ROUTE UPDATE: Austral Increasing Flights from Buenos Aires Ezeiza to Montevideo

Effective 01Jun12, Aerolineas Argentinas' sister company Austral Lineas Aereas increased frequency on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Montevideo, Uruguay (MVD) route from four weekly flights to daily service using the carrier's Embraer 190's.  The move strengthens the AR/AU hub at Ezeiza for connecting passenger traffic not just to Aerolineas/Austral Argentine, South American and intercontinental destinations but also to the EZE flights of the two airlines' fellow Skyteam members.

The airline plans to further increase service on the route to 12 weekly flights on 01Dec12.

The flight schedule currently is:

Flight       Routing      Dep    Arr      Equipment     Days

AR2214    EZEMVD    0635   0720    Embraer 190   x67
AR2204    EZEMVD    0935   1020    Embraer 190   67
AR2209    MVDEZE    1805   1850    Embraer 190   6
AR2211    MVDEZE    2030   2115    Embraer 190   x6

Source: http://airlineroute.net via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas drops Mexico City service but keeps Cancun

Aerolineas Argentinas has dropped Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Mexico City service leaving the market to AeroMexico which operates the route with 10 non-stop flights per week using 767-200's.   With Aerolineas due to join Skyteam soon, the carrier might have elected to drop service on the route to codeshare with Skyteam member AeroMexico instead once the Argentine carrier is a full member of the airline alliance.

At the same time, Aerolineas is keeping its EZE - Cancun (CUN) flights which are used primarily by Argentine tourists visiting the Mexican resort, with the following schedule:

Flight        Routing      Dep     Arr     Equipment    Days 

AR1946     EZECUN     0015   0645    A340           1,7
AR1947     CUNEZE     0845   1950    A340           1,7

Sources:  www.aviacionnews.com
              http:airlineroute.net via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: LAN to fly 787 to Buenos Aires

Catching up on some news from late March, LAN Airlines announced that the first cities it will introduce 787 service on will be Santiago and/or Lima to Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE), Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt.

The multinational carrier with parent company based in Chile plans to take delivery of its first two 787's of a 32-aircraft order later this year with three more examples to be delivered in 2013.  The remainder will be delivered by 2018.   LAN will be the first Latin American carrier to take delivery of the 787.

Source: www.aviacionnews.com

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas and American Adding More EZE-MIA Flights

Aerolineas Argentinas will add a second daily flight from Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA) on 01Oct12 with a morning departure from EZE and evening return from MIA, using A340-300's.  AR's EZE-MIA-EZE schedules will then be as follows:

Flight      Routing    Dep    Arr         Equipment   Days   

AR1304   EZEMIA    0845  1655       A340-300     Daily
AR1302   EZEMIA    2315  0725+1    A340-300     Daily

AR1303   MIAEZE    0945  1945       A340-300     Daily
AR1305   MIAEZE    1900  0500+1    A340-300     Daily

American Airlines will also add additional flights between EZE and MIA, introducing a third daily flight on the route on 28Oct12, probably on a seasonal basis for the southern hemisphere summer as in the past.  As with the existing two daily flights, the additional service will also be operated with a 777-200, presumably with an aircraft shifted from USA - European routes during the low northern winter season.  The flights will be morning departures from both EZE and MIA as follows:

Flight     Routing    Dep   Arr     Equipment     Days   
  
AA934    EZEMIA   1100  1805   777-200       Daily

AA999    MIAEZE   1045  2140   777-200       Daily

While both AR and AA add flights, LAN Argentina is awaiting permission from the Argentina Civil Aviation Directorate (ANAC in Spanish) to increase its 767-300 service between EZE and MIA from seven to ten weekly frequencies.

Sources: http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/29/ar-mia-oct12/ via Eric Trum
              http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/29/aa-miaeze-nw12/ via Eric Trum
              http://www.aviacionnews.com/blog

PHOTO GALLERY: Gulfstreams at Buenos Aires - Aeroparque (AEP)

Gulfstream G550, N550PR, (cn 5121) at AEP on 18Sep10.

Gulfstream IV, LV-BYC, (cn 1145), at AEP on the dark, overcast afternoon of 29Oct11.  This shot was taken at 2:00pm !

Gulfstream V, OE-IIS, (cn 572), presumably a rare visitor to AEP, photographed on 23Jan11.  

Gulfstream G550, EC-KXF, (cn 5203), lands at AEP early on Sunday morning, 06Feb11.  This aircraft has been shot at least two other times at AEP so it is apparently a regular visitor to the airport.   

Photos: Phil Perry

ROUTE UPDATE: Austral starts "Corredor Petrolero" Routing with EMB-190's Today

Updating the March 25, 2012 post:

Austral is starting today (June 1) a semicircular routing starting in COR all the way to CRD and back in the opposite direction:

Cordoba (COR) - Mendoza (MDZ) - Neuquen (NQN) - Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) on 1,3,5 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Previously it was announced that the route would start at Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) and circle all the way back to there.

