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:
