102/avn-171102.html
https://aviacionline.com/2018/01/air-europa-pospone-la-llegada-del-787-a-cordoba/
https://aviacionline.com/2017/11/ethiopian-airlines-inauguraria-sus-vuelos-a-buenos-aires-en-marzo-de-2018/
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275571/ethiopian-airlines-plans-buenos-aires-march-2018-launch/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171221/avn-mn-171221/avn-mn-171221.html
https://vuelosyspotters.com/2018/01/10/ethiopian-airlines-volara-todos-los-dias-entre-buenos-aires-y-addis-abada/

Aerolineas Argentinas: Feeder Carrier for Domestic Flights ? - Austral New Aircraft by end 2018 - Long-Haul Aircraft to Oceania - Intercon Routes to Stay

Aerolineas Argentinas President Mario Dell' Acqua spoke at the recent World Travel & Tourism Council conference held in Buenos Aires stating four particular points of interest:   

* FEEDER AIRLINE PARTNER ? 

With Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral steadily transitioning to larger aircraft, service to many of the Argentine domestic airports currently served by the group will no longer be commercially viable, not being able to produce enough passengers to operate larger aircraft profitably.  To remedy this situation, the Aerolineas group is looking to organize a network of feeder routes with "a serious and solvent" carrier operating smaller aircraft, presumably connecting smaller cities to Buenos Aires and AR's Cordoba (COR) hub. 

There has been speculation in at least one Argentine blog about which carrier this might be:

Flyest with its CRJ-200's is possible with its connection to the well-established Spanish commuter carrier Air Nostrum but Flyest is also a reincarnation of the now-defunct Sol Lineas Aereas that had a feeder agreement with Aerolineas' management under the previous Argentine presidency that was widely regarded as a sham.

LASA, the new Neuquen-based carrier that is scheduled to start service soon with EMB-145's is also possible. 

Avianca Argentina with its two ATR-72-600's, with more expected to be added to the fleet soon, would seem like a natural candidate to be a feeder carrier fro Aerolineas, both because it is "serious and solvent", having a major corporation as its backer, and operating an appropriate type of aircraft for feeder operations
possessing both a moderate number of seats and fuel-efficient propeller engines.       

* AUSTRAL NEW AIRCRAFT TYPE BY END 2018

Similar to what Aerolineas Argentinas has been saying recently, the new aircraft type that will eventually replace all of Austral's 26-strong E190 fleet is planned to have 180 seats, which appears to eliminate the E195 E2 new-generation jet from Embraer that is replacing the corresponding first generation E170/175/190/195 series of aircraft.       

The first example of the new type will likely be flying for Austral before the end of 2018, which suggests that a contract to buy or lease the type will be agreed to soon.  How long it will take to replace all 26 E190's is still unknown but previously it was suggested that the process would conclude in about 2-3 years time.  

* NEW LONG-HAUL TYPE REQUIREMENT TO OPERATE PROFITABLY TO OCEANIA

Aerolineas is actively considering the new type that will replace its current long-haul fleet of 10 A330-200's and 2 A340-300's with a decision expected before the end of the year.  A newly-revealed requirement is that the new type must be able to operate profitably to Australia and New Zealand, which would suggest that the aircraft chosen will need to fly long distances nonstop with a full payload.

* INTERCONTINENTAL ROUTES TO STAY    

There has been much speculation in recent years that Aerolineas would dump its intercontinental routes due to their lack of profitability but the airline's flights from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA), New York Kennedy (JFK), Madrid (MAD) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO) will apparently continue. 

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2018/04/aerolineas-argentinas-en-la-wttc-2018-tarifas-mas-bajas-y-comentarios-sobre-flota-long-haul-y-alianzas-en-cabotaje/
https://aviacionline.com/2018/04/aerolineas-argentinas-analiza-hacer-una-alianza-con-una-compania-de-cabotaje/
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/04/aerolineas-argentinas-hablo-de-una-premium-economy-para-los-vuelos-internacionales/

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Route Changes - Pursuit of Profitability & Direct Domestic Connections - Part 2

* Cordoba (COR) - Bahia Blanca (BHI) - eff 03Apr18 - 5x/weekly

Flights to be operated by Austral E190's.  Bahia Blanca (BHI) is scheduled to be the 16th destination operated year-round by the Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral group from its Cordaba (COR) hub, and the 17th when counting Mar del Plata (MDQ), which is served on a seasonal summer basis. 