The routing now has a name "Corredor Petrolero" with all of the cities on the route, except Cordoba, being a part of Argentina's oil industry. 

The new service is very similar to a route presently being flown by SOL Lineas Aereas, a small private carrier, with Saab 340's.  Presumably the airline has been successful on the route possibly giving Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral the idea of operating it themselves. 

Source: www.aviacionnews.com

Photos: Phil Perry

ROUTE UPDATE: Air New Zealand to Operate its "All-Blacks" 777-300ER from Auckland to Buenos Aires on Two Flights in September 2012

Air New Zealand will operate two charter flights carrying the New Zealand national rugby team known as the "All Blacks" from Auckland (AKL) to Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) in September to participate in a rugby tournament taking place in Argentina.  The "All Blacks" are the current reigning Rugby World Cup champions and have held the top ranking in the world for longer than all other countries combined.

The aircraft to be used for these flights is 777-319ER, ZK-OKQ (c/n 40689/984) painted in a special "All Blacks" color scheme, which is also carried by at least two other Air New Zealand aircraft, including A320, ZK-OJR and Beech 1900D, ZK-EAG. 

The "All Blacks" 777-300ER entered service on 19Jan12 on the carrier's Auckland (AKL) - Los Angeles (LAX) - London-Heathrow (LHR) route.  It is due to fly to/from EZE on the following flight schedule:

NZ ???  22SEP  AKLEZE 1940  1640      777-300
NZ ???  30SEP  EZEAKL 1100  1700+1  777-300

Photo of 777-300ER, ZK-OKQ:  

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New-Zealand/Boeing-777-319ER/2063370/M/&sid=b2bc36970360382d956cd62ee12193eb

Photo of A320, ZK-OJR:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New-Zealand/Airbus-A320-232/2037983/&sid=4d803cbc0a14df887bdab7b05f8788a6

Photo of Beech 1900D, ZK-EAG:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-New-Zealand/Raytheon-1900D/2101232/&sid=c9d51b7209cf978b20e767ff226bb3f8

Sources:

http://airlineroute.net/2012/05/11/nz-eze-sep12/ via Eric Trum
http://wikipedia.org
www.airliners.net

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Plans Major Increase in Domestic & Regional Service from Buenos Aires Ezeiza

As Aerolineas Argentinas enters the Skyteam airline alliance as a full member, the carrier is adding many flights at Ezeiza International, Buenos Aires' intercontinental airport, to connect with its own overseas flights and those of the six Skyteam members that fly into EZE; Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, Delta and KLM.

Most of the new domestic flights will be added starting in July with regional South American flights to be added later in 2012. 

Many of the domestic flights will be routes that were previously operated from EZE that will be reinstated after having moved to Aeroparque (AEP), Buenos Aires' domestic airport, a few years ago, while others will be new destinations never before served from EZE with all service until now always having been from AEP.

DOMESTIC SERVICE:

Eff 01Jul12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Iguazu (IGR):  

New daily nonstop service with the 737-700. 

IGR serves Iguazu Falls, the most extensive waterfalls in the world and Argentina's number one tourist destination.

Flight      Routing    Dep   Arr      Equipment  Days

AR1724   EZEIGR    0655  0840   737-700     Daily
AR1725   IGREZE    1820  2010   737-700     Daily

Eff 01Jul12 - 31Aug12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bariloche (BRC): 

Sister-company Austral Embraer 190's will replace Aerolineas 737-700's.  It is surprising that they will be using a smaller aircraft in July and August considering that these are the high-season winter months for skiing at Bariloche's Cerro Catedral mountain, one of the most heavily-skied resorts in Argentina.

Flight     Routing    Dep    Arr      Equipment   Days

AR2698   EZEBRC   0715   0935   EMB-190     Daily
AR2687   BRCEZE   1840   2045   EMB-190     Daily

Effective 01Sep12 the service will operate as a circle route in each direction daily, also with Austral EMB-190's but to be replaced by AR 737-700's on 01Nov12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) – Bariloche (BRC) – El Calafate (FTE) – Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP)

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - El Calafate (FTE) - Bariloche (BRC) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) 

Eff 02Aug12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Ushuaia (USH):

Austral EMB-190 service increases from 4 to 10 weekly to this natural beauty destination located on the Beagle Channel with a mountainous backdrop and known as the southernmost city in the world.

Eff 01Nov12 the flights will be taken over by Aerolineas with 737-700's.

Eff 01Sep12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Trelew (REL):

New daily nonstop service using 737-700's extending to El Calafate (FTE) southbound and operating Ushuaia (USH) - Trelew (REL) - Buenos Aires (EZE) northbound.   

Trelew is in Patagonia on the Atlantic Ocean near Puerto Madryn, which is famous for whale-watching.

Eff 07Sep12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - El Calafate (FTE):

New daily nonstop service using 737-700's extending to Ushuaia (USH) in both directions with an upgrade to 737-800's eff 01Nov12.

