ROUTE UPDATES - January 2022 - Part 6 - Aerolineas Argentinas

Route Updates - January 2022 - Part 6

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  

Aerolineas               Bariloche (BRC)             Viedma (VDM)             03Jan22      E-190/737-800    2x/weekly

Argentinas

Aerolineas               Buenos Aires                  Punta Cana (PUJ)       03Jan22      A330-200            3x/weekly

Argentinas               Ezeiza (EZE)

Aerolineas               Rosario (ROS)                Iguazu (IGR)               03Jan22      737-700/800        2x/weekly

Argentinas

                                

Sources:

www.aviacionline.com

www.sirchandler.com

www.aviacionnews.com

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: More Summer Seasonal Service - Aerolineas Argentinas and Andes

Aerolineas Argentinas

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Florianopolis (FLN)

   Increased to 14x/weekly in January

* Rosario (ROS) - Florianopolis (FLN)

   Operated 1x/weekly using 737-700's

* Rosario (ROS) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG)

   Operated 1x/weekly using 737-700's

Andes Lineas Aereas

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cabo Frio (CFB)

    Operated 2x/weekly using MD-80's

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Florianopolis (FLN)

   Operated 2x/weekly using MD-80's

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

    Operated 2x/weekly using MD-80's

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Punta Cana (PUJ)

     Operated 2x/weekly using MD-80's

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160908/avn-160908.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160929/avn-160929.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161006/avn-161006.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas & Austral - Part 1 - BUENOS AIRES EZEIZA (EZE) & AEROPARQUE (AEP)

Specific routes that have been or will be added / increased by Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral in the coming months out of Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Aeroparque (AEP).

Caribbean & USA:

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Cancun (CUN) - eff 01Jul16

4x/weekly using A340-300's nonstop instead of 737-800's with a fuel stop in Caracas (CCS) like previously. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA) - eff 02Jul16

Adding 2x/weekly operated by A340-300's for a total of 16x/weekly.  Other 14 services flown by A330's.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Punta Cana (PUJ) - eff 01Jul16

3x/weekly using A340-300's nonstop instead of 737-800's with a fuel stop in Caracas (CCS) like previously.  

Europe:

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - eff 01Jul16 (?)

Adding 1x/weekly for a total of 5x/weekly.  
   

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Rome Fiumicino (FCO) - eff 13Jun16

Adding 1x/weekly for a total of 4x/weekly operated with A340-300's.  

Argentina Domestic:

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Salta (SLA) - eff 01Jul16

1x/daily operated by Austral with E190's

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Ushuaia (USH) - eff Date ? 

1x/daily using Aerolineas A330's 

Note that Aerolineas flights from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Mexico City (MEX), Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) that were supposed to be added apparently never started.   

2016 Seasonal Summer Services - (now concluded)

According to the Telam press release dated 12Nov15 the following 2016 seasonal summer services were scheduled:  

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Belo Horizonte (CNF)

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Florianopolis (FLN) - 3x/daily

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - 3x/weekly

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Salvador de Bahia (SSA) - 1x/daily

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Punta del Este (PDP) 

3x/daily December, 5x/daily January, 4x/daily February using Austral E190's (?) 

Service Terminations:

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Brasilia (BSB)

Switched over from EZE to AEP but apparently since discontinued.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Havana (HAV) - eff 31Jul16 discontinued

2x/weekly using 737-800's with a fuel stop in (CCS) will be discontinued. 

Sources:

http://www.aerolineas.com.ar
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160505/avn-160505.html
http://airlineroute.net/2016/05/03/ar-fco-s16/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2016/04/29/ar-hav-jul16/ via Eric Trum
http://airlineroute.net/2016/04/28/ar-mia-jun16/ via Eric Trum
http://cabeceranorte.blogspot.com.ar/2016/04/novedades-comerciales-en-aerolineas.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160107/avn-160107.html
http://airlineroute.net/2015/12/18/ar-cormdq-jan16/ via Eric Trum
http://www.telam.com.ar/notas/201511/126912-aerolineas-argentinas-plan-operativo-2016.html http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2015/avn151029/avn-151029.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Andes Lineas Aereas Summer 2014 Charter Schedule

Andes Lineas Aereas - Effective January & February 2014:   

Summer charter schedule operated with MD-80's:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Salvador, Brazil (SSA), 1x/weekly
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Florianopolis, Brazil (FLN), 2x/weekly
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Seguro, Brazil (BPS), 2x/weekly
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ), 1x/weekly
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Samana, Dominican Republic (AZS), 1x/weekly

Cordoba (COR) - Salvador, Brazil (SSA), 1x/weekly
Cordoba (COR) - Florianopolis, Brazil (FLN), 2x/weekly
Cordoba (COR) - Porto Seguro, Brazil (BPS), 3x/weekly
Cordoba (COR) - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ), 1x/weekly

Salta (SLA) - Florianopolis, Brazil (FLN), 1x/weekly
Salta (SLA) - Porto Seguro, Brazil (BPS), 1x/weekly

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/avn131024/avn-131024.html

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

ROUTE UPDATE: Andes Receives Authorization to fly A320 Charters

Andes Lineas Aereas received authorization on January 4 to fly the two A320's it has wet-leased from Vueling, and that have been in Argentina since late December, on charters to various destinations in Latin America. 

The company plans to fly the aircraft to Punta Cana and Samaná in the Dominican Republic, Margarita Island off the coast of Venezuela, and Porto Seguro, Salvador, Natal and Maceió in Brazil.  While awaiting authorization for the use of these aircraft, Andes used its existing MD-80 fleet to operate these services. 

Source: Aviacion News