* Cordoba (COR) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - eff XXApr18 - Route Cancelled

Suspended due to end of summer season. 

* Cordoba (COR) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - eff XXApr18 - Route Cancelled

Suspended due to the end of the summer season despite having continued 1x/weekly after the summer in 2017.

* Cordoba (COR) - Salvador (SSA) - eff XXApr18 - Route Cancelled

Suspended due to the end of the summer season despite having continued 1x/weekly after the summer in 2017.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Punta Cana (PUJ) - eff 01May18 - increase from 4x/weekly to 1x/daily

This route is currently operated 4x/weekly with A330's but will pass to 1x/daily service using Aerolineas' new 737 MAX 8's.  The long range of the MAX series allows for routes like EZE-PUJ to be served by smaller aircraft more frequently and will make routes that are too "thin" on passenger traffic to support  traditional long-range aircraft, economically viable (see Cordoba (COR) to Punta Cana (PUJ) below).

Long-range aircraft are generally large so that they can carry a lot of fuel but their size makes them burn a lot of fuel too, which means that they have to carry a large payload of passengers, cargo, or combination of both to be profitable.  But the new generation of 737 MAX aircraft burn a lot less fuel than their predecessors, the 737 NG series, so they can fly farther on the same amount of gas while only needing to fill 150-180 seats.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD) - eff XXJun18 - increase from 7x to 10x/weekly

This route is currently served mainly with A340-300's but the new flights will be operated by A330-200's. 

* Cordoba (COR) - Punta Cana (PUJ) - eff XXJul18 - 1x/weekly

This route, which is relatively "thin" on passenger traffic, is now economically viable using the long-range smaller 737 MAX 8 instead of a larger aircraft like the A330, which was previously necessary for a route of this length.   

* Cordoba (COR) - San Martin de los Andes (CPC) - eff July to September

  

This is a seasonal flight for the winter ski season.  

Sources:

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/11/bahia-blanca-el-nuevo-destino-del-hub.html

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2018/03/novedades-aeronauticas-para-cordoba.html

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/276564/aerolineas-argentinas-punta-cana-service-changes-from-may-2018/ via Eric Trum

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180215/avn-180215.html

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2018/03/novedades-aeronauticas-para-cordoba.html

Aerolineas Argentinas to make decision on replacement of A330 long-range fleet by end of 2018

Aerolineas Argentinas A330-200, LV-FVH (c/n 1605), Aerolineas' first factory-delivered and owned aircraft taxiing at a European airport.  (Phil Perry Collection)

Aerolineas Argentinas will reportedly make a decision on the replacement of its intercontinental jet fleet by the end of 2018.

Aerolineas Argentinas - Intercontinental Flights - First Decades

Aerolineas Argentinas has flown several types of long-range jet aircraft from  Argentina to Europe and North America since it first introduced the de Havilland Comet 4 into service in 1959.  Since then the Boeing 707, 747-200, 747SP, 747-400 and Airbus A310 have all flown long-range services for Aerolineas with even some smaller regional types, such as the 727-200 being pressed into service occasionally on multi-stop runs from Argentina to Miami, for example.

After the 747-400 was retired from active Aerolineas service on 01Feb12, the airline remained with an exclusive Airbus fleet for its intercontinental scheduled flights.  Aerolineas has operated a total of 13 different A340 series aircraft, including three A340-200's and ten A340-300's, two of which remain in service plus 10 A330-200's, all of which are currently flying for the carrier.

Airbus A340-300

The two remaining A340-300's, LV-FPU (c/n 170) and LV-FPV (c/n 193), the latter painted in Skyteam colors, will soldier on until 2019 or even 2020, presumably flying mostly the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD) route as they do now.

Airbus A330-200

Aerolineas Argentinas started taking delivery of the backbone of its current intercontinental fleet, the A330-200, in 2013 with three examples joining the fleet that year, one in 2014, two in 2015, three in 2016 and the final A330-200 being acquired in early 2017 for a total of 10 of the type.     

Two of these aircraft, LV-FNI (c/n 290) and LV-FNJ (c/n 300), were delivered to SABENA with both going on to also fly for VG Airlines and Malaysia Airlines before joining Aerolineas. 