El Calafate is near the Perito Moreno glacier, one of Argentina's foremost tourist sights.  

Eff 01Oct12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Tucuman (TUC):  

New daily nonstop service using Austral EMB-190's.  Despite being a relatively short flight it will be operated with a very late departure and return in the middle of the night as indicated below.

Flight       Routing   Dep    Arr        Equipment  Days

AR2478    EZETUC   2235  0030+1  EMB-190    Daily
AR2479    TUCEZE   0210  0350      EMB-190    Daily

Eff 01Dec12:

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Mendoza (MDZ):
  
Aerolineas 737-700's will replace Austral EMB-190's on this once-daily nonstop service in each direction.

The editor of this blog believes that this will be the first time that Iguazu, Trelew, and Tucuman have been served from EZE and possibly El Calafate and Ushuaia too.

Information on international service changes by AR at EZE will follow in the next blog posting.

Source: http://airlineroute.net via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas increasing EZE-BOG service with A340's

Similar to its planned increase in service from Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) to Caracas (CCS) in July, Aerolineas is adding more flights from Ezeiza to Bogota (BOG), going from the present three flights to four, on 02Jul12. 

Also like the CCS service the aircraft type used will be the A340, which is a surprise to the editor of this blog because it seems like much too large an aircraft type for a route between two countries that do not have extensive commercial or social connections, nor is BOG a hub of an air carrier that is allied with AR for onward connections to the Caribbean, United States, Canada, Europe, etc.  It would seem that AR's 737-800s would be better-suited to this route plus the 800's range should be able to cover the 2,900 mile / 4,650 km stage length, even with a full payload.

The BOG flight presently operates on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays with the new flight being added on Mondays.  Departures and returns are on the same day with an early morning departure from EZE, arriving back at the Argentine airport at approx. 2000 or 2100 after a 1:15 turnaround in BOG.

Flight     Routing     Dep    Arr     Equipment     Days

AR1360   EZEBOG    0625  1055   A340-300     135
AR1360   EZEBOG    0730  1200   A340-300     7

AR1361   BOGEZE    1210  2015   A340-300     135
AR1361   BOGEZE    1315  2120   A340-300     7

Source: http://airlineroute.net via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: United Starting Newark (EWR) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Service on April 6

United Airlines' nonstop Washington-Dulles (IAD) to EZE service is being discontinued and Continental's former Newark (EWR) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH) - EZE flights are being split into two flights from each of these US airports to EZE with UA flying the IAH - EZE sector on a daily nonstop basis using 767-200's and, starting on April 6, EWR - EZE using 767-300's, also on a nonstop basis.


Sources:  http://www.aviacionnews.com/blog/
              http://worldairlinenews.wordpress.com/
              www.united.com

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas to increase EZE-CCS Flights to Daily

Aerolineas Argentinas is gradually increasing its service from Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) to Caracas (CCS) from the current four-times weekly to daily flights over the coming year starting on July 1 when the service goes to five-times weekly. 

On September 1 the airline will increase flights on the route to six-times weekly and finally go to daily on December 1.

Interestingly, the route is and will continue to be operated with Airbus A340's which would seem to be too big an aircraft for an "Origin & Destination" route of this nature (no hub-connecting traffic) but the Argentine and Venezuelan governments are close politically so that might be a factor.    
     
The flight operates as a same-day roundtrip departing EZE in the early morning and arriving back in Buenos Aires late that same evening. 

Flight     Routing   Dep    Arr    Equipment

AR1376  EZECCS  0630  1205  A340
AR1377  CCSEZE  1335  2215  A340

Source: http://airlineroute.net via Eric Trum

ROUTE UPDATE: QANTAS Switched SYD Service from EZE to SCL on 26Mar12

QANTAS recently changed the destination for its non-stop Sydney (SYD) - South America service from Buenos Aires - Ezeiza (EZE) to Santiago (SCL) with the last flight from EZE departing on 25Mar12 and the first flight to the Chilean capital arriving the following day on  26Mar12.  The new service will initially be operated thrice-weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using 747-400's with the Australian carrier aiming for daily service "sooner rather than later". 

American actor and QANTAS spokesman John Travolta arrived at SCL in his 707-138B (which was originally delivered to QANTAS in 1964) to participate in the route opening ceremony.

The Australian carrier explained that the change was due to an internal restructuring but the decision was made shortly after the Argentine aviation authority, ANAC, rejected a request by the airline to codeshare with TAM from Buenos Aires.  The Argentine aviation publication Aviacion News opined that QANTAS regarded codesharing into Brazil as essential for the success of the EZE route whereas the Argentine government saw this as a threat to national carrier Aerolineas Argentinas' own route to Australia.

QANTAS will codeshare with its oneworld partner LAN through the latter's Santiago hub with connections throughout Latin America.   However, the two airlines will compete with each other to a certain extent as LAN flies from SCL to SYD via Auckland (AKL) six-times weekly.

Sources:  www.anna.aero
              www.aviacionnews.com