Another two A330-200's, LV-FNK (c/n 358) and LV-FNL (c/n 364), were delivered to Air Afrique and proceeded to serve an identical sequence of operators; Calliope, Eurofly, Atlas Jet, Saudi Arabian, and Atlas Jet again before going on to Aerolineas.

Yet another pair of A330-200's had identical service histories before joining Aerolineas, LV-GKO (c/n 587) and LV-GKP (c/n 634), which were delivered to EVA Airways prior to going to Argentina.

Finally, Aerolineas Argentinas bought four factory-new A330-200's directly from Airbus in February 2013, with the first example, LV-FVH (c/n 1605), being delivered on 28Feb15 followed by LV-FVI (c/n 1623) on 30Apr15, LV-GHQ (c/n 1737) on 05Aug16 and LV-GIF (c/n 1748) on 02Nov16.

Aerolineas deploys its A330-200 fleet on its intercontinental network radiating out from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA), New York Kennedy (JFK), Cancun (CUN), Punta Cana (PUJ), Rome-Fiumicino (FCO), and Madrid (MAD) 2x/weekly with the other 5 days being operated by A340-300's.  The carrier  flew to Barcelona (BCN) until recently too.   

Recent European Route Changes

Aerolineas dropped Barcelona (BCN) because it was unprofitable, especially in the face of competition from Level, an LCC belonging to the IAG Group, but it plans to restart service to the Catalan city when it has more efficient lower-cost aircraft in its fleet that will make the airline more competitive on the route.  

The Rome-Fiumicino (FCO) route was also a money-loser but it apparently became a much more attractive product when Aerolineas added frequencies to make it a daily service because the route is now profitable. 
   
A330-200 Replacement

Aerolineas will reportedly start retiring its A330-200's after it has completed replacing Austral's E190 fleet, probably in 2021 or soon thereafter.  

The leading candidate aircraft include the 777, 787, and A350 with no further indication thus far of which models of each type might be under consideration. 

Sources:

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/135154/aerolineas-argentinas-phasing-out-boeing-747-service-from-feb-2012/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aerolineas-Argentinas/Boeing-747-475/2069985
https://worldairlinenews.com/2015/03/03/aerolineas-argentinas-takes-delivery-of-the-first-direct-delivery-airbus-a330-200/
https://www.lanacion.com.ar/2088845-aerolineas-licitara-la-renovacion-de-su-flota-embraer-al-inicio-de-2018
https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/12/adeus-embraer-adieux-airbusaures.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180215/avn-180215.html
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas.htm

ROUTE UPDATES: LATAM Chile, LATAM Brasil, Air Europa

* Santiago (SCL) - Punta del Este (PDP) - eff 04Jan18 - 25Feb18 - Seasonal Summer Service

LATAM Chile will operate between Santiago (SCL) and this Uruguayan beach resort 2x/weekly with A320 aircraft in competition with the Chilean LCC, Sky Airline.

* Montevideo (MVD) - Florianopolis (FLN) - eff 06Jan18 - 25Feb18 - Seasonal Summer Service

LATAM Brasil will operate between Montevideo (MVD) and this Brazilian beach resort 1x/weekly with A320 aircraft.

* Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - eff 03Mar18 - Equipment Change to 787-8

Air Europa is due to replace its current A330-200 service on this route with the 787-8 on 03Mar18, initially only until 24Mar18 but indications are that the change will be permanent.   

Sources:

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/274518/latam-chile-adds-seasonal-punta-del-este-service-in-1q18/ via Eric Trum
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/274519/latam-brasil-adds-florianopolis-montevideo-in-1q18/ via Eric Trum
http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/air-europa-volara-en-dreamliner-cordoba.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Air Europa introduces 787-8 to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Montevideo (MVD)

Air Europa has been introducing the 787-8 aircraft on its routes from Madrid to Latin America, including to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Montevideo (MVD).

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD) - eff 11Jan17

Route now operated 1x/daily using 787-8's.

* Montevideo (MVD) - Madrid (MAD) - eff 23Dec16 - 10Jan17 + 24May17 - 30Jun17

Replacing their usual A330 services with 787-8 on a 3x/weekly basis during the above time periods. 

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/01/air-europa-con-787.html
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/268313/air-europa-adds-new-boeing-787-routes-in-ns17/
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/269490/air-europa-dec-2016-jan-2017-montevideo-aircraft-changes/

ROUTE UPDATES: New Montevideo (MVD) Service Announcements in 2016 - PART 1

New service announcements for Montevideo (MVD) in 2016 - Part 1:

* Iberia - Montevideo (MVD) - Madrid (MAD) increasing 3x to 5x Weekly - eff 03Feb16

Iberia recently increased its nonstop service between these two cities and now operates this route using its new A330-200's.  

The Spanish airline flew the route several years ago only to cancel the service in 2013 which was replaced soon thereafter by Air Europa.  After Iberia underwent some restructuring, it restarted flights between Spain and Uruguay on 01Sep14 using A340-300's and today both airlines operate the route with A330-200's with 8x/weekly flights between them.      

* Amaszonas Paraguay - Montevideo (MVD) - Asuncion (ASU) - eff 18Mar16

The Paraguayan affiliate of Amaszonas Bolivia started service between the Uruguayan and Paraguayan capitals in March using CRJ-200's on a 3x/weekly basis.  Subsequent to this new service, the Amaszonas Group took the remains of BQB Lineas Aereas that it acquired in 2015 and used them to formally establish Amaszonas Uruguay, which currently also flies the Montevideo (MVD) - Asuncion (ASU) route 7x/weekly, complementing Amaszonas Paraguay's service for a total of 10x/weekly flights on the route by airlines from the group. 

* Gol Transportes Aereos - Montevideo (MVD) - Recife (REC) - eff June 2016 

Gol recently started 1x/weekly service on Saturdays between the Uruguayan capital and the northeastern Brazilian city of Recife using 737-800's.  

Sources:

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/250275/iberia-increases-montevideo-flights-from-feb-2016/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160204/avn-160204.html
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2016/03/amaszonas-paraguay-llega-montevideo.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160616/avn-160616.html

ROUTE UPDATES: New Cordoba (COR), Rosario (ROS) & Salta (SLA) International Flights by Air Europa, Copa, LATAM Peru, Sky

Significant new international service from important cities of the Argentine interior has been or will soon be introduced.    

* LATAM Peru - Salta (SLA) - Lima (LIM) - eff 16Jun16

This new service from northwest Argentina is being operated 3x/weekly with A319's.  It is very convenient for travelers to/from the area because it allows them to fly to many international points via LATAM Peru's Lima (LIM) hub without first flying two hours southeast to Buenos Aires to make international connections there.        

* LATAM Peru - Rosario (ROS) - Lima (LIM) - eff 01Jul16

This new service operates 4x/weekly using A319's allowing "Rosarinos" to fly via LATAM's Lima (LIM) hub without driving fours hours southeast to Buenos Aires. 

* Copa Airlines - Rosario (ROS) - Panama City (PTY) - eff 01Jul16 

This city got lucky with significant northbound international service via major hubs starting on the same day.  Copa has started service to its Panama City (PTY) hub 4x/weekly with 737-800's enabling very convenient connections to Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico and approx. 12 cities in the United States. 

Copa put stickers with the logos of Rosario's two major football (soccer) teams,
Newell's Old Boys and Rosario Central, on one of its 737-800's to mark the occasion as noted in the Argentine blog Rollout Spotting:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2016/07/copa-con-canallas-y-leprosos.html

* Sky Airlines - Cordoba (COR) - Santiago (SCL) - eff 16Jul16 

The Chilean LCC is breaking the monopoly that LAN Airlines / LATAM Chile have had on this route during the last 15 years or so that resulted in airfares twice that of typical Buenos Aires - Santiago fares in spite of Cordoba - Santiago being half the distance !  Service will be operated 5x/weekly with A319's.

Air Europa A330-243, EC-LNH (c/n 551), in special Skyteam colors at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 30Jun15.  (Phil Perry Photo)

* Air Europa - Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - Madrid (MAD) - eff 19Dec16

Cordoba (COR) regains service to Madrid (MAD) that it last had when Iberia discontinued serving the route on 19Jan12, which it had operated with A340-300's. 

Air Europa's new Madrid (MAD) service will be operated 4x/weekly with A330-200's.  
  
Sources:

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/253347/lanperu-plans-new-lima-routes-from-junejuly-2016/ via Eric Trum
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/253623/copa-airlines-adds-rosario-flights-from-july-2016/ via Eric Trum
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/254583/sky-airline-expands-argentina-service-from-july-2016/ via Eric Trum
http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2016/04/es-oficial-air-europa-volara-desde.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160505/avn-160505.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a330-551.htm

ROUTE UPDATE: Air Europa to replace the A330 with the 787-8 between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Madrid (MAD), effective 10Jan17

Air Europa will replace its daily A330-200 service between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Madrid (MAD) with the 787-8, effective 10Jan17.   

Air Europa will become the seventh carrier to operate the 787 from Ezeiza so far, joining the current service of AeroMexico to Mexico City (MEX), AVIANCA to Bogota (BOG), and United to Houston Intercontinental (IAH), all using the 787-8, and the future service of Air New Zealand's 787-9's to Auckland (AKL), effective 30Oct16.  American and LAN have both also flown the 787 from Ezeiza, to Dallas Ft. Worth (DFW) and Santiago (SCL), respectively, using the -8 model. 

Source:

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/267109/air-europa-plans-dreamliner-service-to-argentina-form-jan-2017/ via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: Air Europa will reportedly lease a 787 to fly between Madrid (MAD) and Montevideo (MVD) effective April 2015

Airliner World magazine reported in its January 2015 issue that Air Europa will reportedly lease a single 787 from an undisclosed European carrier for use on its Madrid (MAD) - Montevideo (MVD) route starting in April 2015.  However, a quick check of www.flightstats.com and www.orbitz.com shows Air Europa still operating A330-200's on the route through May 2015.    

Air Europa will start receiving its own 787's in 2016.   

Source:

Airliner World - January 2015 

ROUTE UPDATE: Avianca started 787 service between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Bogota (BOG) on 01Feb15

Avianca of Colombia took delivery of its first three of an eventual fifteen 787-8's on order in rapid succession in a two-week period in late December 2014.  

The aircraft were planned to be deployed from the Colombian capital Bogota (BOG) to the following destinations:

16Jan15 - New York Kennedy (JFK)

01Feb15 - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE)

10Feb15 - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU)

13Feb15 - Santiago (SCL)

17Feb15 - Mexico City (MEX)

Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN) and London Heathrow (LHR) are due to follow in June. 

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141225/avn-141225.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn150101/avn-150101.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn150115/avn-150115.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn150205/avn-150205.html

Proposed Spanish Start-Up "Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas" receives first A340, plans service to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) & Other Destinations

The proposed new Spanish carrier, Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas, received the first of two planned A340-313X's, A9C-LG (c/n 212), on September 1.  The aircraft was painted in the airline's full colors as seen in the photo below:

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7881362

The plane was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines in 1998 and transferred to Gulf Air in 2003 but was stored in June 2011, most recently at Amman, Jordan's Queen Alia Airport.  It is due to be re-registered as EC-MDG.

Sistership A9C-LH, (c/n 215), has an identical history, having also been delivered to Singapore, flown with Gulf Air and stored in Jordan.  It is also due to join Plus Ultra.

Plus Ultra was established in 2011 by former Air Madrid director Julio Miguel Martinez Sola with the intention of flying long-haul flights from Madrid (MAD) to Latin America, including Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Bogota, Havana, and Santiago, much in the same fashion as Air Madrid did from 2003 to 2006, with A330's and a single A340.  However, the airline has yet to start flying and its website barely has any information on it: http://www.plusultra.com/  If it launches service, Plus Ultra will face stiff competition from Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa and Iberia. 

"Plus Ultra" is the national motto of Spain, which in Latin means "further beyond".  

A Dornier Do J flying boat named "Plus Ultra" flew the first transatlantic flight from Spain to South America in 1926, completing the four-day journey from Palo de las Fronteras, Spain to Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 26.  The aircraft is currently on display in the Carriage Museum in Lujan, Argentina, near Buenos Aires.

Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_Ultra_(aircraft)

Sources:

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7881362
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a340-212.htm
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a340-215.htm
http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/30839-spanish-start-up-plus-ultra-lneas-areas-gets-first-a340 
http://worldairlinenews.com/2014/09/04/plus-ultra-lineas-aereas-takes-delivery-of-its-first-aircraft-hopes-to-fly-from-madrid-to-south-america/
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140904/avn-140904.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Madrid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_ultra_(motto)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_Ultra_(aircraft)